“Well, beat the drum and hold the phone - the sun came out today!
We’re born again, there’s new grass on the field.
A-roundin’ third, and headed for home, it’s a brown-eyed handsome man;
Anyone can understand the way I feel.” – John Fogerty “Centerfield”

You’ll have to excuse me this week as I get my baseball geek on and celebrate the opening of spring training.  That’s right – The Phightin’ Phils (and the rest of Major League Baseball) are back at it in their respective camps in Florida and Arizona.

And to celebrate the return of baseball, I’d like to focus this week’s post on the National Pastime.  But I’d be slightly remiss if I didn’t make some effort to tie it in to landscape construction in my usual roundabout sort of way.  So I’d like to introduce the All-Landscaping-Name-Roster of Major League Baseball players.

Whether you’re a Rockies fan or a Wilmington Blue Rocks fan, whether your interest is rooted in the bush leagues or the Majors, whether your landscaping project is on deck or not (see where this is going…?) I hope you’ll find this list at least a bit entertaining.

With no further fanfare…

Wade Boggs, IF, Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, 1982-1999
Dave Bush, P, Blue Jays, Brewers, Rangers, 2004-current
Chris Carpenter, P, Blue Jays, Cardinals, 1997-current
Doug Creek, P, multiple teams, 1995-2005
Reese Diggs, P, Senators, 1934
Tyler Flowers, C, White Sox, 2009-current
Ron Gardenhire,IF, Mets, 1981-1985, Mgr, Twins, 2002-current
Kent Greenfield, P, Giants, Braves 1924-1929
Jim Greengrass, OF, Phillies, Reds, 1952-1956
Travis “Stonewall” Jackson, IF, Giants 1922-1936
Grover Land, C, multiple teams 1908-1915
Mike Mason, P, Rangers, Cubs, Twins, 1982-1988
Mickey Mantle, OF, Yankees, 1951-1968
Brian Meadows, P, Pirates, Marlins, 1998-2006
Paddy O’Connor (Patio :) ), C, Pirates, Cardinals, Yankees, 1908 -1918
Rebel Oakes, OF, Cardinals, Reds 1909-1915
Erik Plantenberg, P, Phillies, Marlins, 1993-1997
Simon Pond, OF, Blue Jays, 2004
Bob Seeds, OF, multiple teams, 1930-1940
John Shovlin, IF, Pirates, 1911-1920
Jeff Stone, OF, Phillies, Orioles, Red Sox, 1984-1989
Bill Stoneman, P, Cubs, Expos, Angels 1967-74
Bob Sprout, P, Angels 1961
Aaron Rakers, P, Orioles, Padres, 2004-2007
Branch Rickey, C/IF/Mgr/GM, multiple teams, 1905-1955
Brooks Robinson, IF, 1955-1977
John Rocker, P, multiple teams, 1998-2003
Charlie Root, P, Cubs, Browns, 1923-1941
Pete Rose, IF/Mgr, Reds, Phillies, Expos, 1963-1989
Kerry Wood, P, multiple teams, 1998-current

Missing anyone?  Feel free to comment with additional names.

Happy Baseball Season to all! (and happy landscaping season too!)

Go Phils!

We’ve all seen the shows.  You know, the home improvement ones where a homeowner is stuck with a mundane, dysfunctional yard and over the course of a half-hour it is transformed into a gorgeous private paradise.  Often at a stated cost that makes you think, “I could have that!?”  It makes for some very entertaining television.  

But unfortunately those television transformations are often about as realistic as an episode of “24”, where Jack Bauer zips all over LA in Southern California traffic to thwart several various terrorist attacks, all in a one-hour “real time” episode.  Heck, having lived in California for a time I can attest to the fact that a true “real time” one hour episode would consist solely of sitting in traffic for an hour on the 405. 

Realism and entertainment are typically very different traits.

The producers of these home improvement and landscaping shows know what they’re doing.  They do make some entertaining shows.  I too have been sucked in to watch these yard transformations take place.  Of course by the end of the half-hour I often find myself screaming at the TV with a critical eye.

The problem?  Where do I begin.

First of all, these shows often focus solely on the aesthetic appeal of the yard, and not the real nuts and bolts that really make a yard work.  I’m talking about grading, drainage, excavating, foundations, and using materials that will last in the harshest of elements.  No, this stuff isn’t always pretty.  Typically in fact you don’t even see it in the final installation.  But it’s important.  Really important.  Without these things that gorgeous yard they just installed won’t last more than a season or two.  Or worse yet, it could result in damage to the house itself.

Costs.  I was watching one show and they installed a new flagstone veneer over top of an existing concrete patio.  Certainly nothing that can’t be done, albeit with a bit of necessary research and examination before beginning, which of course wasn’t addressed on the show.  The kicker was when they said they did entire installation for less than $800.  Just to compare to real pricing, flagstone currently runs about $6.50/square foot and up.  That means you could purchase about 125 square feet of stone for the stated $800, not even counting the costs for adhesive or mortar, let alone labor.  That measures up to about a 10 x 12 patio.  Yes, that may be a somewhat useable space for a small urban garden, but most suburban clients I work with want something at least 200 square feet and up.  You’re not getting that for $800.  Trust me.

Of course these shows are often are in bed with manufacturers, so of course they’re going to try and sell you on the ease of installation and the affordable costs.  In a way, it’s basically a half-hour commercial for various products.  Do you believe every commercial you see?  I hope not, so why believe everything you see on these shows.

Permits.  Every now and then, these shows will include a brief disclaimer that you should “check your local codes” before beginning.  That is sound advice, although it’s usually not included on most shows.  The truth is that building codes and local ordinances often vary considerably from one area to the next.  And some of the techniques I’ve seen on TV wouldn’t be allowed in some communities, at least not without a fair amount of additional work that isn’t mentioned.  And those permits cost money (believe me, everybody wants their piece of the pie).  Nobody wants to go through the hassle and costs of a big project only to have the local town make you tear it out.

Timing.  This one cracks me up.  Joe Homeowner invites his buddies over for a hard day’s work building a new deck.  At the end of the episode, Joe and his buddies are enjoying a backyard barbeque on the brand new deck.  Seriously?  You’re telling me that a couple of guys dug the holes for the footings, installed the concrete piers (using some magically curing one-hour concrete?), built all the framing and finished the decking and railings in a single day.  And they were able to secure the necessary building code inspections during the process.  I’m all for encouraging DIY projects, it’s a great experience, but don’t set yourself up for false expectations.  A new deck takes at least a week’s worth of work for an experienced crew working fulltime.  With the weekend warrior approach you’re probably looking at more like a month or two start to finish.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying to change your TV viewing habits.  Inspiration and ideas come from all sorts of sources, TV shows being one.  But its important to remember that these shows are made for entertainment purposes, and to keep the sponsors happy.  If you’re expecting that brand new patio, terraced hillside, retaining walls and steps to be completed in a few days’ time for a ridiculously low sum of money you’re going to be sorely disappointed.

It’s almost that time of year when we should be outside enjoying the yard anyway.  Put the remote control down and get out and enjoy!

As an artist who works with the earth as his medium, I obviously have a vested interest in environmental issues.  So it really grates on my nerves when people or companies use the term “green-friendly” or “environmentally friendly” strictly as a marketing gimmick.

A prime example of this is the “paperless” option that many billing companies offer.  Lets be honest.  Are they really offering this service because they care about the environment?  My hunch is their main motive for offering this option is to save mailing costs, not really to combat resource management or global climate change.

Look, I’m all for efficiency.  If it’s easier to manage your bills and statements from your computer than from your checkbook then go for it.  But when these companies attempt to make you feel guilty for preferring paper statements, or try to paint themselves as stewards of the environment, then their motives are somewhat deceptive. 

The fact of the matter is that paper is one of the more renewable products out there.  Most paper manufacturers these days use a combination of sustainable growth forests or recycled paper stock as their main resource.  And if paper recycling is done properly, nearly all of the material that goes into the paper can be reused again and again and again.  That’s about as efficient as it gets.

And that “green alternative” computer?  First of all, it runs on electricity, which more often than not is created by burning coal, one of the more environmentally un-friendly fuels out there.  And the computer itself contains significant portions of lead, mercury, chromium and cadmium, all of which have proven to have a significant negative impact on the environment, both in the harvesting of these resources and the disposal.

Another “enviro” gimmick that is commonly being used these days is the proliferation of those re-useable shopping bags.  Yes, they do replace the plastic bags which undoubtedly is a good thing.  Those cheapy plastic bags are about as bad as it gets, from the fossil fuels used to create them to the omni-present littering and the clogging of our streams and rivers.

If the re-useable enviro bags are made from hemp or cotton, then great.  It’s a win-win – a renewable harmless re-useable recyclable bag to replace the plastic trash.  But lately I’ve seen a fair amount of those re-useable bags made from poly-blends.  And they’re typically not made well, a few uses and they can start ripping and falling apart, right to the trash.  If the companies that distribute these bags were really concerned about the environment they would be made out of heavier, recyclable, natural materials like cotton or hemp, built to last and be re-used for years.  But they’re made cheaply out of inexpensive materials, which leads me to believe that these companies are more concerned about the appearance of being green, then actually being earth-friendly.

If you look around, you’ll see a number of campaigns that are being sold to the public in the name of the environment.  Natural gas fuels to eliminate the need of oil.  Electric cars to eliminate the need of fossil fuels.  Computers vs. paper.  Shopping bags.  Plastic water bottles.  The list goes on.

I’m not saying I have the answers.  Nor am I saying that all or even some of the aforementioned trends are all bad.  After all, I am typing this post on an electronic-powered computer that you’re most likely reading on a monitor that could contain as much as four pounds of lead.  What I am trying to say is that it’s important we take a close look at all of the decisions we make.  The companies that are selling us on a lot of these “green” trends all have a vested interest in making money.  It’s important that we make educated decisions with the earth’s best interests in mind, not the manufacturers.

Just my two cents worth …

So you want to build a fence, eh?  There are thousands of reasons why people shop for new fencing.  Maybe your family just adopted a new pet.  Perhaps the new next-door neighbors aren’t exactly what you were hoping for.  Or maybe you’ve absolutely had it with the local deer population eating your prized hydrangeas.  Whatever the reason, it’s a big investment, and one that you shouldn’t just rush into.

For a few reasons.  A quality well-built fence will be part of your landscape for years to come.  It’s an opportunity to provide not just function to your yard, but form as well.  After all, you will be looking at it every time you open the door.  So before you begin seeking estimates, its important that you consider a few factors and plan accordingly.

Begin by identifying just what you want the fence to accomplish.  Whether its keeping animals in or out, adding privacy to a yard, or simply defining property lines, it’s important that you are clear as to what you want the fence to accomplish.  Once you identify the desired function of the fence, you can begin to think about the form -- factors such as the height of the fence, an “open” design with gaps vs. a “solid” design, location and overall appearance.

This planning phase is also a good opportunity to evaluate other effects that you may not have thought of.  This is your chance to think about if and where you may want gates included, whether you’ll need a wider access point for landscaping equipment or trailers, whether there are other parts of the yard that you may want to isolate or screen off, and what negative impacts your new fence may have on the overall feel for the neighborhood.

Check your local ordinances.  Nearly every township and borough has a different set of regulations concerning fence construction.  Just because your co-worker was able to build a certain fence at his or her house doesn’t necessarily mean it will be allowed in your town.  In my home county of Delaware County, PA, there are nearly 50 local municipalities, each with a different set of ordinances.  Some ordinances are rather lenient, others not so much.  Specific things that you may want to ask about include the need for permits (and the associated permit fees), the need for an official property survey, height regulations, location restrictions in proximity to the street or property boundaries, and “open” vs. “solid” allowances are just a few of the more common ordinances.  And if you have a swimming pool on the property those codes (and insurance requirements) can get even more involved.  Before you even begin getting estimates, make sure your desired fence is in compliance with the local codes.  Otherwise you may just be wasting your time and money.

Additionally, I always recommend letting your neighbors know of your intended plans.  Some local municipalities actually require that you submit letters of approval from your neighbors in conjunction with permit applications.  Even if they don’t, it’s always the neighborly thing to do.  Many times you may find that once you address your ideas with your neighbors that they may even want to chip in with the cost.

Give some thought to the materials.  Again local ordinances may regulate what materials may or may not be allowed.  Wood, vinyl, iron, aluminum, chain link, wire mesh – there’s a myriad of available options.  All of which will have an impact on cost, aesthetics, maintenance, and longevity.

And give some thought to whether you want a permanent fence built to last, or whether you may want to take the fence down in a few years once the kids are grown and the new puppy has mellowed out a bit.  There are a number of inexpensive fencing options out there that may look nice and perform your desired function, but they may not be designed to last for more than a few years.

Shop around, but don’t feel limited to what you see on showroom floors or big box stores.  Our favorite fencing projects are always the ones where we can be a bit creative and custom construct a unique fence that doesn’t look like every other one in the neighborhood.  Custom construction also allows for unique site conditions such as slopes, trees and root mass.

And like any home improvement project, it’s always a good idea to make sure your contractor is licensed and insured, and check their references.  And be specific to make sure your contractor is tuned in to the local ordinances.  Many of the larger fence installers who service a broad area may not be aware of the specific codes in your small town.

If you have any questions regarding your desired fencing project or would like to discuss a custom design, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].  Hope to hear from you!