Striving to be the best

2010 was a great year for Apex Landscape and we would like to thank all of our clients, subcontractors, employees and affiliates for contributing to our success.  We take great pride in our ability to design and create great landscapes as well as our ability to service our clients.  We also take pride in knowing there is always room for improvement.  We will be working diligently this offseason to bring our clients an even better level of service and results.  It is our mission to constantly be improving and to aspire to be the very best in the industry.  We are currently scheduling projects for 2011 and a very excited to see what the year will have in store.  Stay tuned to our blog, website, facebook page and twitter to catch all the latest news!

Happy Thanksgiving

Apex Landscape would just like to say that we are thankful for having great clients and a wonderful team.  To our clients, thank you for providing us with tremendous projects and wonderful relationships. And to our great team of employees and subcontractors.  Without you we would not be able to bring such great results to our clients. 

We wish everyone a joyous and safe Thanksgiving!

Apex Landscape is donating landscaping for the American Cancer Society

Apex Landscape is proud to be donating landscaping for an auction item at an American Cancer Society charity event called the Cattle Baron's Ball on August 13th, 2010. In conjunction with Scott Christopher Homes, Apex Landscape is donating the landscaping for a unique, high-end children's 12-foot-high playhouse, valued at approximately $18,000. The playhouse will measure about 10.5 feet by 12 feet and feature a loft, a seating area with a table, chairs, and a deck. There will be a kitchen appointed with facsimiles of appliances. Apex Landscape will landscape the grounds around the playhouse.

The American Cancer Society fundraising event will be held on August 13th, 2010, with the playhouse and landscaping live auction starting at 8:00 pm, with a silent auction starting at 6:00. The event will be held at the Steelcase Town Hall, 1111 44th St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI. We hope to see you all there. For more information on the event, visit http://gala.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=27165&pg=entry or check out the Cattle Baron's Ball facebook page.  

GRIFFINS PLAYHOUSE FINDS A HOME AT THE RONALD McDONALD HOUSE

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Thanks to the generosity of Grand Rapids Griffins fan Nancy Gamby, the Ronald McDonald House of Western Michigan is now the proud home of the Griffins/Van Andel Arena playhouse.

Gamby, who won the playhouse in April through a season-long raffle that benefited the Griffins Youth Foundation, subsequently made the decision to donate it. On Thursday, she was joined by builder Mike Fraser of Out on a Limb Playhouses, Griffins representatives and a host of sponsors and supporters at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the grounds of the Ronald McDonald House. (Visit Apex Landscape on facebook to view images.)

“It was absolutely overwhelming when I found out I had won it, and then trying to decide what to do with it,” said Gamby. “I had no room where I live and my youngest grandchild is 19, so I talked to the Griffins office and they gave me a couple choices. After talking it over we decided that the Ronald McDonald House was a place where more children were going to be able to use it and enjoy it. Just to be able to give it to the kids, that’s what it’s all about.” 

This spectacular custom-built playhouse, donated by Out on a Limb Playhouses, features an exterior modeled after Van Andel Arena and an interior inspired by the Griffins locker room and the game-night arena atmosphere, including: two stadium-style seats; a custom-made bench modeled after those in the Griffins’ locker room; an “ice-rink” floor with dasher boards; a Griffins hanging scoreboard light; a built-in street hockey net with three street hockey sticks and balls; a Hockey Guys playset; 11 hockey-themed books for children through adults; and installed lighting and electric.

“This is an exciting day,” said Joe Dulin, director of development for the Ronald McDonald House. “We’re thrilled that we were chosen to receive this playhouse. It’s going to be a real special thing for the kids and families that stay here at the house. We are so grateful to Nancy for picking us with the help of the Griffins. It’s a terrific donation and we certainly appreciate it.

“We’ve had a nice relationship with the Griffins. They are such a wonderful organization and they do so much for so many youth organizations. For example, just this past December, some of the Griffins came over with a huge TV set for our living room. It’s so appreciated by our families to have a place they can gather and enjoy a little time away from the hospital, just to have some family time.”

The playhouse will be enjoyed by more than 400 families that stay at Ronald McDonald House each year while their children receive medical care.

“I’m so happy to see that it’s in good hands,” said Fraser. “It’s been a two-year project and the culmination of a lot of good people putting hockey and playhouses together. I have a connection to hockey, being Canadian, so this was a neat way to combine my dream of building playhouses with something that Grand Rapids would recognize. I had a blast, and it couldn’t have gone to a better organization. I know there will be years and years of fun for the kids here.”

The playhouse project was made possible through the support of Out on a Limb Playhouses, the Griffins, the Daniel and Pamella DeVos Foundation, the Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority, Fast Signs, Corrigan Moving Systems, Apex Landscape, The Center for Physical Rehabilitation, the Golladay family, Regal Financial Group, Rogers Printing, the Irwin Seating Company, Play N Trade Alpine, Pooh's Corner, Sam’s Club, and Alro Plastics.

American Cancer Society Fundraiser

Apex Landscape is proud to again be contributing to the Cattle Baron's Ball fundraiser for the American Cancer Society on August 13, 2010.  Come out and support it, I can assure you you will have a good time in support of a great cause!  Tickets are available at cbbgrandrapids.com or at 616.364.6121.  Some of the event highlights are:


• 150-200 Premium Silent Auction Items
• 10-12 Fabulous Live Auction Items
• Your Cancer Journey in Three Words Video
• Tree of Hope Art Project by Paul Collins, with Paul in person signing limited edition,
numbered prints; and the original oil painting sold in the live auction
• House of Hope—a Child’s Custom Playhouse by Scott Christopher Homes,
featured on-site; playhouse will be sold in the live auction
• The Blue Bull Challenge featuring Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Michigan
Executives challenging you to “ride the bull!” matching fund donation
• 50/50 Cash Raffle Drawings at 8:45 pm. Ticket prices: $5 * $10 * $20
(need not be present to win)
• Beer Raffle Drawing at 11:00 pm. Ticket price: $5
Must be 21 to purchase a ticket. (need not be present to win)
• Cattle Cactus Juice—featured drink at the Late Night Party Cash Bar
• Water Gun Shoot-Out at the O.K. Godwin Plumbing Corral at the Late
Night Party (pending). Donation to play.
• National Celebrity DJ Rekka, spinning a mix of country western songs with a
wide variety of today’s hits from different genres. This is your one-time
opportunity to enjoy DJ Rekka’s amazing talent who plays exclusively
for Hollywood celebrities!

Before and After Front Entry

Apex landscape is currently working on this re-designed front entrance.  We wanted to give this home a more functional entrance and keep with the modern architecture.  We used a dyed concrete and saw cut it on 2' x 2' squares to give it the look of tile.  We also integrated Mexican Beach Pebble and Creeping Lilly Turf to give the design an edgy feel.  I think it is coming together nicley.  Visit our facebook page for more pics of this project.  

Apex and Habitat for Humanity Team up

Apex Landscape had an opportunity to donate a landscape to Habitat for Humanity this month.  It was a 1029 Hovey in Grand Rapids.  It was a great experience and we are proud to be a part of such a tremendous organization.  We were able to work with a wonderful group of volunteers and help out a worthy family.  Habitat for Humanity's mission is to assist its affiliates to increase capacity to build simple decent homes in partnership with people in need in the State of Michigan.  In 2009, H for H affiliates built or rehabbed 235 homes in partnership with people in need.  Currently, 3,225 Michigan families live in a Habitat for Humanity home. An exciting aspect of this particular home is that it is a LEED Certified project.  It is nice to see so many people coming together to do something that is good for the economy, the earth, and the community.  

Ada project photo update

This is a project that we are just wrapping up.  The clients wanted to create more useable space in their back yard while also adding some interest.  The result is a natural stone wall and perennial garden.  Of course this will take a couple years to really shine as the plants will need to mature and fill in.  We tried to give the rock a softer more natural look rather than stacking the rock and creating a harsh retaining wall.  This is phase one and we are very excited to continue to add to this great backyard retreat. If you would like to reshape your landscape or have any questions regarding the materials and plants used on this project feel free to contact Apex Landscape today. 

Planters in your landscape

Planters are an underused addition to the landscape.  They are a great way to dress up a patio, deck or a front door.  Planters can add an architectural element as well as providing you with a low maintenance way to add color and interest to your landscape. One of my favorites uses is to put "fireworks" fountain grass in planters on either side of your front door.  It is a bright red grass that adds a tremendous amount of color and interest to a landscape and they look wonderful in a planter.  They are an annual in our climated and make for a simple and inexpensive way to make a statement in your landscape.  They retail for around $15.00.  If you want to freshen up your front door, pick up a couple of planters from Loll Designs for $114.00 each, a bag of soil, and two "fireworks" fountain grass and you have created a bold new look for less than $270.  It is quick, easy and fun.  The best part is the planters are made from a recycled poly and will last for years and you can put something fun and different in them next year for another new look.  For more ideas or information on ordering planters and plants contact Apex Landscape today!

Michigan Blue Magazine article

Apex Landscape has a project featured in the spring issue of Michigan Blue Magazine.  It can be found on page 52.  The article features a project we did with Blue Water Pools last summer on the coast of Lake Michigan.  The Spring issue comes out this month and can be found at most newsstands.  See the entire article here.

Cool trash cans?

When it comes to waste containers, bike racks, benches, etc; Landscape Forms is one of my favorites.  Landscape Forms is the leading designer and manufacturer of site furniture in North America. Founded in 1969, they have earned a reputation for great design, high quality products and exceptional service.  One of the best parts of Landscape Forms is that they are based right here in Michigan and provide over 180  jobs at their manufacturing and corporate facility in Kalamazoo.  They are also committed to the environment.  Environmental sustainability is completely consistent with Landscape Forms purpose, their goals, their values and their principles. They make stewardship of the environment a vital part of their business.  Here is one example of their products.  I think their products beautify and simplify every home or business.  Contact Apex Landscape today to inquire about adding something from Landscape Forms to your outdoor living space.  

The High Line

It does seem that the new york’s newest park, the high line, has been under discussion for a very long time with incredible publicity generated by lots of high end support (“friends of the high line” includes quite a list of developers, politicians and celebrities like ed norton, stella mccartney and sarah jessica parker).

Originally an elevated rail line built in the 1930s to carry freight trains from 14th street up to 34th street on the east side, this 60-foot track is in the process of being transformed into a mile and a half park packed with benches, water features, kids play areas and landscaping.