The Way We Do The Things We Do

We are more than one third through the season and each week brings new challenges and accomplishments.  Actually we wrapped three jobs this week one that I sold but never even had time to see installed so I will try and get to that job next week for photographs.  One of the highlights of my week was taking pictures of the great Amaryllis collection next door to a job we were working.  There are doubles, singles and variegated blooms that take your breath with their beauty.

Our weather is still a crazy hot streak and we officially have been in draught for three weeks.  Lawns without irrigation are completely burned out .  Several grass fires have kept local fire departments busy and there is currently a no burn ordinance in much of our state.


The tune featured here is from UB40 a British group that I love, they do a lot of cover songs and I think they often perform them better than the original versions.

Immediate Gratification

This week we began installing the low voltage lights that will adorn the big boulder job on Clear Lake. We have some fancy plans for lighting up the seawall with 35 watt floods and showing off the lakeside columns by installing lights on the second story gutters pointing into the house peak. Of course we will also install more traditional up lights on various trees and boulders and hit the sofets to bounce light off the house and illuminate the paver patio. It is intriguing to optimize reflection and shadows, adjusting the lights to achieve security, safety and beauty. Hopefully I will be able to get some good photos once the task is complete.

Last week we finished the sod, seed, erosion clothe, clean up and mechanical grading, the final loose ends that bring us that much closer to completing this job. To give the natural stone steps the appearance of age I will fill the larger crevices with mature ground cover. Some of the open joints that allow water, soil and gravel to leak will be filled with black spray on insulation foam to prevent erosion and settling. Additionally I will use gator dust (a polymer joint sealer) and moss fill other cracks. Eliminating and/or controlling water is essential for longevity and structural integrity of the steps.

The Kousa dogwood in the bed right of the entrance stairway certainly adds needed height yet will be easily pruned to remain airy and more horizontally branched. Spring bulbs, more perennials and summer annuals will fill the beds and little mulch will be visible as the flowers mature. The boxwood hedge that lines the paver walk was the homeowner Trish's idea and I think it looks terrific. I used 18" unsheared green velvet boxwood which I lightly sheared after they were planted tip to tip, by the end of next season it should be fairly tight hedge.


The installation of sod is not only instant gratification it also serves to help reduce erosion and assist in water control. The huge drain we placed earlier is now a cleverly disguised and charming stream bed. A fast and heavy downpour yesterday enabled us to observe our drainage system in action and so far I am satisfied it is well designed and functioning properly. The storm yesterday was one which fueled nine tornado sitings in a 5o mile radius of Clear Lake. Right next door to this property is the tornado siren which went off startling our lighting crew.

Nearing the end of new home construction is very rewarding and a little bit sad. We get to know the home owners, builders and sub contractors and become a bit of a family pursuing a goal, striving for excellence often working together to solve problems and create beauty. Each contractor showing pride and craftsmanship helping fulfill some ones dream is a pretty cool thing. Building a new house is definitely a team project.

The Sod Farm Grows

There has been a sod farm in Steuben County as long a I have been here (1978) and I do not know how long before that. The previous owner was Donna Moody who took over operations after she and her husband divorced she ran it well with her partner Cindy for many years. Now Cindy and Donna are living la Vida lo ca in Key West where Donna manages her grandchildren and Cindy manages a small hotel, I like to visit with them when I am in Key West. The new owner expanded his operation from Roanoke (near Ft. Wayne) to this location in Fremont.


In addition to sod they carry all fashion of landscape supplies and are currently expanding into plants, very convenient for us. Tim and his staff are genuinely nice people, Deb Waite who used to work for Donna and Cindy, handles the sod cutter and forklifts like she was born to ride. Tim is our on the scene man for Encore Lighting supplying on site engineering and support as well as being an Encore distributor. He keeps up on all the licensing, management and new advances in pesticides and herbicides making life easier for our four licensed applicators. There is a new product (chemical) he is using in the fields which kills all plants in sod except the blue grass, pretty wild huh? Only growers are licensed for the product thus far.

After May 15th we will begin planting annuals. That is supposed to be the safe date to avoid frost. My favorite annuals for a hanging baskets are Dragon Wing Begonias available in red and pink, they perform fabulous in shade, will tolerate some sun, require little to no dead heading and bloom profusely all summer long. These beauties can run a little dry from time to time and still bounce back. They grow so well a mid summers haircut is needed to reduce the weight of the baskets. For beds Victoria Blue Salvia is my true love the delicate individual flowers combine to form clumping spires of blue that wave on sturdy stems above the green gray foliage. When the bloom fades the silver pods remain attractive adding more color and texture to the plant. They will tolerate light shade and bloom well into November, often outlasting every plant in my garden. I guess if I have a signature plant "Vickie" is it.

We finally poured concrete for our stone bins, the aggregate company was supposed to bring us out a float but they forgot so we have a rough finish but hey we are landscapers not flat workers.
Our concrete pals recommended watering it daily for the first week to help the concrete cure and increase strength.

The house in Michigan is ready for plants this week as Bill and Ryan are on the final walk. We set grade and did some prep work last Thursday and Monday morning the plants arrive. The plant arrangement is seldom exactly like the blueprint I draw, often it is close and sometimes a very different arrangement shows up in the final product. Being on site for the prep work helps me get a feeling for where the plants need to be and where they will perform best. Devils Lake I am certain requires some latitude with
plant arrangement, that is one of the best parts of my job.