BLG Environmental Services - February 2022

BLG Environmental Services - February 2022

FEBRUARY 2022

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LIVING OUT YOUR PERSONAL ‘GROUNDHOG DAY’?

A REFLECTION ON LOST TIME

Have you ever seen that Bill Murray movie, “Groundhog Day”? It’s about a cynical reporter doing a TV segment on a unique tradition invented in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where, for the past 125 years, a specific groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil is observed for his ability to predict if the spring will arrive early.

to look at our kids’ eyes and smile, or in feeling grateful to live in the United States, where many routes toward happiness and fulfillment are possible.

When it feels like every day is the same, it can be depressing for some people. However, with a little practice cultivating a new outlook, the routine can change and feel completely different. To be honest, it wasn’t “Groundhog Day” the movie that taught me that lesson exclusively. My new journaling habit also helped.

Although I’ve never put much stock into the groundhog theory, when I noticed the holiday on the February calendar, it instantly reminded me of the movie and how deeply relevant it still is to adult life. In the movie, Murray’s character initially has a difficult time appreciating his life to the fullest extent — while he appreciates his position as a reporter and his promising future in his career, he feels trapped by his assignment to a “boring” little town to cover a “boring” little tradition. Then, after being trapped in the town due to a snowstorm, the unthinkable happens: He wakes in a time loop, cursed to repeat his day in Punxsutawney over and over again.

IF WE’RE NOT ATTENTIVE, IT CAN FEEL LIKE WE’RE HITTING A REPEAT BUTTON EVERY DAY AND WE CAN’T MAKE IT STOP.

Every day, I write down six words to represent my activities and/or mindset that day. It’s an extraordinary exercise because it forces me to decide the most important detail of my day, every day. By the end of the week, I can often see a single trend or thread that strung my whole week together. I recommend you try it!

Maybe you’ve been struggling to let go of control in certain areas of your life, but the journal proves it was all paranoia. Everything was always going to be okay. This is a frequent reminder I get through my journal, and it’s a reminder

most entrepreneurs like myself need.

In life, our expectations can differ from reality all the time. But, as Murray finds out, that’s because life isn’t all about us — it’s also about the people around us. When you go out of your way to help other people, it gives you instant perspective. You appreciate what you really have, not what you think you have. Days can blend together easily as an adult — many of us have regular jobs we return to day after day, and if we’re not attentive, it can feel like we’re hitting a repeat button every day and we can’t make it stop. However, finding new opportunities to keep learning keeps daily life fresh, and it often requires an attentive appreciation for our lives, whether that means at work, in finding time

Ultimately, “Groundhog Day” reminded me of a recent theme in my life: To cherish your current moments in time. Consider the most valuable ways you spend your time every day, then decide to spend enough time doing them.

Robert Burns

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WE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS BEAUTIFUL

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Which Camellia Should You Buy?

Hi, friends. If you’re creating a Southern-style garden retreat in your backyard, it wouldn’t be complete without a certain beautiful South favorite — the camellia flower. It’s one of my personal favorite blooming shrubs, and many of our clients love them just as much as I do. These gorgeous red, white, or pink flowers will bloom in the fall and winter, giving you one more thing to look forward to during the cool seasons in Florida. Within your design, camellias are extremely versatile. They can be used for foundation plantings, screens, accent plants, background groupings, and even hedges. Although the flowers bloom in fall and winter, the foliage is evergreen with interesting shapes and textures. Its slow growth makes camellias excellent landscaping plants.

Not all Florida gardeners know the variety of camellias is enormously vast — while some big-box garden stores may only carry the most common camellia japonica, local nurseries, public gardens, and even camellia societies can suggest many more.

CAMELLIAS: WHY I LOVE THIS SOUTHERN FAVORITE

Apparently, many people cook in restaurants, and that’s how they make money. Did you know that cooking is super easy, though? Some people (my parents) have even called me an expert chef! Because you’re our newsletter friends, I thought I’d share with you a few of my little secrets. ALL-NATURAL VEGETABLE STEW CHICKS DIG IT

The key ingredient to any dish is water — and dirt. Lots of dirt! My motto is that if you can dig, you can cook. After all, it’s not about eating it at the end; it’s about the fun we had along the way! The first step to creating my signature, all-natural vegetable stew starts with digging into the ground, then pouring in water. Find a big reliable branch to stir your stew,

then add in smaller twigs, and leaves. You want to stir until the broth thickens nicely, mostly due to the dirt. The secret to a great stew is that you want customers to keep on guessing what’s in it. Is it a carrot? Is it noodles? Nope, it’s wooden twigs! Why cook if you can’t eat the food at the end, right? The garden is full of cool-looking things like unique leaves and branches, so why not make a stew from them? The best part is when I show my family so they can appreciate how hard I’ve worked, too. One day, I’ll move on to making edible vegetable stews. Gavin wants to plant a vegetable garden, and he’s willing to share all of those fresh-grown vegetables for my stews and dishes! It’ll be like a family project, except we eat it and it disappears. My parents might be more enthusiastic about edible stews, too — they’re not always excited when I go outside and dig holes for all-natural stew … Oh well! A little mud on my shoes is a small price to pay for a whole lot of fun!

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OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST!

That can be extremely useful for a landscape designer like myself, since camellia plants vary widely in mature size and light requirements. Whether you have a shadowy area or a sunny spot in your landscape, more likely than not, I can find the perfect camellia to work in your landscape. Camellia plants also can bloom at various times, so if you want a garden with continuous bloom, we can select carefully based on that. When you consider that camellias are long-lived and can sometimes live off just rainwater after the first year of planting, it’s not hard to see why these beautiful plants are well worth the investment. My favorite camellia is the ShiShi Gashira camellia, which is a vibrant pink, semi-double bloom flower with golden yellow centers and glossy, dark green foliage. It’s lovely in a landscape as a colorful low hedge, espalier, or high-profile groundcover. If you’re interested in planting camellias for your landscape design, don’t hesitate to give me a call.

Robert and his team did an unbelievable job. From design start to finish they were true professionals.

They took an outdated pool deck and an uninviting back yard and transformed it into a wonderful modern inviting space. Our family is outside enjoying the new area almost daily. I have hosted multiple gatherings since they completed the work and all of my guests love the new design. My only regret: Why didn’t I hire these guys sooner?!” – Jeff Jones

Robert Burns

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! - 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Joshua 1:9 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” - Isaiah 55:12 HAVE YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS?

EASY OUT

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WE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS BEAUTIFUL

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WE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS BEAUTIFUL

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Is Lost Time Truly Wasted?

What’s the South’s Favorite Flower? Chicks Dig It: Ella’s All- Natural Cooking The Good News Hear From Our Clients Take a Break! Include Mother Nature in Your Next Date

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Did your significant other leave it up to you to come up with a romantic date idea this Valentine’s Day? Luckily for you, there are tons of date activities that are easy and affordable for you to enjoy with Mother Nature. While the possibilities are endless outside, here are three popular outdoor date ideas! Watch the sunset. Sunsets are intuitively romantic: The sun paints the sky in calming reds, pinks, and purples, creating a beautiful backdrop. While watching the sunset, you and your partner can have a romantic picnic with the sky in view. Or you can embrace the scenery with your other half and create memories you both will never forget. Go stargazing. If you live in the city, stargazing is a good chance to escape for the night and get away from the light pollution in the city. If you already live in a location where you can easily see the stars, take advantage of the peaceful privacy with your loved one. Maybe you’ll spot a shooting star you can wish upon while you’re out there! YOU, ME, AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS 3 OUTSIDE DATE NIGHT IDEAS

Hit up a drive-in movie. If you’re looking for a way to be extra comfy while still sitting outside, a drive- in movie is the best destination! The best part about a drive-in is that you can view both new and old movies as well as bring your own snacks and drinks. If the weather permits and if you have a truck, you can load the bed with blankets and pillows and have a cozy night while watching a movie. These date night ideas are perfect for Valentine’s Day, but they don’t have to be limited to just the holiday! You can also consider these for any date that you have with your significant other. Nothing brings couples closer like being together with nature.

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LANDSCAPE - HARDSCAPE - IRRIGATION - OUTDOOR LIGHTING

407.702.7905