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LAND DESIGNS UNLIMITED LLC

A Patient Craftsman Creating Exceptional Landscapes

Author: John Holden

  • Late Season Blooming Flowers

    Late Season Blooming Flowers

    Last Monday, November 16th I was cutting back perennials in Trumbull, Connecticut in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b.  I noticed a couple of beautiful late season blooming flowers.

    We’ve already had several hard frosts.  Most of the leaves have fallen off the trees and been cleaned up.

    Late Season Blooming Flowers

    I first noticed a grouping of Honorine Jobert Windflower (Anemone × hybrida ‘Honorine Jobert’) flowers glistening in a sunbeam.

    Anemone × hybrida 'Honorine Jobert' Distance

    A little farther away a Fairy Rose (Rosa ‘The Fairy) was strutting its stuff.

    Fairy Rose Closeup

    Here’s a picture from a distance.

    Fairy Rose Grouping - late season blooming flowers

    I admit late season blooming flowers don’t compare to mid-summer.  In the cold and gloomy days of late fall I’ll take whatever I can get.

  • Learning New Things – Adobe Audition

    Learning New Things – Adobe Audition

    Adobe Audition is a program that mixes and enhances sound tracks.  I’m hoping to take my videos to the next level with it.

    Today is the second day I’ve tried to learn Adobe Audition.

    As a non tech person I find Adobe products very frustrating.  You must do things a certain way or you won’t get the results you want.  Details that make a project shine are hidden beneath endless twirl down menus.

    If you learn Adobe Products, especially keyboard shortcuts, you can create amazing things.  The juice is worth the squeeze.

    But this post isn’t about Adobe Products.

    This post is about learning new things.

    I went for a walk with Theo this afternoon to get away from Audition (See step 2 below).  While walking I thought about my process of learning new things.

    For me it looks something like this.

    1. Excitement about learning something new and Hyperfocus for a couple of days.  There’s usually some lost sleep and a total disregard for anything else going on in life.
    2. Burnout from too much focus on one thing.  The need to ‘get away’ for a while.
    3. While getting away thoughts of how I could have done things better.  How I could have broken the learning curve into smaller pieces.
    4. Starting again at a more relaxed pace or stopping because the reward isn’t worth the gain.  It’s rare I take something this far and abandon it.  I’m committed to learning no matter the cost.

    When I install landscapes the process is similar

    The first day is a throw away day.  I’m happy to get equipment to the job and start work.

    By the end of the day my mind is formulating a plan for the project.   Every job has a unique set of challenges.

    By the next morning I have a mental picture of how to complete the job and how long it should take.

    The pre-job jitters are gone and I methodically create a beautiful home.  I’ve re-adjusted my timeline to match the job.  Work continues until job completion.

    I’ve got to get back to Audition.

  • Blue Holly and Bittersweet

    Blue Holly and Bittersweet

    I stepped out of my truck today and viewed gorgeous blue holly (Ilex x meserveae sp.) and bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) growing in a tangled mess.

    If you live in a cave you should know that bittersweet is invasive in Connecticut and against the law to plant.  You’ll often see it growing along the side of the road.

    Here’s a picture with the bittersweet in focus

    Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)

    This is what the beautiful mess looks like

    Bittersweet and Holly

    Over time the bittersweet will block light to the holly and wrap around it’s branches strangling it.

    Bittersweet and holly do look great together in the fall.

  • Fire Gazing

    Fire Gazing

    Sugar the cat (15 lb, 15 yrs) and Theo the Great Pyrenees puppy (90 lb, 1 yr) enjoying the warmth of a morning fire.

  • Prune Lawn Trees High

    Prune Lawn Trees High

    I just returned from an evening walk with Theo and my forehead burns from a fresh scratch.

    Theo walked around a tree four feet from the road.  As I went around the back a branch caught me 3 inches above the eyes.

    I did have a flashlight.  I was looking at the ground for footing and suddenly smack!

    This is a great example of why it’s so important to prune lawn trees above people’s heads.  Assume folks will be walking in the dark and can’t see where they’re going.

    People driving down the street or your driveway also appreciate not having their cars scratched.

    A final friendly tip.  Don’t leave stubs on a tree, especially at eye height, where someone can lose an eye.

    Theo the Great Pyrenees Mix Pupply
    Theo our Great Pyrenees mix puppy.  He’s 90 lbs at just over a year old.  What a sweetheart.  He loves people, dogs, cats and creatures of all shapes and sizes.

     

  • Refreshingly Nervous

    Refreshingly Nervous

    Today I went to the barber to get my hair cut.

    Who a barber is has changed for me through the years.

    When I was a kid a barber was an Italian man who cut hair and talked about the old country.  I started visiting my children’s stylist out of convenience since they were born.

    I’ve gone to the local Great Clips for my last few hair cuts.  The best I can tell they are a hair styling chain that either trains stylists or hires stylists just out of hair styling school.

    I go to Great Clips because I can walk in any weekday and get what’s left of my hair cut in 10-15 minutes.  I like the convenience getting my hair cut when the mood hits me.

    Today my stylist was a girl with black hair with a purple-pinkish tint.  The tint in her hair wasn’t the most striking thing about her.

    She was exuding nervous energy.

    How could I tell?

    First, the station she used was the third from the front.  The stylists usually use the station closest to the front door.  She sought privacy to focus on her work.

    Next, when she grabbed her electric shears the cord got caught in her apron.  It was like Christmas lights wound too tightly the year before.  She nervously struggled to free the cord through her embarrassment.

    I did my best to stay calm and NOT mention how nervous she was.

    The worst thing you can do when someone is nervous is tell them they look nervous.  Say something positive or say nothing.

    I’ve been nervous enough times to know that.

    I offered, insisted, on untangling the cord to her shears.  I knew she’d feel awkward.  I might make her more nervous.  I took the risk.

    By untangling the cord she’d know how to take care of it next time.  She’d be more prepared.  More confident.

    She commented, “That’s why I’m a stylist.” As she watched me untangle the cord.

    The girl began cutting my hair with forced movements.  I could feel her fighting her nerves.  She pushed her shears against my head with more force than any barber or stylist had before.

    Some may wonder why I didn’t get up and walk out.  Why I didn’t ask for a different stylist.  Why I’m not writing a nasty letter to Great Clips asking for a refund.

    The reason may shock you.

    Nervous people care about what they’re doing.  Nervous people want to do a good job.

    My stylist has some work to go to master her trade.  Her nervous energy tells me she’s got the perseverance.  She will learn and master her trade.

    Think about people who fake it till they make it.  Contrast a nervous attitude to over-confidence or arrogance.

    Thanks for the great clip!

  • How Close to House to Plant Shrubs

    How Close to House to Plant Shrubs

    The short answer.  As far as possible.

    Plants are constantly growing taller and spreading wider.

    When planting small to medium shrubs my goal is 1-2 feet of air between the edge of a shrub and the home.  Not just when I plant.  For the life of the landscape.

    You can prune the back of a shrub, where no one sees, as often as needed to keep the gap.

    If there isn’t a gap you’re in trouble.

    Shrub too Close to House
    I saw this Rhododendron slammed against the house this Spring.  It motivated me to write this post.
    Shrub planted too close to house
    This Rhododendron is an extreme example of planting too close.

    Medium shrubs like Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Spirea, Holly and Boxwood go  2.5-3′ from the side of the house.

    I can easily walk behind the shrubs after planting.

    Rhododendron Planted Next to House
    This rhododendron has a 2′ gap between the foliage and the side of the house.

    Large shrubs and small trees like Viburnum, Dogwood and Stewartia go a minimum of 6′ from the edge of the house and preferably 8′.

    Viburnum Planted Next to House
    This Viburnum is 8′ from the house. Imagine the pruning nightmare if it was 3-4′ away.

    When in doubt plant farther from the house.  You’ll never regret it.

     

     

  • Scratch That Off the Bucket List

    Scratch That Off the Bucket List

    Last weekend, I replaced the rear brakes on my 2002 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup.

    I’m living the dream!

    I started Saturday around nine and finished Sunday around 2.  Yes, it took a long time.

    Even though I watched many videos about changing brakes, I had to learn some things.  The caliper mounting bolts were frozen, and the brake pads threw me for a loop.

    Brake Anti-Rattle Clips
    A shiny new rotor and anti-rattle clips are waiting for brake pads. It’s incredible how quickly shiny rotors turn to rust.

    I felt an incredible sense of accomplishment and a touch of exhaustion on Sunday afternoon.  Being hyper-focused on brakes for a day and a half takes a toll.

    I learned two valuable lessons over the weekend.

    Focus on one thing at a time.

    You can do anything you set your mind to.

    Please share your goals in the comments below.

  • One Thing at a Time

    One Thing at a Time

    One of my lifelong goals is know how to do brakes.

    You’re probably thinking what the guy at the auto parts store said, “You should set your goals higher.”

    Power and status never meant much to me.  Some wealth would be nice.

    Doing brakes is challenge.  Many people earn a living turning wrenches.  They can change brakes in their sleep.  I can’t.  Yet.

    This week I read up on how to change brakes.  I’ve read the maintenance manual for my pickup,  skimmed the pages of my Haynes manual and watched a ton of YouTube videos about brakes.

    I’ve talked to three different mechanics about the process.

    I’m ready to go.

    While reading about brakes I often grabbed a flashlight and went outside to inspect them.  I wanted to compare what I was reading to what’s on my truck.

    Each time I went to my truck I found the answer I was looking for and something else that needed attention.

    There’s a lot of rust on the frame, several brake lines need replacement sooner than later and the front splash guards are missing rivets.

    That’s just the start of the list.

    I’m feeling overwhelmed.

    Last night I caught myself worrying and remembered a valuable life lesson.

    One thing at a time

    When we multi-task we get overwhelmed.  Our mind races from one thought to the next while never finishing any of them.

    Motion forward stops.

    It’s exhausting!

    What’s the solution?

    Today I took a good hard look at the truck to figure out my most pressing repair.  I want to focus on that one thing.

    I jiggled the brake lines, their not as bad as I originally thought.

    I made a list of fasteners needed to fix the splash guards.

    Next I took off my rear tires to inspect the brakes.

    When I took off the driver side tire I immediately knew what to do first.

    The caliper seized.

    That’s where I’ll start my brake project!

    2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Worn Rear Rotor
    If you look at the picture closely you can see the outside of the rotor has 1/2″ of metal left. The inside is almost cut to the vanes. I couldn’t even turn the rotor.  The caliper clamped to it.

    The research phase of brake repairs, and life, is exhausting.  There are so many ways to go.

    You’ll have better results if you focus on one thing at a time.