Fine weather is here and everyone welcomes the kickoff of summer annual flower season.  This is an exciting time of year as the visual and vibrant accent to commercial sites and properties throughout Fairfield and Westchester counties arrives.  For many sites, this is the icing on the cake.

What seems to be an instant transformation began in mid-December as our custom growers planted seeds or small cuttings in their greenhouses.  ELM works closely with our grower partners on sizes, mixes and combinations and most importantly a fully sized plant with excellent root mass.  Once we are out of frost warnings, which came a bit late this year, we begin to prep and groom the beds for flowers.  If bulbs are spent, they are pulled out or naturalized into perimeter areas.  Rototilling comes next and is perhaps the key overall component which provides for root growth and water transfer.  Add some quality fertilizer and everything is in place.

Facility managers and property managers receive a lot of compliments from our flower displays.  Employees, tenants, visitors and stakeholders enjoy the colorful accents to site entries, building entries, signage and outdoor areas like patios and plazas.  Large containers of color can provide a visible and colorful draw to your main entry.

Often we are asked how we develop the wow factor to our flower displays.  It’s the unique blend of the above recipe with our design experience and horticultural knowledge.  ELM works closely with our clients to bring a unique blend of color, varying heights, specie mixes and texture highlights. For some commercial properties, it can be simple theme.  For other sites, our clients request new and ever-changing displays each year.  Either way, quality plants, quality installation and eye catching design…that’s the ELM recipe.

Innovation and early adoption of new trends and technology keep ELM on the cutting edge…literally. A new part of our fleet of mowers are propane fueled and the benefits are many.  As the climate change debate goes on, one thing for sure is propane mowers cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50-70% over traditional gas powered mowers.

The risk of spilling just a few drops of gas is totally negated, preventing runoff into catch basins and the water system.  And, propane is 100% made in the USA.  Propane is a cleaner burn in the engine and we will be studying wear and tear to see if this equates longer engine life.  If propane proves to add a year or two, this adds up to further carbon footprint reduction (prolonging the machine disposal) and potential cost savings to be passed on to the client.

The most important function remains a great looking cut in a timely fashion.  Nick Siranhula, a sixteen veteran pictured here on the job, sees no change to the overall power which drives the blade speed, resulting in a crisp, quality cut.

Nick is pleased with the quality.  ELM is excited to be making a difference for our clients and the community in reducing our carbon footprint with an American made fuel source.  Propane mowers…what’s not to like?

The recent cold snap has interrupted a long, mild and beautiful fall here in lower New England.  A quick check of the thermometer and a look at the calendar leave no doubt, we have arrived at the middle of November.  Thanksgiving and the holidays are right around the corner.

For many commercial and corporate properties throughout Westchester and Fairfield County, it’s time for holiday lighting and decoration.  What a great way to transform your property and its landscape at this festive time of year. Employees, tenants and visitors appreciate when property and facility managers add this seasonal and visually exciting touch to their landscapes.

ELM provides just the right touch for clients’ landscape and building entry façade.  Seasonal holiday lighting displays can vary from open, draping of trees to tightly wrapping branches for a stunning effect.  At night (which comes a lot earlier now), the landscape comes alive in almost different dimension.  The warm twinkle of the lights set your building and landscape off with both pride and seasonal conviviality.

For daytime visual interest, consider seasonal accents like large, structural wreaths and bows, light pole or building column wraps, garland and bow installations, shopping center banners and interior artificial holiday trees.  Inside at lobby and reception areas, poinsettias add their unique colorful and seasonal touch to your high traffic, high visibility areas.

We welcome the opportunity to discuss your commercial site’s lighting, exterior and interior decoration needs.  Now is the time to have a conversation to understand the design, measurement, math and spacing which delivers the outstanding visual highlight you seek for your building and property.  In just a week or two, it’s time to position your building and landscape with a distinctive holiday presentation.