Preston Road Client/BEFORE and AFTER

BEFORE

Early Spring

AFTER

Today/6/27/Monday during our maintenance visit

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Our wonderful client on Preston Road works constantly and she knows very little about gardening. Her intro to us was: I don’t garden, I don’t want to garden and I don’t want to learn to garden, but I’d like to have one to enjoy and look at when I arrive home from my office.

Her honestly was so amazing, we could not resist wanting to teach her a little. Well-well..,,we have managed to nudge her interest and curiosity just a little, because she is so excited now to have a pink hydrangea this year. She has always wanted one. And she now even knows the names of all her “perennial” plants. Her $$$ investment in perennials was an easy “sell” because she would rather pay a little more to be rewarded each year with more robust and longer lasting plants. She agrees that buying “annuals” is a waste of money and time. But we have agreed to have a few Pansies from October through May and then a few Begonias in the summer months for just for a little added color. Simple additions…

She’s pleased as punch with her garden these days. It has   taken us three gardening seasons to establish healthy plants, but it is pretty stable and healthy looking now. She does have a very large tree that hangs over her bed space  so daily picking up of leaves and sticks that drop into her bed is very common. We take care of that for her. Our pleasure of course.

This year…. we are providing maintenance/watering for her, and daily we communicate by txt on next steps. Today we added a new flowering shade perennial called Columbine.  A sweet very unusual bloomer….and this one in the center front of her garden bed is such a pretty color. Very delicate…. and if you look…. ever so closely…..it’s quite an amazing little plant soecimen; if we do “say so. We picked it out for her.

“Contessa” says…it’s all good.

EA is our “lady” Homeowner

7 am Sunday morning and we have arrived at “lady EA’s” place. She has been residing here now for two years and gradually, as her gardener we have transformed a plant-less plot into a very inviting and very well planned out corner property. Roughly a 45 x 45 ft section of the front was a packed Native Ivy Bed. We have…,vine by vine….removed all of it. The pulling process took a solid week and we did it while EA was away. The goud news is the following spring not one Ivy vine returned.

Parkfairfax then planted a small Holly tree at her request. And we began creating a garden space with new bushes to enhance the front center bed. We now have three Crimson Red Azalea bushes, two “Lady Red” Knock Out Rose bushes, two pinkish winter blooming Camellia’s, two sweet smelling Gardenia’s, just planted one week ago and three transplanted Day Lilies which we will yet divide again and create some new plants along the side if the house. EA has a very petit garden Etagere which accommodates five perennial plants potted in colorful planters. And we have  added a metal hanging basket with White and Pink Geraniums, Petunias and white Verbena.

This year….her second season Blue Hydrangea has quite a number of blossoms. The branches are heavy with fairly good sized blossoms for a two year old bush. The stems are still thin but within the next couple years they will strengthen, thicken and mature in size to support larger blossoms each year. It’s a powder blue so we are using a Nutone Hydrangea plant food to strengthen it to produce it’s true blue color. It’s a bit of a “Drama Queen” in terms of playing wilted when it’s warm outdoors, but Hydrangeas do this until they are three or four years established in their “spot.” We are delighted with its growth and it’s size in only two years time. And this year we added right beside and near it ….a beautiful pinkish/purple “Dahlia” tuber.  Beautiful blossoms and it’s also just getting started. They compliment each other beautifully

All in all…, EA’s lovely little end unit has taken on a very established look in a very short time. Often as we are working there…… we can hear complimentary comments at how pretty the property is looking. It’s come a long way and we are only just beginning. People tell us they walk up this way on Beverley Drive,  just to enjoy and see if anything new has been added to EA’s pretty garden.

We now are providing daily tidying and watering service to help keep EA a very happy “lady.”

Indeed our pleasure to garden here.

“Contessa”says…… its all good.

 

Monthly Maintenance is available…..July/August/September – REVISED – Monday – 6/20 – 2:45 pm

NEW:  We have four (4) current clients who have requested monthly “maintenance contracts.” And so we have decided to offer this service for the three summer months only. July/August and September. Maintenance will include watering as needed, light tidying of debris in the garden beds and when we visit we will make note of gardening task items that we can do at our regular gardening rate and notify you of these items, so we can schedule work task appointments to complete your work. 

Our monthly fee is $150 for maintenance/watering. If the temps are over 86 degrees we will water daily, until there is a break in the temperature. A number of you don’t want or have time to water. Folks…..It’s simply essential in VA during the summer months. And most  of the time….your garden needs water every day. So think about subscribing to this three (3) month service contract with us. Just txt or email us with your permission to START. 

NEW
We now also accept payments via: VENMO.

Again you asked for it, so we have set it up for your convenience. Just ask us for LOGIN instructions. No more writing of checks or scrambling to get cash  

Progress…. We love it.
“Happy Summer!”

”CONTESSA”

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REVISED – SUNDAY- 6/19 – 7:22 pm 

So in the last two days we introduced Summer Maintenance   and watering contracts for July/August and September at a fee of $150 per month.

Four of our current clients are already signed up. They will pay by the month and we will water and tidy beds as required. If temps are 86 degrees and above we will come every day, until there is a break in the weather. While  at your garden we will do light tidying.  And make special note of tasks that need attention. We will keep a list for each client. When we think it’s time, we will then seek an appointment to complete “bed work” at our regular rate.

This summer it is going to be a very hot one. Many of you have new plants and bushes this year. We installed them. So for the sake of your expenditures, watering is absolutely essential to establish healthy perennials. They cost more but in the long run are a savings because they reward you with years of beauty. We are happy to help care for and preserve. Just give us a jingle and get on our list of clients who have already signed up for our maintenance and watering contract. You will be very pleased you did. 

“Contessa” says….. it’s all good!

REVISED – Monday – 6/20 – 2:45 pm 

We just booked another client for monthly Maintenance and Watering. So five (5) of you are now on the list. It’s a blessing that we have you….and a blessing that you can rest assured your gardens during our hottest months will teceive the care they need. And it very much helps us in setting up new business,  with folks who are completely new to our services. Thank you very much.

“CONTESSA”