Check out our July newsletter!
JULY 2022
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TO RULE OUR OWN SPIRIT
REFLECTING ON HONESTY
When I was young, our neighborhood was fairly small and tightknit. The adults always encouraged us to work hard, so we tried all kinds of work to make money — especially so we could buy McDonald’s! We mowed lawns, sold Popsicles and gum, and washed cars, and as I’ve covered in an early newsletter, I even sold entries to my own magic show. We learned how to make work for ourselves, but it wasn’t always a chore. Creating value for others (and being rewarded for it!) was fun. However, we also learned the power of honesty in business. Sometimes, people may fail to act honestly due to fear of falling behind or not achieving their personal goals. No matter what business endeavor we tried, though, we didn’t think about failure. It was never more important to be successful than being honest and kind. My parents nurtured values of honesty into our lives in every way they could because every little decision adds up. I’ve talked before in the newsletter about how important integrity is. My parents are a big reason why honesty became an integral foundation for me as a person and business owner. Choosing to act honestly became a big precursor to my thriving business today. In that way, I’m deeply inspired by my parents, and I try to impart the same lessons to my own kids. My girls are a little young for making work for themselves, but in our tree nursery, Gavin has his own little growing area. He even gave some extra plants that we didn’t need to the school he attends. Every couple of weeks, we also have a family meeting where we talk about honesty. As practicing Christians, I remind my kids that God wants us to be people of our word. It’s important not to break promises or make promises you can’t keep. We pray a lot for that.
Honesty isn’t easy, even for adults, but it’s especially useful for adults. I couldn’t agree more with Proverbs 16:32: “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city.” Honesty is a powerful way to rule our own spirit and overcome negative impulses. And while achieving integrity requires constant self-work, acts of honesty often make my business much easier rather than difficult. As an example, a few weeks ago, I was trying to wrap up a deal with a potential client. The project was unique. I knew it would need special treatment to meet the client’s vision of portraying something truly elegant and unique. So I told them, “I’m not a commissioned sales person that is trying to sell you something, I truly believe this will add value and fulfill your vision.” The client totally agreed with me. As it turned out, making a simple effort for transparency gave us both strong validation that we were on the same page. I’m so grateful that my parents put in the work to instill their values of honesty into my life. As a parent and business owner, I’m still learning more about honesty all the time. Join me and let’s tell the truth at least a few times on July 7, in honor of National Tell The Truth Day. Enjoy the sunshine and stay cool this month!
Robert Burns
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WE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS BEAUTIFUL
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HOW TO IDENTIFY
What does it take to be an expert in the landscaping industry? There’s a real answer for that, and it begins with becoming FNGLA-certified. Founded in 1952, the Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association (FNGLA) is the state’s oldest and largest nursery and landscape association. They host a trade show that’s a huge networking event for my industry in the southeastern U.S. Today, they offer comprehensive education courses for outdoor professionals, with a total of six certifications available for outdoor professionals. However, the requirements are very specific. Anyone seeking certification must devote time to their studies and acquire knowledge to pass the
necessary exams to be certified. Outdoor professionals also have to perform a physical demonstration of their abilities for each specific
certification. In addition to providing credentials,
FNGLA also helps industry professionals maintain their knowledge and expertise by requiring continuing education units every three years to maintain certifications.
EXPERTS IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN
As an FNGLA-certified landscaper myself, I also volunteer about 30 hours every two years to maintain my certification. On top of continuing my own education by attending seminars and training, I volunteer to be a judge for various events throughout the state.
SCURVY DOG TEDDY’S PAW-SPECTIVE
Young lads, such as I, get restless. The crew knows not the siren call of the Sea of Lawn Grass and the rabbits that hide beneath her long green fur. Oh, how her whispers grew stronger in the black of night! To comfort my sadness, I would howl, “Be still, me heart!” But the louder I’d howl, the sooner I was put in a plastic prison made for mice, not for men … or their best friends.
Ahoy, me newsletter hearties! It be I, Teddy — but alas, I be not as ye last saw me.
So, I snuck out. (Don’t ask how — me cap’n and her first mate read this newsletter, so my secrets must stay hidden, or I’d have to make ye walk the plank, savvy?)
Hunting rabbits be me new calling since spring. Now, my cap’n (my mom, of course) and her crew are good people. The little ones are even decent swashbucklers, as quite a few tug o’ war duels have ended in stalemates. Alas, once a day, humans sleep. And then, they sleep even more.
Sprinting into the dog door, I suddenly felt the outside breeze hit me as if Cap’n just opened the car window. Freedom! Then, the Sea of Lawn Grass — the brush of cool, crisp grass had never felt so sweet! But I couldn’t roll and relish in the moment. I spotted a familiar sight: two tall, soft ears and a ball of white fluff in the grass. Suddenly, it turned to me looking at me with one of its bright red eyes. That’s when I knew: He be the Shanks to me Blackbeard. We were eternal enemies, adrift in forsaken waters, knowing naught of our purpose besides to kill or be killed.
I lurched, but his sea legs be hoppier than mine. I bit into the grass, and the rabbit was gone.
Some say he’s out there, still hopping to this day. I will not rest until our paws cross again.
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LANDSCAPE - HARDSCAPE - IRRIGATION - OUTDOOR LIGHTING
407.702.7905
OUR CLIENTS SAY IT BEST! “Robert, I just wanted to shoot you a quick note with a sincere THANK-YOU for the work that you and your team did on our property. In our eyes, you all went above and beyond our expectations. The dedication of your team by working in the nasty weather and being meticulous as they were was incredible. Thank you again for the great work you and your team did — I will certainly be recommending your group to all of my contacts and will definitely be in touch for future projects.” – Dave Evans
These designations have truly raised the bar across the whole industry and have helped the public identify the most dedicated professionals in the field. Being part of the FNGLA also helps landscape designers
like me stay connected with Florida and its green community as well as new efficiencies created to boost our community’s efforts.
The horticulture industry generates billions of dollars in revenue and directly employs hundreds of thousands of people in Florida. It’s pretty amazing how the FNGLA has become the largest, most important association in the state that communicates horticulture standards in the industry. If your landscape designer is an expert — in other words, truly committed and passionate about their craft — being certified by the FNGLA is one way you can recognize their dedication.
Robert Burns
“If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” –Ecclesiastes 4:10 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” –Proverbs 27:17 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” –Ephesians 1:17 HAVE YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS?
EASY OUT
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WE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS BEAUTIFUL
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BLGENVIRONMENTAL.COM 407.702.7905
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Schedule a Free Design Consultation with Robert Burns
WE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS BEAUTIFUL
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Why Honesty Matters
How to Find Landscape Experts Teddy’s Pawspective: Scurvy Dog
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The Good News Hear From Our Clients Take a Break!
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Oceanside Activities to Try This Summer
The summer season is officially underway and many Americans are planning to take a trip to the beach to celebrate the occasion. If you’re going on a family vacation to the ocean for an extended period of time, you may be worried about keeping everyone entertained. That’s why we put together a list of some of our favorite oceanside activities to try this summer. Your summer vacation will be filled with fun and excitement after trying some of these great activities! Get active. There’s nothing more relaxing than sitting on the beach and listening to the calm repetition of the waves, but maybe you want a little more excitement by the ocean. If that’s the case, there are plenty of sports to try. You can bring a football and throw it around in the water or on the beach. You can buy a net and set up a game of beach volleyball to get everyone involved, or you can try one of the many new beachside sports hitting the market like Tidalball, pickleball, and Spikeball. Tidalball is the beach version of cornhole, so if you haven’t played it yet, you definitely want to check it out. Experience nature. The wildlife and environment of the beach are most likely drastically different from what you can experience back home, so make an effort to see all you can. At many beaches, you’ll be able to see dolphins, whales, and sea rays from the shore. You can also look in the sand for crabs and small crustaceans. OCEANSIDE ACTIVITIES THE ENTIRE FAMILY CAN ENJOY
By simply standing still and taking in all of the sights and sounds of the ocean, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the surroundings.
Ride the waves. You don’t need to be an experienced surfer to venture into the water on a board. Of course, you can take surfing lessons at many beaches, but you can also get in the water on a bodyboard for a thrilling experience. Additionally, you can rent kayaks or paddleboards if you want to be on the water, but not necessarily in it.
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LANDSCAPE - HARDSCAPE - IRRIGATION - OUTDOOR LIGHTING
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