Sweeneys Custom Landscaping Articles
DIY Bird Seed
The sun settled into the saddle back of the hill, and tumbled off into the twilight. The shorter Winter days gave way to blushing lavender sunsets, cool and terse. February is upon us. As we begin to settle into our Winter routines while looking forward to Spring, why just fill…
Sowing Seeds in Winter… Outdoors
The air was thin and brittle, like paper. It sliced through flesh, wrinkled with every breath, and crumpled under foot. It was as if nature had been wrapped in a thin layer of cellophane, restrained and crinkling with every movement. It was a bitter and unforgiving landscape that stood stark and…
Surviving Winter: How Birds Cope
Sugar coated shrubs and lace capped trees refreshed the tired and gray landscape. Winter has arrived! As we gaze upon the beauty of Winter from the safety and warmth of home, we ponder nature’s ability to survive such inhospitable conditions, more specifically our fine feathered friends. Not all birds migrate…
Surviving Winter: How Plants & Trees Cope
The clouds descended onto the ground, swallowing the land, tree tops first, and the snow swirled upon the wind before the horizon became entirely blurred. A wondrous and eerie site. Winter was beginning to flex her muscle. Winter can be a brutal but beautiful season, chiseled from marble, dramatic yet…
The Benevolence of Snow
The new year sidled in with the promise of delicately laced trees and downy blankets of snow which would quiet and comfort the landscape. It is both beautiful and treacherous. Snow, for many, is merely a nuisance. Although the aesthetics are undeniable, the beauty, for most, does not outweigh the…
‘Twas the Week Before Christmas
‘Twas the week before Christmas, and all through my mind Every gift had been tracked, and scheduled on time. The tree was half lit with a string that went out I grimaced and fussed, and started to pout. Last minute shopping would not be allowed A threat and a…
8 Easy Tips for Selection & Care of Your Live Christmas Tree
The last of the Oaks discharged their leathery leaves, and the deciduous canopy was completely absent from the landscape. Stark and exposed, their skeletal forms seemed vulnerable and fragile in contrast to the lush, green boughs of the Evergreens who seemed to stand a bit taller with great hubris and beauty….
Feed Them, and They Will Come
The cloudless sky bore the sun’s full potential while the earth exhaled and uncoiled, basking in its warmth and affection. The landscape seemed to soften and stretch in the golden rays as all of God’s creatures took advantage of her benevolence. A rare gift indeed. During early Winter to early-Spring,…
Thanksgiving Wishes
“May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. May all life’s passing seasons bring the best to you and yours.”…
November’s Many Blessings
The month of November brings many joyous gifts and days to celebrate. Daylight savings time’s exit has given us an extra hour of sleep and brighter, lighter mornings. Veteran’s Day offered us an opportunity to express our appreciation, and honor our Veterans. Thanksgiving is a day to share our gratitude…
The Acorn, The Oak, and the Squirrel…
Bittersweet are the sun’s rays that beam through the nearly barren canopies. Bittersweet are the feathery seed heads that mature above the grass. Bittersweet is the rush of cool air that foretells an impending season. Bittersweet is the maturation of acorns that continue to rain down upon the landscape,…
Preparing Trees & Shrubs for Winter
November extinguished the landscape ablaze, leaving only a few smoldering embers amongst the ashes. The trees stood unadorned and humbled as their Autumnal attire laid at their feet. The great sentinels now stood vulnerable and exposed. With Winter nipping at our heels, and the threat of consistent hard frosts, our trees…