BLG Environmental Services - September 2021

BLG Environmental Services - September 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021

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MEET MY FAMILY’S HOMELAND, HAIKU

SEEING HOW THE LANDSCAPES IN HAWAII COME TOGETHER, FROM THE WATER ALL THE WAY TO THE MOUNTAINS, ALWAYS PUTS A NEW ENERGY IN ME, AND I’M SO, SO GRATEFUL TO DO WHAT I DO TODAY.

HAPPY HERITAGE DAY!

I’ve written a bit about my Portuguese-Hawaiian heritage before, but after my recent visit to Hawaii — and considering it’s Heritage Day on Sept. 24 — I thought I’d share a little bit of my recent reflections about how that heritage makes me incredibly grateful and proud today. Sometime in 1860, my father’s great-great- grandfather sailed to Hawaii from Portugal. It took months, since it was before the Panama Canal and you had to sail around South America at the time. When he finally arrived on the island of Maui, he settled in a town called Haiku and started getting into herding cattle and farming sugar cane and pineapple. That continued for over a hundred years. My family and I didn’t live in Hawaii, but we’d always fly back to visit and, naturally, I took it completely for granted. Even though Haiku is on the north shores of Maui — where there are huge cliffs and 40-foot waves — it’s truly a majestic tropical paradise, with million-dollar views everywhere you look on the property.

The land has changed a little bit now, although it’s still as inspiringly beautiful as ever. Much of our land has been distributed among our various splits of families or sold for development. My dad had inherited nearly 25 acres, and we eventually sold it off because it was just too much.

When I was a kid, playing with sticks in nature, I really had no idea how valuable this land was. But today, especially with my profession as a landscape designer, being there constantly blows me away. Call me biased, but I think Hawaii is the “shining sea” that the American lyric “from sea to shining sea” refers to. It motivates me to work harder at achieving that same feeling for all our clients. When you walk into your backyard, I want you to be blown away, too. Creating our clients’ own perfect paradise is something that brings a special joy to our team and myself, personally. Seeing how the landscapes in Hawaii come together, from the water all the way to the mountains, always puts a new energy in me, and I’m so, so grateful to do what I do today.

However, my uncles still run some of the farmland and are developing our remaining land to further subdivide it for the family. We’re essentially creating our own little neighborhood in Haiku! I went back on my own to help them and it was a lot of fun for us, with plenty of time to hang out, relax, and catch up. Would we ever leave Florida to live there? While I adore my visits, I’m not sure how much I want to live in Hawaii because it’s tremendously expensive. It’s a tough place to start a business and get ahead; there’s simply bigger and added costs for everything you want to do. However, it still takes my breath away to see our mango orchard that was planted in the 1920’s.

Thanks for reading, friends. I hope you have a beautiful start of your fall season.

Robert Burns

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No matter what your landscape plans are, waterfalls are often a perfect, gorgeous touch to your personal paradise. But while many people want beautiful water features in their backyards, many people also don’t realize that ponds often require a lot of maintenance to keep them looking fresh and clean. It causes some people to avoid having water features in their backyards. That’s why at BLG Environmental, we’ve become very familiar with the installation and various designs of Aquascape Pondless waterfalls, a water feature that provides the relaxing sounds and appearance of a waterfall without any of the maintenance.

Even Busy Families! EVERYONE LOVES AQUASCAPE PONDLESS WATERFALLS

THE SOS NOTE CHICKS DIG IT

Whew, I’m glad I got ahold of you newsletter folk. Howdy!

do that for you.” So, Ella and I take all them homeless baby saplings and make them comfortable in our own patch of land. It’s a fun time, even with a little rain.

This is not Ella, but her stuffed unicorn, Bubba Friday, who often comes along with her for her farming adventures.

Then, it started raining harder.

Now, I started to float and became nearly indistinguishable from a nearby bush, but Ella’s so busy working the field, she’d hardly saw me turn into a mud armadillo egg. Before I knew it, I saw her pick up those mighty scissors and walk towards the brush I was tangled up in — stuck in the rain, mud, and about to be pruned. I’ll be honest, in terms of scale, that little girl holding garden shears looked just like a kumquat holding a grapefruit. I’ve never prayed harder in my life. It was only by a miracle that Papa Burns called Ella back to the truck, and she realized by the sparkle of my nose that she nearly gave me my last haircut. So, please watch out for that Ella — she’s spending more time in the wild, and she’s a dangerous one.

As I write this, the curtain of night falls heavy, and the first star in the afternoon sky twinkles like an omen. Now, you might be wondering what a little fluff-stuffed unicorn like me might be doing writing such a cry for help. However, my friends, I’ve just returned from a long, harrowing journey from the nursery.

I bring you a grave warning: Keep your scissors close.

Ella fears no man and no force of nature — including rain. To be honest, I don’t mind a little rain either. We had a jolly time hopping in Papa Burns’ truck and riding over to the tree farm, since our farm is right next to his. Many of his guys got a spare baby sapling that needs love, and we say, “Hey, we could

Sincerely, Bubba Friday

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OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST! I am so pleased with the transformation of my backyard by BLG. I had a vision swampy. I constantly struggled to get anything to grow and to look nice. Now I have a firepit, a paved sitting area, a turf area for my dog, a raised planter for my herbs, and an amazing array of plants, shrubs, and trees. It really comes alive at night with the beautiful lightning. It’s a real Disney atmosphere! I can’t thank Robert and his team enough for transforming my backyard into a place I love. His team was very professional, kept the property very clean during the project, and completed everything in a very timely manner. It’s the best money I ever spent!” —Tomasena Bivins of a backyard oasis. Robert and his team well exceeded that. My property backs up to conservation that is very

What is a pondless waterfall? It’s a recirculating waterfall or stream without the presence of a pond. By pumping water contained in a large, in-ground reservoir up and through the waterfall spillway, it can flow back down into the reservoir. Recirculating the water means no still water to clean, and kids and pets can’t make a mess, either. Even if space is limited in your yard, you can have a pondless waterfall. Aquascape’s Pondless waterfalls are also energy-efficient, which makes upkeep especially affordable. We’ve done a number of these features, including Robert Burns’ own home. During any beautiful day in Florida, you can open the back doors and allow the sound of water to fill your home. We also highly recommend placing a pondless waterfall near your doors or windows, so you don’t miss out on its peaceful sounds when you’re indoors. It’s a supremely serene experience. And the most convenient part? If you do decide that you want a pond later on, it’s very easy to add it! Just let us know, and we’ll be happy to create a pond design to complement your landscape best.

Robert Burns

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.” –Psalm 23:1-2 “For the Lord your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.” –Deuteronomy 15:6 “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” –Proverbs 16:20 HAVE YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS?

EASY OUT

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WE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS BEAUTIFUL

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Meet Haiku, Hawaii — Where My Family Moved In 1860

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Why Everyone Loves Aquascape Pondless Waterfalls Chicks Dig It: The SOS Note

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The Good News Hear From Our Clients Take a Break! The Best Places to Visit in Croatia

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THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN CROATIA YOUR NEXT AFFORDABLE VACATION SPOT!

Split The second largest city in Croatia (the first being Zagreb) is Split, founded by a Greek colony in the second or third century B.C. Historically, Split enjoyed being an independent city-state many times, and that free spirit is very tangible, as Split is very different from any other city in Croatia. With well-preserved Roman architecture and a multitude of museums, it’s no wonder Split is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Although Croatia was among the first UN countries to open its doors to Americans, always be safe and check the newest regulations before booking your travel. Hopefully you enjoyed learning about this unique, wonderful country!

This gorgeous coastal nation will absolutely blow you away with its beautiful architecture, landscapes, and delicious blend of Mediterranean and Slavic cuisine. Even better, it’s a fairly affordable place to visit! While many travelers land in Zagreb, the beautiful capital city and cultural hub, you wouldn’t want to miss these destinations. Dubrovnik As the “Pearl of the Adriatic,” this coastal city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Adriatic Sea. It’s a beautiful city, featuring 13th century walls, marble stone streets, Gothic palaces, breathtaking churches, and an imposing fortress. There’s so much to do in the town square — one of Croatia’s largest and most beautiful — and you’ll

be able to explore many historic structures nearby. Nature also has plenty to offer, with secluded coves and beaches nearby for exploration. Plitvice Lakes National Park Near the border with Bosnia-Herzegovina, you’ll find one of Croatia’s oldest and most beautiful national parks and a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site. Although it’s quite the drive, you won’t regret it — the park has an outstanding and picturesque series of tufa lakes and caves, all connected by waterfalls. With over 16 interconnected cascading lakes, it’s unlike anything else you’ll see. If you get hungry, you’ll love the nearby National Restaurant Licka Kuca, which is famous for its traditional Croatian preparation of lamb under a cast-iron bell.

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LANDSCAPE - HARDSCAPE - IRRIGATION - OUTDOOR LIGHTING

407.702.7905