Bargain Hardscape is No Bargain

Within the last few days some interesting things have come up regarding brick pavers. First, while working at a clients home,I noticed the brick walks soldier course (the outside edge, that has a different pattern) separating a bit. My first thought was to add some polymer sand, until I looked closer. The contractor who installed the walk had not put in a retaining edge--not even the mortar type that crumbles after a year or two, here in MI. I was frustrated!

We've gone to great lengths to be trained and updated on the latest specifications. Not installing the edge and using slag sand and not using a layer of bedding sand! What else????

Did they excavate to the proper depth? Compact it properly? We pride ourselves on hardscape that lasts many years. Yes, it takes longer, more material to do things properly, and it costs more money to do.

What else is frustrating? A recent ad for paver installation for $7.50 per square foot. (I won't tell you who) Not sure what's included in this bargain basement price but the materials I listed above would cost more than $7.50 per square foot.

What does this mean for a consumer? Be careful, ask a company why their price is higher. The tendency is to think a company is too expensive. My job is to educate the consumer. Back to the paver walkway--it looked fine for almost two years. Maybe the company offered a three year warranty like we do. I think we'll have more discussion on this and similar issues. Thanks for letting me rant!

Want Some Landscape Inspiration?

Bonnie Ion, President of the Ann Arbor Garden Club wrote:

APRIL 9th MEETING: Jo Ann Marshall will be speaking on "Landscape Inspirations" this coming Wednesday night in the Matthaei Auditorium. The program will start at 7:30 PM. Jo Ann is a UM trained landscape architect and runs a landscape business with her husband, Dave. Trillium Landscape Design, LLC is a design/build company so Jo Ann will be speaking about how to look at your landscape and see even more of its beauty. Jo Ann enjoys public speaking and this should be a fun presentation. Hope to see many of you on this coming Wednesday night.
Ann Arbor Garden Club

The Return of Spring and Birds

Though today’s snow fall may not indicate it, Spring has arrived. Don’t believe me. Just ask the birds. Within the last week, I’ve noticed the return of the robins and red-winged blackbirds. Both are looking for places to nest and rear their young. Other migratory birds aren’t too far behind. So if you want to attract birds to your garden, now is the time to setup or clean out your nest boxes (birdhouses).

For those not familiar with nest boxes, nest boxes are designed to provide tree and cliff cavity nesting birds a place to build a nest. A number of bird species build their nests in cavities. These birds include the Eastern Bluebird, Chickadee, House Finch, Northern Flicker, Crested Flycatcher, Nuthatch, Tree Swallow, Tufted Titmouse, Carolina and House Wrens, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, and of course, the Purple Martin. With the loss of habitat, the population of some cavity nesters is declining.

Eastern Phoebes, Robins, and Song Sparrows can also be attracted to nest in your garden by providing them with open front wall boxes or platforms.

The size of the nest box and diameter of the entry hole are important considerations when choosing a nest box. So is the nest box’s location in the garden and height off the ground. Be sure to purchase or build a nest box that meets the requirements of the type of birds you want to attract. Some other things to look out for when selecting a nest box: Choose a box without a finish or one with a non-toxic finish on the exterior of the box only. The box should not have a perch or exterior decoration that could be used by predators to climb onto the box. The box should have easy access to the interior of the box for cleaning and observing the young birds.

Longer Boats...

I'm having Cat Stevens flashbacks. I meant longer days! Daylight savings times has it's rewards. People I've run across are enjoying the sunlight. I think it equates with us having more energy. Even though there is some snow on the ground, we know that spring and a great landscape, are a few weeks away.

Smart clients are already calling for consultations and to implement another phase of their exciting plan.

We're off to Piqua, OH for the Regional Hosta Conference aka Hosta College. The name doesn't do it justice. It's a highly organized selection of vending, classes and includes most meals and snacks. It's an incredible value and very fun to teach at. I'll be teaching Landscape Inspiration and How to Start a Sketchbook. Dave is teaching a class on building Wildlife Habitats. It's a lot of work and we have a blast. People are very friendly and helpful. We're already planning for next year! Do a search for Hosta College, if this interests you.

I'll see if I can uncover my Cat Steven's albums!

Incidental Environmental Efforts

With so much talk about our environment, I looked at a checklist in a recent magazine. I wanted to see how our business and home stacked up. Here goes:

1. We use compact fluorescent light bulbs where possible.
2. While our vehicles aren't known for being especially fuel efficient, they also have to perform for our work, we keep them maintained so they burn clean clean.
3. We re-use office paper, then recycle paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, concrete and glass, as well as clothing, books and other goods.
4. We compost leaves, plants and stockpile soil.
5. We add compost, from local sources, to amend soil when necessary, less chemical fertilizers.
6. We use green cleaners where possible.
7. We are careful with our landscape designs and don't advocate traditional irrigation systems.
8. We use the stairs and not so much, the costly energy sucking elevators.
9. We drink from reusable plastic water bottles whenever possible, and buy our drinking water in reusable 5 gallon bottles. Even the Saline Garden Club advocates members bringing their own coffee cup to save on those gol darn Styrofoam cups. Our landscape crew members bring their own water bottles and we provide chilled, filtered water.
10. In a reorganizing spree, we put a few items on Craigslist.com and set aside a box of office supplies to go to a new teacher's classroom.
11. We try to drive only when necessary, combining trips. We also try to drive with efficient speeds to minimize braking and excessive acceleration.
(Driving without drama is what Jo Ann says)

What have I forgotten? How does your list look?

Fresh Blanket, Please

Mother Nature is giving us the flux! Just when we were getting geeked for spring, bam! A fresh blanket of snow. The worst part is that it's beautiful! The stunning white powder coated everything brown and gray.

It's all good, this time of the year we are going to workshops and conferences. We know that a spring thaw is in the not too distant future. Then it will be easy to appreciate the magic of Michigan's seasons. The overlap when the seasons are deciding which will prevail is a challenging time. It's all fun knowing that as much as we try to control EVERYTHING--we can't control the weather.

Enjoy the fresh snow and postcard worthy blue skies.

The hits....literally...

The last session of the current Saline Rec Dodgeball season has ended for our team, the Above Average Jo's. I was intrigued with the zany movie "Dodgeball" and watched it 3 times in the last few months. How fun! I thought. So did a few others: Judy Stone Nutrition Magician & David Ames Ames Video Services. It was the most painful team experience ever. But not because of staff from Saline Rec Center. They were great! Sunshine Lambert has hosted the league for some time. The teams are comprised mostly of young men high school to 20 somethings. A few, well 2, other young women also played and held their own.

There's something about the image of a few 6'+ 200+/- guys going after a high school kid that weighs maybe 110. The fact that I was older than their parents was a bit disheartening. Was it my imagination, or did the rec staff at the desk smile, chuckle and shake their heads every time I arrived? Jeff Wellmeier and Dave Marshall were true team players showing up for every game without complaint. The rest of us, well you can guess what we were thinking. Thanks also to Manny, Scott, Doug, Jordan, and Garret for making the team what it was--especially our last night!

Team number one, the "Cobras" includes Steve from Steve's Custom Signs and his teammates, oozed good sportmanship! We were envious of their new gladiator uni's. All in all, an interesting life experience. Know of any young adults that have energy to burn? Send 'em to Dodgeball.

Truthfully, a rude awakening that I'm not as young as I used to be. What will I take from this experience? If you can duck a wrench, you can duck a dodgeball!