I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
~ Alfred Joyce Kilmer (American writer and poet; 1886-1918)
After commissioning Hanselman Landscape to tackle the steep slope behind their home, Heinz and Eva saw the importance of protecting their garden investment with regularly-scheduled maintenance visits. Because of their forward-thinking perspective and the value they place on their garden, Heinz and Eva began a maintenance agreement with Hanselman Landscape. Since the creation of the hillside garden, Pete Dymond and the HL maintenance team have been there throughout the year to prune and mulch, while Sean Kramer has monitored and treated pest activity and diseases—nurturing the beautiful space Heinz and Eva treasure.
A continuing commitment to regular care will ensure that your garden investment continues to grow in beauty and value into the future. Our future-thinking maintenance teams are the right craftsmen for the healthcare needs of your garden. Give us a call to find out how: 717-653-1273.
Shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& garden care advocate)
“Sean was phenomenal today – I’m sure you know that of all your employees – but he exceeded expectations. I owned my own company and always liked to hear when employees went above and beyond. Sean was out on an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) visit and noticed the Hollies were looking like they weren’t getting enough water; he realized the irrigation was not working. Sean checked the irrigation – it was shorted and the fuse was blown. He fixed it but it kept shorting, so he called John (who was on vacation). John told him to try another step and check the solenoid – and it was bad. Sean replaced the solenoid and got everything working. I can’t thank the company and Sean and John enough – with all this heat – for saving the beautiful shrubbery that you installed many years ago. I’m thankful to Sean for finding a problem I didn’t know I had. My expectations were far exceeded.
It’s definitely worth the price for Sean’s IPM visits. Thanks!”
Kudos to Sean and the entire team at Hanselman Landscape, for continually exceeding client expectations!
Gratefully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& proud VP!)
To move or not to move—that is often the question as family size changes and retirement approaches. For Heinz and Eva, moving and downsizing was the original plan. However, their comfortable Lancaster County home suited their needs for community and location near family. So when Heinz and Eva finally decided to retire in their current home, they chose to create a backyard oasis where daily relaxation and refreshment would be the hallmarks of their retirement years.
Seeking guidance, they again turned to the design team at Hanselman Landscape. For over a decade, Heinz and Eva had been partnering with Hanselman to develop a three-dimensional plan which initially turned a steep bank behind their house into a hillside garden. Betty Hanselman remembers her first phone conversation with Eva in the early 2000s. Eva had explained, “We have a very steep bank behind our house bordered by an ugly wall. My husband and I want to make steps to the top and landscape it so that it is beautiful to look at from our windows. Every landscaper we have asked so far does not want to attempt this project. Can you help us?” Betty assured Eva that James Hanselman enjoyed challenges and would be happy to take a look. Apparently, the difficulties of the site did not deter the Hanselman brothers and their creative team; they designed and built a beautiful, terraced garden into the hillside no one else would touch.
Do you have a garden challenge no one else will to tackle? Give our “think-outside-the-box” designers a chance to solve your issues. Their ingenuity will surprise you!
Gladly shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& hillside garden admirer)
“And here are the hummingbirds, humming a hymn to the morning . . . . It is time for hummingbirds to leave . . . . It is the end of another summer. It is time to reset the clock from the rise and fall of the tide, to the come and go of the school bus. It is a time of quiet wonder — for wondering, for instance: Where do hummingbirds go in a hurricane?”
~ Robert McCloskey (from Time of Wonder, one of our family’s favorite read-alouds)
Contributed by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& hummingbird enthusiast)
A 2021 study from research scientist, Dr. Rachel Buxton of Carleton University, and researchers from Michigan State University, Colorado State University, and the National Park Service analyzed the outcomes of listening to natural sounds and found that “. . . people who experienced the sounds of nature felt decreased pain, lower stress, improved mood and enhanced cognitive performance. The sounds of water were most effective at improving positive emotions and health outcomes, while bird sounds combat stress and annoyance.”
I can attest to the findings of this study! As often as possible, from May through September, I sit outdoors in our garden breakfast nook enjoying the jubilation of water and sunlight splashing together in the nearby tsukubai and the cheerful chirps and chatter of birds at the feeder or in the trees surrounding our home. Here is where I awaken to the symphony of sounds, colors, textures of nature. Here is where I breathe deeply and rest my soul before stepping into the demands of the day. Here is where I find peace.
Joyfully shared by Betty Hanselman
Gardener’s wife (& “sounds of nature” celebrant)