Bzzzzzzwhzzzzz….SWAT!!

Another ’skeeter gets smacked, leaving your blood and her guts on your sleeve.

We all love to hate them. They’ve ruined countless outdoor summer gatherings, left me with sleepless nights whilst camping, and can make working outside a nightmare. Do these flying parasites actually do any good for this world?  Should we wish for a perfect eradication method so we never have to hear that buzzing sound again?

Mosquitoes are pollinators. Flower nectar is actually their main source of food. Many of our garden vegetables enjoy being pollinated by mosquitoes, as well as wetland and prairie plants. Are you a fan of chocolate? If so, perhaps you will look at mosquitoes a little differently, as they are the main pollinator of cacao trees!

The females only need a small amount of blood to develop the proteins casings for their eggs. The rest of their time they spend flying around your garden and surrounding areas looking for flowers.

Mosquitoes are a food source for bats, dragonflies, and several birds, such as hummingbirds

The impact of mosquito larva in aquatic environments is difficult to measure, but is significant. They spend their time eating away at detritus matter, cleaning up ponds of decaying leaves, expelling their waste for beneficial microbes to consume.  Mosquito larva biomass makes up a large portion of some fish’s diet. Backyard pond fish and all smaller wild fish eat mosquito larva, providing a strong base in the food chain that feeds larger game fish for sportsmen.

If you want to have fewer mosquitoes in your yard keep your grass well-cut and thick bushes away from your entertaining areas. (This helps with ticks, as well)  Look for places where water may collect and remain still for a period of time so they cannot breed in the puddles. Eliminate empty pots and flip wheelbarrows upside down so they cannot collect water. Childrens toys,  buckets, garbage can lids, even plastic bags that have blown into the yard may collect water.   Fix lawn drainage problems for your customers.  It only takes five days for a mosquito to develop from an egg to a biting adult, so consider any standing water a breeding ground.

We’re off and running into the season here at Christensen’s.  It’s always fun as we see customers again, talking about what we all did over the winter. Some plowed snow or remodeled houses. Some fled south to soak up the warm sun’s rays, whilst others embraced the cold and hit the slopes. The conversation generally ends up on the topic of “what’s new?”

Last year we freshened up the inside of our Hardscape building. This year we are spending time reorganizing the brickyard. You’ll notice several products have been moved to different places. Once you get the hang of it, we think you’ll find it efficiently organized and will be happy with the natural flow of traffic.

We have welcomed Techo-Bloc into our family of hardscape manufacturers and are pleased by the response so far. Currently stocking some of the most popular Techo-Bloc product lines like Blu, Brandon, and Raffinato, we want to hear from you. What Techo products do you like using? –let the guys in the Hardscape building know!

Some new items from Unilock include Treo Smooth. I think of it like a Beacon Hill for sidewalks since the pieces are sized so that you can lay a nice 36” wide pattern. If you want more lines in a patio, but still have an easy time having chair and table legs finding support, Treo is the paver for you!

The Beacon Hill lineup has added more color options in the small recs and a vehicle-friendly 8cm thick version.

Stop in for some strong coffee and let’s talk about What’s New!

While most people in our industry are very active throughout the busy season, as November dwindles into December, many of you will head toward hibernation and less movement. Personally, as my roles have changed here at Christensen's, I’ve found myself at a desk for more and more of my work day.

Of course, we know that there are an astounding number of health and productivity benefits associated with exercise and physical activity. Aside from obvious cardio and flexibility benefits, physical activity can improve concentration, lower stress, and help cut down on snacking at your desk. It really can make the day easier to get through!

When I was working outside I never really thought about how many steps I took, or if I got my heart rate up a couple of times per day, it just happened. Now,I have realized that staying active and flexible needs to be a built-in part of my day.

Here are a couple of ways to fit exercise into your busy schedule:

Stretching is something that I wish I had been doing my whole life. Now, I start the day with a morning stretch as I roll out of bed. It’s a mashup of yoga and a high school gym class warmup. I look like an idiot, but it sure feels great afterward. It only takes a couple minutes!

If the mood hits me right, I’ll immediately follow the stretching with some basic Qigong exercises. Qigong can easily be fit in during a workday. Internet search “qi clearing” for tips on thymus thumping, leg slapping, bouncing. Think about moments when you have a spare couple minutes like when waiting on the microwave at breaktime, or when you get back to your desk before you sit down. I like doing one of my favorites called “knocking on the doors of life” whilst talking on the phone.

Something that I found important to do in the afternoon is getting my heart rate up. That last hour of the day can be tough to get through, but it’s a lot easier when you are feeling invigorated with your blood pumping. Jogging in place is one way, doing some push-ups against a desk works, too. Each day at 3:30 our computers tabulate the days business activity. This “countdown” event has turned into a great a reminder to get up and move! In the Hardscape building, we have endearingly called this afternoon cardio session “Countdown Calisthenics”. Our method encompasses a Nordic walk with a straight leg stretch and a torso twist. Stop by the Hardscape center sometime and mention the "cardio walk." I’ll show you how to do it, and we can share a healthy laugh. 

As I write this article, I am looking at a 4x8 Unilock Hollandstone Premier paver on my desk. It is uniform in shape, density, and color to the rest of the pavers on the pallet it came from. The beginning of this concrete paver’s story is actually set 7000 years ago on a warm Mediterranean island. The Minoans were Europe’s first advanced civilization. Their island of Crete was a hub for trade and artisans. They built fire kilned brick structures, had methods to pump water, and created the first segmental pavement to engineer their way over loose subsoils. The Romans were next, installing 50,000 miles of paved roads. Amazingly, some of these roads are still in use today!

Christensen’s has been around in one form or another for over 90 years. Focusing on the green industry, we’ve been growers, retailers, and now a complete wholesale landscape supplier. Last year you probably noticed our Plant Center was remodeled, this year is the Hardscape Center’s turn! The hardscape yard was added 11 years ago and is an ever-growing part of our company. During the off-season, we considered our floorplan, moved things around, and brought in some new displays. If you haven’t visited us yet, an entirely new layout will greet you as you walk in the door.

It drives me nuts when the grocery store rearranges, and I can’t find the things I need when shopping. However, we spent a lot of time deciding on the intuitive placement of products to help you shop as conveniently as possible. We feel that the new open layout flows naturally and will make your experience in our store more pleasant and efficient.

Our new lighting section includes counter space for fixture demo and a large area for putting together your order.

With the addition of BrickStik Polyurethane Adhesive, we have your vertically stacked endeavors covered. Joining SRW Solvent-Based Adhesive, SRW Rapid-Set Polyurethane Adhesive, and Structure Bond Construction Foam Adhesive, BrickStik is one more sticky solution for your installation tool kit… You can find them all together in our adhesive section.

Perhaps the most striking makeover is to our counter. It has moved to an entirely different area of the store, where our Hardscape staff will be ready to help you with your project. Behind the counter we are displaying our selection of Boar Hog and SRW concrete saw blades, as well as the wildly popular Grabo hand-held vacuum lifter.

Inside isn’t the only place we’ve updated. Outside you will find the fabrics and grids have moved from behind the bulk bins to in front of the Hardscape Center. Speaking of bulk bins… we are thrilled to announce the return of brown hardwood fines!

All the things that you’ve come to expect from the Hardscape Center are still here. And there are even more supplies to make your stop quick and easy. We love the changes… stop by and tell us what you think!

When I was growing up my father and I planted gladiolus corms in our flower garden next to the house. I remember their bold colors reliably displaying each summer. When I moved into my own home years later I found all sorts of new and exciting colors available. They were beautiful that first year, but the following year I noticed that most of my glads didn’t come back. After some internet-sleuthing I realized that they are supposed to be lifted and stored inside for the winter. So why did they always come back when I was a kid?

Microclimate perhaps? Our main flower garden was against a south-facing brick wall, with years of compost mixed into our sandy soil. Glads don’t like a wet bum, so our native, well-drained soil was a good match. The sun-exposed brick wall warmed up the soil, tempering the chilly winter ground.

Could it have been the heirloom varieties we grew? I’m generally a believer that local heritage varieties are hardier. This seems to be the case with gladiolus. In my experience the new fancy ones, though beautiful, are hit-or-miss with successfully overwintering in our area.

Here are some tips to help you on your way to beautiful spires of color each year:

Plant in pots

Be sure your pots are large and heavy enough so the flowers won’t blow over, also make sure they have drainage holes. Add rocks to the bottom of the pot, top with a sandy soil mix. For an extended blooming season plant pots a couple weeks apart, or mix varieties in the same pot. You can add supports to help the spires stand up as they grow tall. There are shorter, and even dwarf varieties available that may work well in pots without support or the fear of wind damage on balconies. After the flowers are spent it could be a good time to move the pots somewhere less conspicuous, as the plant does not rebloom. Sometime before the first frost, dump out the pots and collect the corms, set them somewhere where they can dry in the open air for a couple days, then lightly cover them up to dry further. For final long-term winter storage place them loosely in layers in a cardboard box, separating layers with newspaper. Keep them in a cool dark place where they may nap until spring, protected from animals and sub-40f temperatures.

Leave ‘em in the ground

With a little bit of luck and some forethought you can have success simply leaving your glads in the ground! Moisture and extreme cold temperatures are what you’re trying to manage. To this end, I have found that digging trenches in sunny areas that are not prone to spring puddling works out well. Planting next to a sun-exposed wall is even better! Dig the trench about 14” deep and fill the bottom 3” with rocks. Mix some native soil with whatever amendments are needed to build a sand-heavy blend with a modest amount of organic matter. Plant the corms at various depths as you fill the trench with soil. I’ve sunk ‘em down 8” with no problems. Hardier varieties such as ‘Violet Queen’ and ‘Atom’, as well as many old heritage classics may help you gain an edge on the colder weather.

Glads will do well with a mulch covering the soil and a balanced fertilizer after emergence.

There are choices to make in any landscaping project. The microclimate can provide a place to start, then the considerations of general design and how much maintenance are one is willing to carry out, site traffic and usage, etc. Within the framework of your plans there are opportunities to go beyond visual enjoyment - your clients could actually taste the fruits of your labor!

Let’s begin by considering some plants that are readily available, or may already be in your design toolbox.

Aronia (Black chokeberry) is popular in Michigan landscapes. The white spring flowers turn into loads of nearly black berries which are eagerly eaten by birds. I encourage you to pick some for yourself - they may be exceedingly tart, but are tasty when added to sugary lemonade or made into jam. Consider Aronia m. ‘Viking’. Aside from the outstanding fall color, it's berries may be eaten right off the branch for an invigorating antioxidant-rich wallop to your tastebuds.

Agastache (Hyssop) is a perennial with aromatic leaves and flowers. There are blue-purple varieties and some newer cultivars in pink, coral, yellow or orange. Mix bruised leaves into tea for an alluring licorice flavor. Some varieties sway towards a mint flavor profile that I’ve enjoyed smashed into vanilla ice cream. Hyssop flowers make an enticing garnish in summer drinks.

Do you have dandelions in your lawn? Besides feeding honeybees, dandelions are a versatile culinary bonanza! Not only are the leaves an excellent salad green, but the flowers are edible, as well as the roots. Young flower petals have a honey-like flavor good in tea and jam, and the entire flower head may be sauteed in butter with garlic and eaten with a little salt on toast. Dandelion roots may be dried and brewed into a medicinal tea with many benefits.

Whenever discussing eating self-harvested plants safety must be mentioned. Always consider the plant and it’s surroundings. Pesticides, fertilizers, and any other runoff from the surrounding area will make it’s way onto and into the plants. Only consume a plant that you have properly identified and be sure to know the areas exposure to potential toxins.

If there is any doubt, do not consume it! 

These are some of my favorite edible landscape plants:

• Borage - Annual herb with star-shaped edible blue flowers.
• Daylily - Unopened flower buds can be eaten raw or cooked.
• Pansy - The flowers are often used as a salad or dessert garnish.
• Fruit trees and shrubs - Blueberries, apples, cherries, peaches, pears, etc.
• Honeyberry - (Lonicera caerulea) Large blue-black berries, used like blueberries.
• Lavender - Aromatic flowers and foliage with countless uses.

Perhaps the following recipe will inspire a patio conversation this summer.

Dandelion Wine

Boil 1 quart of rinsed dandelion flower petals in 1 gallon of water for 4 minutes, strain out and discard the petals. Allow the water to cool to under 100°f. Stir in 1 sliced orange, 1 sliced lemon, 8 cups of sugar (or 7 cups of honey), and 1 package of wine yeast and pour into sanitized plastic vessel, ideally fitted with a fermentation lock, but a towel and loose-fitted bucket lid will work. After 2 weeks decant or siphon into a secondary vessel or bottles and allow to age for at least 1 more week. Garnish with a freshly picked flower from your yard and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

What does it mean to be ready for a delivery? Let me put on my Delivery Driver’s hat and go over some areas where a little forethought can make everybody’s day run smoother.

A good place to begin is knowing who is managing the information flow. How does your crew find out what product is coming to the jobsite, and when it will be there? Someone should decide in advance where the product will be placed for efficient use and general safety, also in what order to bring in materials. You don’t want 20,000 lbs of paver pallets placed in the side yard if a load of aggregate still needs to be dumped in the backyard.

Knowing your jobsite includes knowing the way in from major roads. Look up and around, think about a semitruck driving on that road, unloading, and importantly, getting back out. Confirm the delivery location, especially if it’s new construction that may not be well addressed. Let your Christensen’s Salesperson know about any location concerns ahead of time.

On delivery day our drivers call the contractor before they leave the yard. It’s a quick conversation confirming that a crew will be on-site and ready to receive the delivery.

For plant material there should be enough help to toss cans and stand up trees for your machine to pick them up from the trailer deck. Stage them so they are not in the way and may be watered. Tree balls can be lifted by forks or nursery jaws, or even carefully rolled into a bucket. Potted plants can be slid into a skidsteer bucket or handed-off into the bed of a truck or onto the ground.

Hardscape materials frequently weigh up to 4000 lbs and the deck of a semi-truck may be chin-high. Many skidsteers cannot handle that kind of weight, especially at that height. Consider having a Christensen’s driver unload your product with our Moffett. Our operators are bright and well trained, they can unload and place your product safely and efficiently. Consider having pallets placed near where they will be installed so there are short carrying distances. Keep products that will be blended for color of size patterns near each other. Try to know the ground conditions of your staging area. Stacking pallets on unstable ground can be dangerous. A Moffett is a very large, wide machine. Make sure there is a clear pathway to your staging area.

When there are ancillary products on the delivery consider what must be protected from the weather. For example, polymeric sand must stay dry and glue shouldn’t freeze. Caulk guns and other small tools may “disappear” overnight.

There is, of course, a business component of a materials transaction. Plan payment method ahead of time with your salesperson. Any member of our sales team can accept payment on your order at the Plant & Hardscape Centers or over the phone. Cash, check, credit card, or on your house account. Though our drivers can accept a check, settling ahead of time streamlines the process on delivery day. Whatever the plan for payment is, be sure it is indeed a plan and discuss it with your salesperson.

On the window sill in my office there is an ever growing collection of rocks. Most of them I've found around the grounds of Christensen's, some more exotic ones arrived in tree balls or were given to me by customers. Rocks have interested me since I was a kid. I had 'em stashed everywhere - dirty rocks in my sock drawer, jars and buckets full of rocks all over the yard, and a couple cool polished specimens were displayed on my dresser.

As I got older I wanted to know the stories behind the rocks, what they are made of, and how they came to be where I found them.

Michigan is a fantastic place for a rock-lover to reside due to an amalgamation of geological events.

400 million years ago this area was a briny tropical sea just north of the equator. As the landmass drifted northward jungles full of displaced plants and animals left behind rich soils and minerals, whilst retreating seas precipitated vast deposits of salt and sand. The ancient sea life produced fossils like Petoskey Stones and Crinoids in abundance that we find on our beaches today.

Michigan has something else going for it when it comes to cool rocks. Volcanos!! During the mid-continental rift fiery lava gurgled up great amounts of minerals from the molten belly of our planet. When liquid magma solidifies underground it becomes igneous rocks like granite and obsidian. Granite countertops are made of magma that has slowly cooled under pressure, allowing time for crystallization. A lot of the granite you'll find in Michigan has red in it. The red color comes from the iron oxide that’s mixed in with the feldspar and quartz. When lava cools above ground it hardens into extrusive types of igneous rocks like basalt and pumice. One of my favorite rocks is called pudding stone. It's a colorful conglomerate of red jasper, quartz, and other pebbles that have been metamorphosed into quartzite.

North America was once home to towering ice sheets over a mile thick. The Earth's crust was actually deformed under the weight of these ice age giants. As they slowly scraped their way down the continent countless tons of material were picked up along way (including my pudding stones). The massive ice sheets eventually settled in our Great Lakes Basin and melted, releasing rocks and debris that span both geography and time.

The combination of glacial transportation, continental drift, and volcanic upheaval have led to perhaps the most splendid mixes of rocks of anywhere in the world.

There are so many options when adding lighting to your jobs - wash a wall with bullets, illuminate a path with tall hats, put ledge lights under the steps… but don't forget to look UP. Lighting draws one’s interest to noticing foliage, angles, and shadows. Fountains shimmer, boulders come alive, then one becomes entranced following the craggy trunk of a tree up into the branches.

Anyone can install outdoor lighting, but a truly captivating design that incorporates three dimensions is what's going to sell the project and have the neighbors asking for business cards.

Here’s how: Step back and look at the entire project area. Stand at the road or across it and observe the features of the home and landscape. You may want to note a few lines of sight to areas of focus such as porch pillars, dark corners, or structural trees. Also note the impact of existing light sources on the property and from neighboring homes or street lights. I like to take a screen shot from the satellite map on my phone to draw sight lines, then use the highlighter tool for light coverage areas, using different colors for existing and prospective.

After you have your general ideas plotted, move in closer. Where does the dog run and kids play? Where will people be sitting or cars be parked? Ask the customer how they plan to use the space. The more you are able to plan ahead, as with any job, the greater efficiency you'll have.

For seating areas, as fun as shadow charades may be, you don't want people irritated by a light in their eyes or to have a flood light-washed façade disrupted by a car parked close to the house. Most light fixtures stick up out of the ground, so placement is critical to avoid trip hazards. To highlight a tree trunk select a tight 10-15° beam spread. For more branches use a wider, more flood-like 30-40° pattern.

Bullet fixtures can target a specific object or be used farther away to illuminate a broader area. To really flood an area with light, a Sollos FRF058 or Alliance BL300 will do the trick. Pillars can have wall sconces like the WS200, and those confident to stray off of the instruction sheet can even mount a fixture up in a tree! Ask someone in our Hardscape building how to put a "tree loop" in your wiring so the installation will last as the tree grows.

Other options include lower profile well lights and in-ground fixtures, hanging fixtures, even rolls of tape lights. Check out Alliance's new line of color changing bluetooth fixtures for a customizable show-stopping display! With these new lights, a homeowner can change color for each season and show off to their friends as they slid their thumb around on their phone, changing the lights on a whim.

The possibilities are as endless as your imagination. Search online for inspirational photos and videos or ask the sales team at Christensen's, "What can I do that's different?" In landscaping, our projects can keep us looking down at our work, but please, don't lose sight of what's UP!