On Pointe

Remember making mud pies and forts when you were a child?

Playing outdoors is the perfect place for kids to run faster, climb higher, jump farther, and discover the wonders of the natural world. From rooftop play areas to interactive nature space, anyone who has ever visited a playground has heard the joyful noise of children with ample room to explore.

Focal Pointe’s Director of Construction Operations couldn’t agree more. “Most of us got started in this industry because we enjoyed spending time outdoors as kids,” said Brian Bobikiewicz, who has been leading the company’s construction division …

Two years ago, my two oldest sons and I had the good fortune of visiting with Dan Cathy, chairman of Chick-fil-A. Dan and I have a mutual friend in Jeff McManus, who is the current landscape director at the University of Texas and former landscape director at Ole Miss. Jeff was gracious enough to set up a visit for us.

Ironically, a few months before our visit, I remember reading an article about the top fast-food restaurants based on store revenue. Don’t quote me on these numbers, but I remember something to this effect: The average Burger …

“John Munie and Aaron Lorenz recently met with Stoney Hayes, BGCOzarks’ CEO, to talk about the importance of serving others. John is Founder and President of Focal Pointe, one of BGCOzark’s Sustainability Partners. Aaron is Focal Pointe of the Ozarks,  Account Manager and Partnership Executive.

When I started Focal Pointe in 1998, I worked out of a one car garage with a gravel floor, on the farm I grew up on in Southern Illinois.  Over the years, we did good work, kept our word, and built a business on authentic, humble service to others.  We also …

Enhancing landscapes adds to both the value and our enjoyment of commercial and residential properties. And, while it seems there is always more that can be done, the funds to do so are sometimes short. To help bridge the desire to improve landscapes with budget constraints, we have put together a few cost-saving ideas for property enhancement that owners and managers can use to make wise investments in their property.

Iris, hosta, and daylilies are among perennials that are easily divided.

Utilize what you have – Late winter into spring is a great time to divide and …

As we enter warmer weather patterns, it becomes clear that the landscape season is upon us. If you are in the process of selecting a landscaping contractor, here are some issues that we believe drives client satisfaction:

Alignment. We are all guilty of making purchase decisions based on price rather than fit. This is especially problematic when the service we’re purchasing results in an ongoing relationship. Often, in those cases, price is the most negotiable part of the process. Alignment and culture, on the other hand, aren’t so easily negotiated. Buy alignment and negotiate a price.
Track …

Annual planting beds provide the explosion of color that can make the difference between an adequate landscape and a truly exceptional display of nature. But you may ask, why we would post an article on Summer annuals in the dead of winter? At Focal Pointe it is a year-round project to enhance our clients’ properties with the most dramatic impact from annual planting beds. For example, we’ve just completed the ordering process for most of the summer annuals that we’ll plant this spring. Ordering is just one phase of a continuous annual cycle.

Order

Ordering – Focal …

The pumpkin is one of the most visible signs of Fall’s arrival, making it an ideal element in fall landscape décor. Harvested in October when they reach their brightest orange, pumpkins have been grown in North America for over five thousand years.

Jack-O-Lanterns originating with an Irish folktale Jack of the lantern, were originally carved from turnips and potatoes. When Irish immigrants discovered pumpkins in America a lasting Halloween tradition was born. Over the years crude carvings of creepy countenance have given way to elaborate designs featuring portraits and pets.

Decorating with pumpkins does not necessarily require …