A few weeks ago I changed the spark plugs in my wife’s car. If you’re a mechanic or done the job before, it’s simple.
I’ve never done the job before.
I read the service manual which makes car maintenance similar to building with Legos. Remove shroud D (See diagram) then disconnect coil pack and remove spark plug.
Who could mess that up?
I finished the job and started the car expecting to pat myself on the back for a job well done. Unfortunately, the car ran poorly, for something was horribly wrong. The check engine light was also on.
We were leaving for vacation the next morning.
This is one of those moments where age, a.k.a. life experience, came to my rescue. I knew I had done something wrong but I also knew there was no way it could be a major thing.
I went back under the hood to find my mistake.
In my excitement, I forgot to plug one of the coils back in. The four-cylinder car was running on three. I plugged the coil in and soon after the check engine light was off.
It wasn’t a big deal.
Somewhere in my life I was taught, or taught myself, that mistakes are a bad thing. They’re not. Mistakes are how we learn.
Mistakes are OK.
There’s no shame in mistakes and trust me you’re not the first one to have made that mistake, no matter what it is.
Have you made any mistakes this week?
The Right Attitude With Mistakes
Years ago I went for a walk and ended up watching a little league game. The boys were in 5th or 6th grade.
While they played the most amazing thing took place.
When one of the boys struck out or dropped a ball his teammates would clap and say something like, “You’ll get them next time.” Not one boy said a negative thing.
Would being hard on the kid who dropped the ball have helped? How do you feel if someone says, “No big deal,” when you make a mistake?
If you make a mistake cut yourself some slack. You learned a valuable lesson and you’ll get them next time!
Yesterday was a melancholy day at Land Designs Unlimited LLC. A client of 5 years is moving and yesterday was my last visit.
There’s a chance the new owners will want my services, I hope they do. Unfortunately, experience has taught me it rarely works that way.
This landscape is special for a couple of reasons. First, the owners are very nice and it’s a pleasure working for nice people. Second, I planted this landscape after the ‘correction’ of 2008 when the economy, and landscaping industry, was shaken to its core.
When I first looked at the landscape I knew it was going to take a lot of work. The masonry investment was going to be equal to, if not more than, planting.
The landscape would never look right with a bandaid. A stone wall and new sidewalk had to be installed.
They were meeting another well-established company that worked with any budget, even if the job required a larger investment. Did I mention this was after the ‘correction’ of 2008?
I suppose the other company was more client-focused for I politely insisted the landscape be done my way. There was no way I was installing a landscape without a retaining wall to hold back the grade.
I explained my design concept and assumed I’d never hear back. I reassured myself that I was polite, I spoke from the heart and I wasn’t going to be responsible for a shoddy landscape.
The project came together superbly with a few hitches. The wire from their lamp post twisted around my tiller, a first, and I used more soil than anticipated which happens often. Also, the redbud planted on the left corner of the house didn’t pull through a bitter winter.
After installation, I visited four to six times a year to maintain the landscape, not too much, but enough to make a difference.
Every spring there would be an edging, weeding and light pruning with fresh mulch every two to three years. I returned in June or July to hand prune and keep up with weeds over the summer.
Some visits took only an hour; just enough time to pull the weeds, prune stray branches and re-edge the gardens with a weedwhacker.
The shrubs in this foundation planting have NEVER been touched by hedge clippers. I’ve only used my Felcos to prune. I hope you can see how natural the shrubs look.
Being a landscape contractor is an endless cycle of finding new clients and losing old to promotions, retirement or being a poor fit.
I look forward to showing you the landscape I’ve been working on the last few weeks where I find a balance between color and low maintenance.
It’s time to say goodbye to great clients and a beautiful landscape. I’ll miss you both.
Today I finished last year’s fall cleanup! Not a moment too soon either, in a few short months leaves will start falling again.
Let me explain, normally I use a leaf blower to blow the leaves onto the grass then shred them with a lawnmower. However, last year I decided to go Old School and rake the leaves.
Raking is more work but much more satisfying. Raking leaves is easier in the spring because they are matted, hence, easier to pick up.
I use a five tine manure fork to pick up the heavy leaves then rake them into a pile. Once in a pile, I use the five tine manure fork again. One more pass of the rake, then I use two rakes as a claw for the rest.
Benefits of Mulching Leaves in gardens
I thought my gardens were going to be a mess. They were anything but!
Some benefits after letting leaves sit in the gardens all winter include.
Fewer weeds.
Soft and friable soil.
Tons of earthworm activity.
If you’re a gardener you must be drooling over how nice this soil is and if you’re not a gardener this is what you want your soil to look like.
I don’t want to say it’s been a bad year, it hasn’t.
It’s been typical of what a year as a landscape designer and a contractor has been as long as I can remember. Typical meaning constant change and no guarantees.
You Never Get Every Job
It took me years to realize you’ll never get every job from every person who calls. There are variables in what is a good fit for both clients and customers.
Does the potential client need the job completed in a week or a month? If they have a graduation party next weekend and I’m booked out a month I can’t help.
What type of service is the potential client looking for? I’m sometimes called to spruce up a house before it goes on the market. The level of service I provide is more than most want when listing their house. They want a ‘quick and dirty’ job, not a thorough job.
What is the job? While I’m a landscaper I don’t do everything related to landscaping.
This year a clients neighbor walked up and asked if I rip out Poison Ivy, by hand.
No. I don’t.
A couple of weeks ago a potential customer called three times in an hour demanding I call back immediately with a price to haul brush to the dump. Yes, I do haul brush to the dump when pruning shrubs but I’m not Junkluggers.
Investment Matters
Finally, there is an investment. No two contractors, in any field, will price a job the same way.
However, you can’t base value on price. Just because a price is high doesn’t make it a bad value and just because a price is low doesn’t make it a good value. But that’s a post for another time.
Since I started working in this field I’ve felt like a square peg in a round hole. After over thirty years that feeling has never gone away. I don’t think it ever will.
I strive to make landscapes look as good as they can. Unfortunately, people only invest so much in their landscapes.
I’ve often spent my own time, and money, going the extra mile. An extra hour or two here. Perhaps upgrading plants to a larger size out of my own bank account. Spending extra time making sure downspouts drain away from the house.
Patient Craftsman of Exceptional Landscapes
Today I changed my slogan to, “Patient craftsman of exceptional landscapes.” I doubt anyone will notice, especially today.
Why did I do that?
As a sign that I’m not like all landscapers. I work with purpose, and that purpose is creating exceptional landscapes.
What makes me think I’m so special? A few examples.
Clients often tell me they can’t tell a shrub has been pruned after I complete the job.
Edges of my landscapes are smooth, flowing and deep.
Plant selections focus on interest in every season and minimal care.
I don’t dump three inches of mulch on landscapes every spring.
I’m not special. I know only a small percentage of clients will want my level of service, though I provide a better value.
Losing a Client
After over 15 years, I lost a long term client this spring. I resigned (was let go) because I couldn’t handle servicing the property twice a year. The gardens were constantly in need of major work and it was frustrating.
There are plenty of houses I visit once or twice a year and I’m fine with that. But this house wasn’t a boilerplate landscape by any means and it needed more attention.
One of the reasons I stayed so long was a conversation I had with one of the owners years ago.
They said, “John, I know you’re not going to be the fastest or the cheapest, but when you do the job I know it’s going to be done right.”
That conversation kept me at the property longer than I should have stayed. I also enjoyed watching the landscape grow in.
The Future
When I started Land Designs Unlimited LLC the internet and YouTube weren’t options. I can now electronically share my knowledge in many different ways and the list is expanding daily.
Whether you’re a homeowner, contractor or student you can read, and watch, me explain what I do and why. I sincerely hope you learn something.
Whether my future is creating landscapes or teaching how to create landscapes I will always be a patient craftsman of exceptional landscapes.
Yesterday, I started the search for a bird bath for the back yard. I was hoping to find something simple, a flat stone with a bowl carved into it. Indeed I’ve admired a few like that over the years.
I spotted what I was looking for. Unfortunately, there was only one in stock and it was chipped. Therefore, I headed to the office to ask if they had more.
The model I was looking for was no longer available. Consequently, I asked about another bird bath I liked. It was a Deer Isle Lo-boy bird bath.
Lo-boy means the bird bath is half the height and Deer Isle is a darker, less showy, granite. The Lo-boy base looks, and may be, hand cut. I like that.
I’m not a fan of flimsy bird baths and sundials. They’re prone to lose their tops in the wind or shifting ground from freeze-thaw cycles.
Gregg lifted the heavy stones and gently placed the bird bath in my pickup. Thank you, Gregg!
Next, I placed the bird bath next to my feeding platform under the Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) where it can be viewed from the kitchen.
While the granite looks great it doesn’t match my low budget feeding platform. It’s like having a salt and pepper shaker that doesn’t match. In fact, I need a granite feeding platform too. But not this year.
Did you notice the second bird bath in the picture?
There’s a funny story to that.
Father’s Day Fun
Today was Father’s Day and my wife and daughter spent hours searching for the perfect bird bath yesterday, unbeknownst to me. They decided a lower style would look just right in the spot.
Yesterday, within minutes of arriving home, my wife spotted my new bird bath. Equally important, she couldn’t believe I bought myself something the day before Father’s day.
For this reason I’m a heel.
Consequently, my Father’s Day gift will be going in our Memorial Garden.
I bet more than one reader can relate to the story…
Earlier in the week a client asked for a quote to spread soil around their new drive. I’m disappointed in myself because I almost spent more time contemplating the job than doing it. I believe the term is analysis paralysis.
Let me explain.
When talking with the client I said I can do the job but I’d like to look at it first.
New drives are usually 2-3 inches above grade and knowing the size of their drive it was going to take a decent amount of soil.
The client said, “Go ahead and do the job, no need to give a quote.” I appreciated the trust but I don’t like to work jobs without a quote. It’s easy for a client and I to be on different pages.
The job was going to take 3 yards of topsoil. Further, the soil had to be pushed uphill from the street. I wasn’t going to park my 24,000 pound truck on a new drive to save steps. That’s asking for tire marks and a dirty drive.
I called a friend for a reality check. During the call I hemmed and hawed about the work involved and whether I’d get the job or not. My friend assured me I wasn’t crazy.
My fear, based on the way business has been the last few years, was that my client was going to decline the work.
That night I called my customer, told him the investment and promptly received a go ahead.
Last night I went for the best walk I’ve had in a while. We’ve had high heat, high humidity and a ton of rain the last couple weeks which hasn’t encouraged walks.
I started around 5:00 PM without much of an idea where I was headed.
At one corner left would take me home in half an hour or right in two hours. I went right.
I haven’t felt so calm and at peace in months as I did last night.
I enjoy getting lost in the details of houses and landscapes as I walk by. You never know what you’ll see.
The picture at the top of the post is an old mill-pond. There’s a guy on a canoe or kayak somewhere in there. The pond is on a seldom traveled dirt road where it’s always calm and quiet.
Walking through a different neighborhood I stumbled on a giant boulder or ledge. I’m not sure which. If I were standing in front of that rock my head would be in the shadow.
Near the rock a Caterpillar D5N sits waiting for work. It’s a BIG machine.
I stumbled on a Callicarpa closer to home.
This picture, taken in early August, shows Callicarpa blooms. Purple berries will be coming soon. If anyone knows the species please let me know.
The picture below was a surprise. I walked by a hidden stream and glanced over to see a Cardinal Flower in full bloom. Cardinal Flower is a native in Connecticut but I rarely see it in the wild. I don’t know if this plant grew on its own or planted/tossed in the stream.
We’ve had a lot of rain the last couple weeks and that stream is normally a trickle this time of the year.
This post reminded me of The Road Not Taken by Bruce Hornsby, on of my favorite musicians.
Thanks for joining me on my walk. I look forward to sharing more pictures with you soon.
Tonight as I walked through the yard I saw a spider weaving a web. If you thought a spider carefully crafted a web over the course of days you’re wrong. I would guess it took the spider an hour or two to weave the web below.
This post isn’t about spider webs but it’s related to that moment. As I watched the spider weaving it reminded me of one of the reasons I enjoy gardening.
I enjoy watching the changes in the garden season by the season, month by month and day by day.
A neighbor often comments how he always sees me walking around the yard. I stroll through the yard in the morning, after work or in the evening and admire the plantings and enjoying the changes.
A new addition to the garden this year is my square foot garden. When I was a kid back in the 80’s I read Mel Bartholomew’s book Square Foot Gardening. I loved the concept and planted many squares back in the day.
This spring I read All New Square Foot Gardening and tried it again. My square foot garden has received the most attention of any part of the yard this year.
I’ve made plenty of mistakes growing my square foot garden. We’ll share those lessons another time.
This spring I visited the White Flower Farm and bought a Dinner Plate Dahlia. I’ve always wanted to try one of those giant flowers and figured, “Why not?”
The extent of my soil preparation was digging a hole 10 inches deep, placing the tuber in the hole and filling it half way with dirt. All I’ve done since is water the plant and give it some liquid fertilizer. A couple of weeks ago I filled the hole in the rest of the way and today I staked it.
About 2 1/2 months later my Kelvin Floodlight Dahlia is three feet tall with a yellow flower ready to pop (see image at top of post). I’m in shock at how easy dahlias are to grow and how much fun it was to watch.
You can see the yellow bloom of the dahlia just to the left of the purple coneflower.
