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Recent Entries to this Blog
The hardest part of having a pet
Posted: 19 Feb 2017 Posted: 06 Feb 2017 Posted: 06 Oct 2016 Posted: 13 Sep 2015 Posted: 15 Jun 2015 All Entries |
Kay's Blog
I have a new boss
Category: Landscaping Girl | Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 11:54 pm So, this summer was my tenth year at my job, which is with a landscaping company. It began with my boss, and three employees working out of a garage. Fast forward 2015, the business is on 20 acres with a big new shop and offices. Lots of employees, so many I lost count... 30 maybe? I helped grow the business with my hard work,and skills with plants and people. It was a good run, as gardening is my passion and it came easy. This year, however has had it's challenges, and I was running ragged by the time August arrived. I had very early mornings, long hours in a variety of weather conditions. Sometimes a crew of inexperienced guys with no knowledge of what to do. That is maddening!!! My dear husband was seeing the toll it was taking on me before I did. He sat me down one evening, and said "I want you to quit your job." I was surprised at first, but after we began to discuss it , things became clear and I agreed that it was probably the best thing to do for my family. I was anxious about departing. Don't mean to brag, but my leaving would create a huge vacuum in the company. I held an important position. But I did resign, or retire as my boss thought of it. I stuck around for a while to "train" a very lovely young women to replace me. She has no experience, but is confident, and wants the challenge. It feels like a relief now, to be out of the craziness. I have time I need to take good care of my gardens and home, my husband, and be available to my kids and grandsons. By the way, I will be having another grandchild next April Yay! To fill my spare time, I will be doing gardening for select people. Mostly elderly women I know from my mom, and Bob's work. Just enough to keep me busy, and help people with my skill and passion. So- my new boss is ME!!! This blog entry has been viewed 308 times
2015- The year of the rains
Category: Landscaping Girl | Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 4:17 pm It is raining today. It rained yesterday, and the day before that. It has rained so much this year that I don't remember the days it didn't! It's wet, it's muddy. The low areas are flooded continually. Lakes,streams and rivers are full, and some are out of their banks. The trees love it, and the grass lawns are lush. My plants look pretty good right now. However, I am beginning to see signs of stress from too much ground moisture. A bit of yellowing on shrubs. We haven't had to water at all. I have had many days off, and many more days of working in the wet, rainy conditions. We set a new record in May for rainfall, and it looks like we may do it again in June. Enough! Please send the sun! This blog entry has been viewed 264 times
A busy spring underway!
Category: Landscaping Girl | Posted: Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:56 pm I am back to work and busier than a one armed paper hanger. It seemed to hit all at once. One day, on my winter break- the next: BUSY! I manage three maintenance crews, as well as estimating and selling jobs. We are going full swing cleaning winter debris, mulching Etc Etc. Making our customer's gardens look good again. The weather has been pretty good. A few chilly mornings, and sometimes rather windy, but it is definitely spring. All our beloved plants are waking up! Hooray! My favorite time of year. The trouble is I have so much to do now, that I haven't been able to check in with my Garden Stew pals as much. I miss you all, and some weekend day I will have more time to chat and catch up. Happy Spring everyone! This blog entry has been viewed 274 times
New office/shop part 2
Category: Landscaping Girl | Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2015 5:11 pm Went out to the office last week to take care of a few details. Still not ready for spring work here yet, it's still winter! I did get a chance to see the progress of the shop/office. Drywall and ceilings all done, walls have been painted. There will be two private offices, and one large reception area, with room for future retail display. 
( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) The shop is really big, the guys are pretty excited about having this nice new space. Concrete floors, heat, space to work! 
( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) It's a long way from finished, but coming right along! I can't wait until my part comes with the new display gardens we are installing in front This blog entry has been viewed 254 times
New office and shop!
Category: Landscaping Girl | Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 6:17 pm The Landscaping company I work for continues to grow and change. I have been employed since the beginning, when we operated out of my boss' garage and family room. Since 2008, we have been south of town, on 20 acres of farm land which once was a dairy farm (good compost in that soil!) This past fall, construction began on our new office and shop. The weather has been so mild that a lot has been done. I was out recently to check it out, and go over the design for the new gardens, water feature/patio/pergola that will be in the front. Exciting! The office gals can not wait to move into their new digs, and the shop guys are thrilled to have this big, new space to work. 
New shop/office , front looking north ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
cement truck here today ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
New shop looking east ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) This blog entry has been viewed 268 times
Autumn tidy time
Category: Landscaping Girl | Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 1:05 am After what seemed like an endless landscaping season this year, things are beginning to wind down for me. I am busy scheduling the "Autumn tidies". Time to clean up the shrub and flower borders and put the exhausted plants to bed for now. I don't usually like this chore, it makes me melancholy; but this year it seems OK. The tough drought tolerant plants that have survived deserve a rest!! Nights are getting chilly, but days are still warm. Leaves are turning color and falling. Still no rain. I can not believe it, but we have only had about 3" of rain since June 23rd. So very dry! Water restrictions are still in place. We have to conserve this precious resource. Farmers around here are harvesting the parched corn and soybeans early which makes the dust fly! A busy time for me! This blog entry has been viewed 451 times
An example of our work
Category: Landscaping Girl | Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 9:23 pm I sold a big job to a couple that purchased a house that has been sitting empty a while. Needless to say, the gardens were an overgrown wreck. I had a crew of 3 and we spent 3 1/2 days on this 1 1/2 acre property. We had to remove several small trees and shrubs that were planted too close together. There were untold quantities of weeds. I got the impression that the former owner was a "plant collector" as there were: you name it, it was in that acreage! They had a special fondness for Dogwoods, Hardy Hibiscus and Ornamental Grasses... everywhere!!! Behind the house there is a patio and a swimming pool. Pool guys are coming to empty it and close it for the season, the water was turning a weird shade of green... we spent hours going through the beds along the fence. At first, you could barely see the fence. 
before ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
Before ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
after ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
before ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) 
After ( photo / image / picture from Kay's Garden ) All in a day's work. Can you see why I'm tired? This blog entry has been viewed 1532 times
Hello from a tired girl
Category: Landscaping Girl | Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2011 9:01 pm I have been so busy at my job! We have had a super busy year, and it ain't over yet! We have been blessed with perfect Autumn weather, and have done a record number of installation jobs. Could really use some rain around here though. Maybe this weekend, they say. The wind has been really strong the past few days, so a front must be making it's way here. I do get to rest during the "off season" which is usually November through March. However, we have yet to do any of the Autumn clean up work. So, I am still rollin out every morning and doing what I do. This blog entry has been viewed 1555 times
I'm a busy girl these days!
Category: Landscaping Girl | Posted: Thu May 05, 2011 12:59 am This is a very busy time of year for me at my job. Since mid-March, I have been supervising my crew doing spring clean up and mulching. We still have some jobs to get done, but all of the sudden, Mother Nature has decided to let us have some nice weather, and we have started the plant installations. It gets pretty crazy on some days, we work long and hard hours. I am in charge of finding and purchasing the trees. shrubs, perennials, and annuals for the designs. I get them to the job sites, and work with our designer to place them. Then I oversee the crew as they plant. I also am the "front woman" for customer contact, to be sure they are happy. I am good at this "gabby" part because there is nothing I love better than talkin plants! I come home just exhausted some days. We work long hours, and we work hard to do the best job that we can. It gives me a lot of satisfaction. I am often too tired to get on the computer and do much besides read at little. But I wanted to say hello and I miss my Stew friends. Happy Gardening!! This blog entry has been viewed 1838 times
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