June 2006
The wind is blowing hard outside, as if a winter's blizzard. But it's June!
The incessant blustering in the trees and creaking of house joints reminds me
of the intense windy drought of 2002. My maple in the back has snapped a few
large branches. Record temperatures are partners to the winds. Gardeners have
been pushing hard to complete projects before the truly hot month of July arrives.
Makes us a bit crabby and goofy.
As gardeners, we are constantly acknowledging where we live, this beautiful
piece of planet earth, spreading out below Pikes Peak. The foothills and the
short grass prairie have evolved and existed in this arid and tough climate.
Drought is here to stay, cycling through every 20 years or so. Climate change
is very evident and we see it every day. Gardeners, especially, witness the
struggle of plants, notice the reduction of bird populations, wonder where the
bees have gone, and wish for the rainy afternoons we used to enjoy in the '80s
and 90's.
Blue Planet Earthscapes and our hard-working partners are trying to fit into
the new situation of the past five years and we find changes may be in order.
With the incredible early heat of June, we find ourselves working long days
and collapsing at day's end from heat exhaustion. We propose earlier hours for
maintenance work with perhaps a siesta in the middle of the day. Some of us
wish to begin our chores at 7 am and working until 2 or 3 p.m. This is the time
of day when the heat really kicks in. We ask you, our beloved clients, to let
us know if this would be a problem for your day.
Blue Planet also will be increasing our installation hourly rate to $35.00 for
installation work and $40.00 for pond work. These figures are in keeping or
below other landscape and pond services. We have added a new crew to perform
these projects, so the regular maintenance can continue fully staffed. (Although
John Staman will continue to oversee the pond work.) We have most, if not all,
our installations in for this year and the ponds are on minimal maintenance
duty, so these changes should not affect most of the Blue Planet clientele.
As ever, please do not hesitate to call if you have questions or concerns. We
value the opportunity to be in service to you and your gardens.
"When the well's dry,
we know the worth of water" Benjamin Franklin