Check out our September newsletter!
SEPT 2022
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MY FAMILY’S SURPRISING CIVIL WAR HISTORY — IN POLITICS
Hello, everyone! In last year’s September edition, you may recall I talked about Heritage Day and how my father’s great-grandfather had sailed to Hawaii from Portugal sometime in 1860. My Hawaiian- Portuguese heritage is special to me, but so is my American heritage on my mother’s side — and that’s the story I wanted to tell today. My grandmother on my mother’s side was a Morgan, or the same family as J.P. Morgan, a historic American financier and investment banker. Our branch was more distantly related to J.P. Morgan, since we were more closely related to two other prominent members of the family: Edwin D. Morgan and his grandson Edwin D. Morgan III. My great-great-great-great-grandfather Edwin D. Morgan was a governor of New York and served as an Union Army general and U.S. senator. It would seem the “business savvy” gene was very strong in the Morgan family, since one of Morgan’s first big accomplishments was becoming a successful wholesale grocer and bond broker. Yet, he always showed an interest in politics. Edwin was never ignorant of the politics in his local area. As a smaller grocer in Hartford, Connecticut, he worked in city council. After moving to New York, his grocer business grew tremendously, but he also became a member of the New York City Board of Assistant Alderman. His name grew more recognizable as he became chairman of the Sanitary Committee during the cholera epidemic of 1848. A couple years later, he was elected to become a senator.
As internal political tensions were rising, he became a highly influential player in politics. As a Whig — a prominent anti-slavery party that developed under President Andrew Jackson — Edwin later became one of the founders of the Republican Party, which, as you may know, was Abraham Lincoln’s party. He served as the first and longest-serving chairman of the Republican National Committee, from 1856 to 1864, and then 1872 to 1876. Simultaneously, he also served as governor of New York from 1858 to 1862. He’d spoken to Lincoln on several occasions in his career. One of the best documented interactions happened in 1860, right after Abraham Lincoln was confirmed as the Republican Party’s candidate for the presidential election. According to Pennsylvania Congressman William D. Kelley’s account, Edwin, as the party chairman, senator, and governor, was the “most commanding figure of the visiting party.” (For further context, an infamous Illinois politician, Stephen A. Douglas, was known as “The Little Giant.”) “Mr. Lincoln, as if determined to elicit a colloquy, said, ‘Pray, Governor, how tall may you be?’ ‘Nearly 6 feet 3,’ said the brawny and distinguished man, who relapsed into silence, and was thus likely to embarrass his eager interlocutor. But, interposing, I somewhat boisterously exclaimed: ‘And pray, Mr. Lincoln, how tall may you be?’ ‘6 feet 4,’ said he. [Upon hearing this,] I bowed profoundly, saying: ‘Pennsylvania bows humbly before New York, but still more humbly before Illinois. Mr. Lincoln, is it not curious that I, who for the last 12 years have yearned for a president to whom I might
look up, should have found one here in a state where so many people believe they grow nothing but ‘Little Giants?’ A peal of laughter greeted this interjection. The ice was broken.” In their years of politics together, Edwin shared dinner at his home with Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, and even his grandson Edwin D. Morgan III had met the president. Morgan III would go on to become a highly successful businessman, a shareholder in many significant livestock interests, and the founder of Nassau Light and Power. He had a great love for the sea and won the America’s Cup Yacht Race in 1901 aboard the yacht Columbia. He traveled the world — when my mother took me to Scotland, she showed me all the castles he visited and stayed at. I’m so grateful to know so much about my ancestry. Even if their accomplishments weren’t as interesting, I feel lucky to know so much about them, despite all the time that’s passed. Thanks for reading, and tell me your heritage stories! I’d love to hear them.
Robert Burns
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From Start to Finish, You’ll Want BLG for Every Step CLIENTS LOVE US 6 REASONS WHY OUR
Whether you’re admiring your outdoor sanctuary from afar or watching your children getting married in your own backyard, your landscape can evoke feelings of safety, beauty, and tranquility that make you and your loved ones feel at home. Hiring BLG Environmental can bring you one step closer to the landscape of your dreams. Here are just six reasons why. First, we provide a trusted advisor. Robert Burns not only has many years of experience in landscape design, but as an FNGLA-certified landscape designer, he also has become a trusted expert in his field among his peers. He knows projects inside and out, so you’ll never be left in the dark. Second, our team has years of real-world experience in landscape design and executing the design to perfection. You aren’t only benefiting from Robert’s experience. With years of installation experience, our team will ensure your yard design is well rounded in all areas, including landscape selection and hardscape, irrigation, and outdoor LED lighting design. Third, you’ll always be provided with creative, value-based designs. No matter your budget or stylistic preferences, we believe that we can create a design that you’ll fall in love with.
ELLA’S BIKING ADVENTURE CHICKS DIG IT
Lionel, my gang, and I would traverse every landscape and ride into every horizon. Alas, it didn’t happen.
Life as we knew it changed forever … because my little sister, Juliet, wanted to join my new club.
I didn’t have a choice, because she acted like she was already in the gang. Juliet follows me
Hi everybody! It’s Ella. If you’ve read past newsletters, you probably think I’ve been spending the summer painting or working on my farm (conveniently located at my dad’s nursery). Nope — I’ve been biking, rain or shine. Even on the hottest days of the year!
everywhere I go anyway. At the same time, she’s too independent! She always wants to strap in her own seat belt and gets upset when you try to help her. Even if she’s my sister, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever understand her.
Since I’ve turned 6, I guess I’ve become a little wiser. On the gang’s first outing to the park, I asked Dad to come along, and — naturally — Juliet joined us. Even though it was hot, we made it all the way there. We were really proud. Juliet was in the kid’s seat of the big bike operated by Dad, so she wasn’t even biking herself. But she felt
Sure, my bike might not have a motor. But, even if my bike has more Disney Princesses than horsepower, I’ve started my very own biking gang!
You’ve probably never heard of a biking gang. That’s okay, I’ll tell you: Biking gangs are clubs for people who wear leather jackets, ride cool motorcycles, and plant trees together. Don’t believe me? I asked an adult to make sure, and they said yes. These are the kinds of things you only learn from working near a nursery. Anyway, I started recruiting not long ago. Lionel, my stuffed lion, was quick to join.
so accomplished! It should’ve annoyed me, but out of nowhere, I wasn’t mad about it. I just wanted to give her a big bear hug and celebrate together. It’s nice having someone to celebrate things with, as hard as it is to admit. It’s exciting to experience small victories but even more exciting to experience them together. When bikers meet at their nursery and plant trees together, I’m sure they have the same feeling.
I had such big dreams of biking across the world and seeing all the trees we could plant together.
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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 of a backyard oasis. Robert and his team well exceeded that. My property backs up to conservation that is very swampy. I constantly struggled to get anything to grow and 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, they kept the property very clean during the project, and they completed everything in a very timely manner. It’s the best money I ever spent!” – Tomasena B.
Fourth, our team cares about what we do. We’ve been in the business for a long time, but we’re just getting started. Passion for landscape design drives us toward giving better results every time. Fifth, we provide excellent day-to-day management. Your project has a dedicated on-site manager there everyday, so you’ll always get our entire team’s 110% effort. There’s no cramming or piling multiple projects for extra “profits” — we only want fantastic results at BLG Environmental. Sixth, our company stands behind our work and will always be there if you need anything. We take nothing for granted, so if you have any questions or concerns, we always respond in a flash. BLG Environmental Services is committed to designing a landscape for your home that will last. If you agree, the best compliment you can give us is a referral. A majority of our customers come from referrals, and we deeply appreciate every opportunity to continue doing what we love most. Thank you for all your support!
Robert Burns
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” –Deuteronomy 31:6 “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” –2 Timothy 1:7 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” –Isaiah 41:10 HAVE YOU HEARD THE GOOD NEWS?
EASY OUT
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WE MAKE YOUR OUTDOOR AREAS BEAUTIFUL
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The Day My Family Met Abraham Lincoln 6 Reasons to Choose BLG Ella’s Biking Adventure The Good News Hear From Our Clients Take a Break!
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The Harmful Effects of DEET
DITCH THE ITCH SAFELY EXPLORING THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF DEET
When it comes to enjoying the great outdoors, itchy insect bites can really put a damper on the experience. Not only are bug bites itchy and annoying, but they can also potentially cause some serious illnesses such as Zika, Lyme disease, West Nile virus, and Keystone virus. When choosing a bug spray, it’s important to choose one that does not contain DEET. Here’s why. DEET can cause skin irritations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), DEET, when applied to the skin for an extended period of time, can cause skin irritations and allergic reactions, such as hives, itching, redness, and swelling in some people. Other people who were exposed to high concentrations of bug sprays containing DEET have even experienced skin and mucous membrane infections, skin rashes, and blisters. DEET has been linked to seizures and brain malfunctions. According to the Environmental Working Group
(EWG), high concentrations or ingestion of DEET can cause nervous system impairment, which leads to seizures, slurred speech, and tremors. In a case study conducted by Human and Experimental Toxicology, even children who were briefly exposed to DEET experienced seizures because of the product. DEET may be linked to Gulf War syndrome. Gulf War syndrome is a multisymptom illness experienced by many who served in the war. The symptoms include headaches, fatigue, skin conditions, and respiratory disorders. Although these concerns initially involved those who served in the Gulf War, this syndrome is now potentially linked to a combination of pesticides, including DEET. What can you use instead? The next time you reach for bug spray, consider one of the many DEET-free products available on the market to help you enjoy nature without the bugs. There are various options, but one of
the most well-known DEET-free bug sprays is Picaridin. It’s a synthetic compound found in black pepper proven to be very effective and is definitely worth checking out. Fleas, mosquitoes, gnats, and ticks, be gone — safely!
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