MS 150 CITY TO SHORE
This past fall Sam Burk, maintenance account manager, put together a cycling team made up of 2 employees and 2 clients, to participate in the 2009 National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s MS 150 City to Shore cycling ride on October 3rd and 4th. The Bike ride took the 7000 riders from Cherry Hill to Ocean City NJ, and back again, totaling over 156 miles. The rain held off and they had a beautiful weekend for the event.
Sam, Paul, Drew, and Dennis raised over $1600 to support people in the Delaware Valley suffering from MS.
They would like to thank everyone for their support, and encourage others to join them next year.
Habitat for Humanity This spring we will be donating our time and resources for a habitat project in West Chester. Look for details and pictures in our spring newsletter!
GOT CABIN FEVER?
Barry Burkholder is a member of the Delaware Valley Lions Club and is spearheading the first annual 5k,10k. This event will be on March 27 and will feature a childrens race and 1 mile walk. Dust off those running shoes and bring out the family for fun and help in raising money for a worthy cause.
Visit wdvlionsclub.org For details.
Our crews battling the
blizzard of 2009!
Lost Landscapes of the Brandywine Valley
DATE: Tuesday, March 16; 7:00 pm
FEE: $18 Garden pass member / $20 non-member
WHERE: Ballroom
longwoodgardens.org
While gardens and landscapes envelope our lives and help to define our existence, they can be ephemeral. Even the most spectacular and imposing landscapes are subject to change and irreversible loss. Although it is impossible to stop this inevitable change, photographs and documents help to capture the spirit of lost landscapes. In this inspiring presentation Chad shares images and evocations of some of the important gardens and landscapes in our area. Some will be familiar to you, including Gibraltar, Goodstay, and Longwood Gardens. Although these gardens still exist, it is fascinating to see images of how they appeared in their youth and in their heyday. Some gardens you may have heard about, but likely haven’t seen, like The Ruin Gardens at Eleutherian Mills. Whether you are simply interested in seeing moments lost in time or you are a designer hoping to create enduring gardens, studying landscapes of the past is a fruitful way to broaden your understanding.
Refreshments will be provided.
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Welcome
Hello and welcome to our first online newsletter! Here at Burkholder we constantly have new and exciting things going on and our team of professionals is full of useful information that we would like to share. That is the purpose of our newsletter…to keep in communication with you.
Our seasonal newsletters will feature:
- Company news where you will find out what is going on at Burkholder, events we will be attending and community and charitable contributions we have made.
- Expert tips and helpful hints will be related to the season and geared towards maximizing your gardens full potential
- Our featured project section will showcase our work…let us know if you would like to show off your property.
- Our favorite plants section will showcase plants that we love and you will too.
- In team members you should know you will be introduced to our professionals, what their role is at Burkholder and a little about them. Also, any team member achievements will be listed.
- Look for savings: newsletter specials in each addition.
Feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends and family and please, let us know if you have any comments or if there is anything else you would like to see in our newsletters.
COMPANY NEWS
It is an honor to be part of an industry that is becoming more professional and we are proud to be on the forefront of that transformation. As we enter our 15th year as a company our team is prepared to provide an unparalleled customer experience. We are in the relationship business and we understand the importance and balance of building new and maintaining existing relationships. Our investment in LandOpt has helped us recruit and retain the right people who are focused on applying the right energy. There is no denying that these are very challenging economic times. At Burkholder, our culture will not allow us to bury our heads in the sand. We are working hard and we will come out on top!
In an effort to increase awareness and secure our public image, Burkholder is starting off the New Year with a new look. You will see our residential and commercial crewman sporting new uniforms and our trucks driving around with our recently enhanced logo. Most importantly for our customers is our revamped, viewer-friendly website. Check us out at www.burkholderbrothers.com to see updated tips/helpful hints, featured projects, and pictures of our work.
NEWSLETTER SPECIAL
Are you taking advantage of our ‘sit back and relax’ maintenance program?
If not, click here to learn more and to set up a consultation. Mention newsletter to receive 50% off your first months payment for new accounts under agreement before March 1, 2010.
If you are, mention newsletter to your account manager to receive one month of new services free for any new service added to you existing agreement before March 1, 2010.
TRANSFORMING A WOODED PROPERTY CORNER
The Volvano Residence
Fall of 2009
One of many projects completed for the Volvanos over the past 12 years
Tom and Suzanne Volvano came to us seeking a solution to the lack of usable space in their backyard. The Volvano’s backyard was steeply sloping and ended in a wooded area, but they wanted to be able to create an informal area for entertainment and bonfires. To achieve their goal, we began by clearing and leveling the wooded area. We then installed over 20 tons of boulders along with a variety of mixed materials to give their outdoor living space an informal look. Stepping stones were placed in a meandering fashion leading to a pea gravel patio, and boulders were used to create terraces for plantings and lighting within the hill. For a sustainable twist on things, we reused the original flagstone from their front walkway, which we had saved from a project that was completed years earlier. This flagstone was placed in a pattern near a west mountain stone bar, giving their outdoor bar area a uniquely personal design.
Barry, Just a quick note to let you know how much we appreciate all that you have done over the years, including your personal follow-up after the fact and your entire team. We love the new patio and our s’mores party was a blast! Thank You!!!
The Valvano's
WINTER TIME TIPS
- During the winter months an anti-desiccant applied to the leaves of broad leaf evergreens will help prevent winter-burn.
- If your property is frequently visited by deer, you can use a liquid deterrent and or deer fencing to protect your landscape investment.
- One of the best times to prune trees and shrubs is when they are dormant. This involves selective removal of the oldest, heaviest branches from the shrubs. Proper pruning will help shape and enhance the plants natural form.
- Do you have winter interest in your garden? Look out the window….what do you see? Berries?, colored foliage?, colored stems?, flowers? Yes, we said FLOWERS. Think about adding hollies, viburnum, witchhazels, camellias ofrnandina this year. Now is a great time to start planning any landscape changes or enhancements you would like to have completed in the spring.
- When using ice melter, be sure to keep if off the lawn and planting beds. Only use calcium chloride on the concrete surfaces. Rock salt can damage concrete.
- Visit the Philadelphia Flower show in March, or any other garden or home show for landscape inspiration. By the way, see our featured plant.
- Cut some branches from spring-blooming trees and shrubs to force blooms indoors.
- Take a deep breath Spring is coming!!
FEATURED PLANT
Osmanthus heterophyllus 'Goshiki'
Also Known As: Variegated False Holly
Why We like It: As an evergreen shrub, Osmanthus adds color to your garden year round. The holly-like variegated leaves add interest, making this plant suitable for use as a specimen or in massed groupings.
 Where to Plant It: Osmanthus prefers moist and well drained, acidic soil in sun to part shade, but it is fairly adaptable. It is a great plant for borders, screens and hedges, as it is quite spiny and can be a useful barrier planting.
Other Facts: Osmanthus is compact and mound-forming, reaching up to 3 1/2 feet tall and about 3 to 5 feet wide. The leaves are tinged with pink when young and dark green with creamy yellow splotches when mature. The tiny white flowers are extremely fragrant, hidden amongst the leaves, blooming between early and late fall.
FEATURED EMPLOYEE
Kelly Murray
Landscape Designer
Kelly comes from an artistic background in which she studied fine art, design, Art History and dance. This combination of artistic disciplines enables Kelly to take a holistic approach to the design of outdoor spaces. When working on a landscape design, Kelly enjoys getting to know her clients so that she can create a design that best matches their lifestyle, needs, and style of décor. She takes pleasure in balancing color and composition along with period-appropriate materials that match surrounding architecture. A successful design is one that enhances the natural beauty of a landscape; making the area functional and enjoyable.
 Kelly studied Communication and Art History at the University of Delaware, Digital Imaging Design at Corcoran College of Art & Design, and is currently working towards a Master’s in Landscape Architecture at Temple University. In her spare time Kelly acts as the Artistic Director for 180 Dance Company, a contemporary ballet company that performs in the Philadelphia area.
Congratulations to: Craig Wysocki for receiving His ICPI certification,
Richard Scanlan for receiving a certificate in Landscape Design from Morris Arboretum, and Howard Green for his participation Rainbird’s “Irrigation University”.
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