Rossi retaining wall

Our friends, Carole and Ken, wanted to level out their front yard so their dogs would have another area to run. Rooted to the rescue!

Carole is knowledgeable about landscaping and chose dry stack natural stone. The wall was completed in the rain.

The planting on the next work day. A functional front yard!

Milbourne sitting wall

On one of the properties Rooted has tended for some time now, there began to be run off into the pool. A neighbor behind the property cut down some trees. Without tree roots absorbing rain water, hard rains ran straight down and into the pool.

Rooted put in drainage along with a sitting wall to direct water. 

First, excavation.

Musical interludes.

A stucco wall and hand-laid brick. 

The finished product! A beautiful wall for sitting by the pool that also helps divert run-off into the drainage system. Style and function!

Behold: THE FLAME WEEDER!

What does a landscaper ask Santa for Christmas? 

A FLAME WEEDER.

Kevin's kindly parents gifted him a flame weeder with a propane backpack this past holiday season. It lived in our trunk for the 6 hour drive home from Virginia. We've joked with friends about creating a landscaping theme park. You can play with fire! Dig holes! 

A few weeks ago we installed a forsythia hedge for a client. Maine began flame weeding the lawn. Singeing the leaves kills the root system, preventing regrowth. It's a healthier, more organic alternative to landscaping fabric and other bed building methods.

More privacy with the neighbors and the perk of lovely spring blossoms.

Happily, we were able to enjoy tulips planted this past fall. So lovely!

Growing with our community: Progress on the Chen project

We're so happy to grow with clients. A few years ago, a client & friend purchased this fantastic house. The facade, with those big blonde brick walls, offers so many opportunities! We began with a crepe myrtle to train and as a nod to the owner's southern roots.

Later, the owner requested a trellis. Last year, the trellis was photo'd below.

This season, the vines are climbing and bulbs in bloom.

A previous owner's dog kennel has been creatively converted into an outdoor patio space. The twining vine is wisteria getting ready to take over the top of the structure!

And hellebores to brighten the day. A note from our client:

"The new plantings are beautiful!!! I was so excited to see them all and am really stoked about the beautyberry and new forsythia bed. I also think you put the rhododendron in the perfect spot on the side yard under the living room windows.

All the plants are coming along so great, and they really add so much to making the house and yard beautiful. Thank you, Kevin! :) I'm so glad to have you as a landscaper!"

We're so glad to have each of you!

Lemon Balm-- Ease for Seasonal Affect Disorder

A lot is in the ground at the Rooted home garden! First batches of spinach, garlic, kale, potatoes, horseradish, and chard. We've got to get beets and other roots in the ground soon too.

I've been keeping this lemon balm plant on the table while I work. He'll go into the ground soon too. Lemon balm is not perennial in Zone 7, usually, but you can over-winter it in a pot indoors.

I recently learned that lemon balm is helpful in balancing seasonal affect disorder. If you suffer, consider keeping a potted plant nearby. Crush a leaf between your fingers to release the scent. It's said to provide ease.

My friend Toula told me that she takes lemon balm oil daily to fight chronic fatigue syndrome. She's found it really helpful!

To more light & fragrance.

Ice Crystal Salvation

A few hours ago I was frustrated to find the cold water pipe in our downstairs bathroom frozen. We have heat coils on the pipes, but on this crisp ten degree night the three inch section that I couldn't stretch the coils to was ready and willing to freeze. I cursed under my breath and debated whether I should change out of my pajamas and make the journey into the crawl space or take my chances on the pipe bursting. I'm trying hard not to take too many chances.

I decided to make the journey a bit more enjoyable by taking out my Ipod along with the blow dryer. Earlier today I'd been listening to an old episode of 'On Being,' with Krista Tippett interviewing one of my favorite authors, Barbara Kingsolver. As I stepped out into my backyard I had to turn off the Ipod. I could actually hear the cold ringing loud and clear and it was beautiful. The pitch was coming from the small stretch of woods behind our house. I walked back and noticed how beautiful the creek looked. It was only frozen in spots, while other sections were flowing on this frigid night. I stuck my hand into the water and it didn't feel that cold. The ringing was coming from the trees and it was exceptional. I was happy to be outside and didn't feel a bit cold. I walked in the creek for a few hundred feet and observed the beautiful movement of flowing water and ice. Eventually I made my way over to the crawl space and got to work on heating the pipe. I put on my Ipod only to hear the wise words of Barbara Kingsolver: "The changes we dread most may contain our salvation." Yep.

Right Support or My Geodesic dome-dwelling, Dancer, Small Business Mentor

I recently shared a train commute with my friend, Geoff, who founded P'unk Ave, Indy Hall, and other crazy-amazing Philadelphia projects.  We caught up and swapped small business stories (Rooted being much smaller than most of Geoff's projects!).  I shared my desire for a small business mentor to help with some infrastructure.  Geoff said, "You have to meet my friend Amy.  She co-founded Headlong Dance Theater, offers financial literacy to artists, and lives in a geodesic dome in South Jersey."

If you were to ask me to describe my ideal bookkeeper/accountant/business mentor, I GUARANTEE you that contemporary dance and geodesic-dome dweller would be featured in the description.

I've since met with Amy, developed a companionable barter for her services, and am generally exhaling much more freely.  Of course, when it rains it pours.  I've also found a multitude of resources for small businesses.

Thankfully, Rooted Landscaping is super healthy.  And in large part due to this dynamic community, it's only getting stronger!