Dear Friends:

As far as our plants were concerned, we had a great winter and spring: a wonderful blanket of snow, moderate weather and a wet spring to ensure our plants have plenty of water as they come out of dormancy. I'm not one to predict the weather and definitely do not have the power to do anything about it anyway. All we can do is prepare for every conceivable situation, and the best medicine is using every sound horticultural practice to ensure healthy plants. Just like human beings, the better shape we are in, the better we survive and thrive when Mother Nature throws us a curve ball.

No matter which side of the global warming debate you choose, it is obvious that changes to our climate happen regularly. We are blessed to have the Great Lakes as our neighbor. Without this reliable source of water we are much more susceptible to drought. This year, Atlanta suffered through one of the worst droughts in its history, and several landscape companies were not allowed to plant anything and therefore were forced to close their doors.

I am sympathetic for these companies and their associates, yet also look for the lessons to be learned. Atlanta has been a shining example of urban opportunity: hosting the Olympics, marketing the beautiful temperate climate, cultural sophistication, business opportunities and, best of all, the down home southern gentility. In spite of all these strengths, city leaders unfortunately did not account for urban sprawl. The opportunity drove consumption; traffic, pollution, housing and development. Although the drought hastened the water shortage, the crisis was ultimately caused by a water storage system that could not meet demand. Regulators are forced to shut off the water supply and it will take years to fill the demand no matter how much rain Atlanta receives.

So why am I worried about Atlanta? Are we going to start a Georgia branch of Mariani? No, we aren't going anywhere. Yet I feel a responsibility to learn from mistakes made by these landscape companies and the City of Atlanta itself. As I stated above, Lake Michigan is a Godsend; however, it is not something we can afford to abuse or treat it as the answer to all of our needs. First of all, many communities surrounding Chicago draw water from sources other than Lake Michigan. Second, the Great Lakes are under constant attack. Not a month goes by where the United States or Canada do not argue on who gets to "tap" in. Some Senators feel piping water to Texas is a marvelous solution for their water needs. The bottom line is we have a responsibility to preserve this most important resource.

At Mariani, we are doing our homework and looking at ways to mitigate water consumption by designing with water conservation in mind. We can capture and reuse water within our property footprint versus drawing from an over-taxed storm sewer system. We design and install plants that have less need for supplemental irrigation. We utilize appropriate irrigation systems that deliver water closer to the desired site with minimum evaporation. We cut mowed turf areas higher than normal, which has a dual effect: it promotes deeper roots to encourage a stronger turf and it demands less water.

I like to think that every day we learn something that will lead to a positive impact on your property. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.

As always, please share any ideas, comments, recommendations and concerns. We want to know what you are thinking.

All my best,

Frank Mariani, CEO

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