Sunday, June 28, 2009

End of Plants From Paradise...

The end of the line. I won't be continuing this blog.

I don't really do landscaping or plant brokering anymore. I only work on properties my family or I own. So this is "good bye" to Plants From Paradise.

Perhaps someone will find something I wrote here relevant to their ventures.

Till then, I'm on to other projects...

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

The Miami Herald is reporting the truth about the landscaping business

The Herald is reporting on something we have known for a year:

the landscaping industry is in trouble in South Florida.

I can vouch for the fact that people are not buying plants or trees in this economy.

Monday, February 02, 2009

Any day planting is a great day!

Whenever I get out and spend a day doing landscaping, I feel like a new man. It's the best form of exercise I know! It makes me so happy!

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/882594-p2.html


"South Florida's ornamental plant and foliage industry is in an economic vise, and the problem is not just related to orchids. Nursery owners are tightening belts, laying off workers and looking for new strategies to stay afloat."

People have been buying fewer plants for some time now. This is going to push people out of the landscaping business. I'm grateful whenever I get a chance to do landscaping.

When people get some more money, they'll want to get the biggest and most beautiful plants they can afford. For now, perhaps we can suggest smaller and more cost-effective plants. Let's keep the environment in mind too (natives, hint hint)!

Friday, November 21, 2008

No business but still having fun!!

I'm having a great time organizing against the local sprawl-merchants:

http://notoparkland.blogspot.com/

Yep, yep. The American-Dream! We'll all just sell houses to each other and build more houses and sell houses to each other! EVERYONE should own a home!

Yeah, it was good for plant sales, but wouldn't a saner, more realistic economy had been better in the end?

There are many greedy hands that caused this collapse.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Visiting jobs from three years ago

Time marches on.

I started selling plants online in the summer of 2005. I spent a few hours last night visiting some of the jobs I did over the years. My brother and I drove through the Grove, through the Design District, and North Miami.

The jobs look beautiful for the most part. I'm proud of my work even if new owners have no idea who planted those trees in the hot sun. The ficus benjamina is being attacked by the white fly and looks horrible. Maybe they'll be replaced with some beautiful natives.

The great thing about planting a tree is the ability to go back year after year and watch the growth. You were there at the beginning :)

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

The Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency enlisted 100 goats to clear a 2.5-acre downtown lot yesterday, saying that the goats are cheaper and better for the environment than humans with weed-wackers, the LA Times reports.

Cool!

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Working on a program for plant enthusiasts in South Florida...

PlantsFromParadise.com is branching out into exciting territory here. I am currently in production working on a program that will have details concerning nearly every local plant and tree!

So far I have pictures and information on 30 plants and trees in South Florida, but I am nowhere near done. I am going to add EVERY plant in town.

I want to include information on the following:

  • height
  • canopy
  • leaf shape
  • tolerance
  • diseases
  • growing conditions
  • tricks to keep them healthy
  • plants that look good together

I want to offer:

  • all the plants in one spot
  • categories of plants
  • a test to determine if you REALLY can identify the plants of South Florida
  • a test to determine if you have knowledge about the peculiarities of the plants growing in South Florida
Another program just about pests may be next.

First design will be in Java. I will work on getting the whole jar in one thing...no folders! Also an exe might be easier for Windows users??

Perhaps this can be applet or web service as well...

Lots of exciting ideas. Originally I'll ask for beta testers and then I'll charge 20.00 for it.

It's going to be worth it!