Arlington National Cemetery

An Opportunity to Pay Back

Yesterday, nine members of the Allentuck Landscaping Co. team once again had the opportunity to take part in Planet's Renewal and Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery. This is the fourth year that we have participated in a day that brings together over 400 of our landscape colleagues from around the country to honor our fallen American heroes and to make their final resting place all the more beautiful. In all, over $300,000 worth of materials and labor were donated on this one special day.

I hope you will grant me the liberty to share with you my personal account of the day.

My task this year was to organize and oversee all three of the landscape projects being completed. I arrived at Arlington before sunrise in order to get an early start before the "army" of landscapers got there. Knowing that I also had a unique opportunity, I quietly walked up to the Tomb of the Unknowns. As the sun came up over the city, the lone sentry made eye contact with me but never wavered from his duties. I was in awe of his dedication. The sunrise was amazing and I knew that the day would be even more so.

After an inspiring opening ceremony, work got underway. In addition to the three landscape projects, other work included aerating and liming of turf, tree pruning and lightning protection, and irrigation installation. Crews were moving at a fantastic pace as I made my rounds.

One of our projects involved 50 children planting perennials. We had a lot of press gathered around this area for photo opportunities including NBC, CNN, P. Alan Smith from HGTV, and an old friend, Bob Madigan from WTOP. I was thankful that the media was covering our efforts.

Around late morning I stopped to check on "Team Allentuck" to see if they needed anything. As I got out of my car, I saw that a ceremony was taking place in the adjacent Section 61, which is where soldier from Iraq and Afghanistan are laid to rest. I felt frozen, watching the flag being solemnly folded and handed to the soldier's family. It was then that I noticed that the sound of shovels behind me had quieted. I turned and saw every member of our team had stop working to respectfully take in the scene. As the family left, I fully realized that they could not appreciate the work we were doing today, but I hoped that when they returned some time later to visit their hero, the work were doing would help to bring them peace. This is what Renewal and Remembrance is all about.

The day had been a spectacular success. I made my way down the hill to head home but stopped at the gate one last time to take a look around. I have been to Arlington many times over the last few weeks and years, and I always get choked up when it is time to leave. I hope I always do.

Bruce Allentuck


P.S. Here is a link to a story that appeared NBC Nightly News about Renewal and Remembrance. I hope you enjoy it.

http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=67ugh6cab.0.0.55wm7kcab.0&ts=S0413&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.msnbc.msn.com%2Fid%2F3032619%2Fvp%2F31897155%2331897155&id=preview

Fisher House Gets A New Look

It rained. It hailed. There were wild temperature swings. But that wasn’t enough to stop the Allentuck Landscaping crew from their mission; give Fisher House at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland a new look.

Fisher House provides a home away from home to to injured soldiers and their families while they are receiving treatment at the center. Their vital mission is to provide families a peaceful place to heal together. To find out more about Fisher House, go to http://www.fisherhouse.org/ or view a great video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMsuzqmzrq0.

Allentuck Landscaping Co. gutted the existing landscape and installed over 60 shrubs, 415 perennials and ground covers, and 10 tons of stone. The five crews on site were each assigned areas of responsibility; David Chavez’s crew applied their artistic touch to building a 48’ foot long stone wall in front of Building A, Hector Solano’s crew planted the front of Building B, and Melvin Castillo’s crew took the task of making the central park look amazing.

In just over eight hours, the landscape around Fisher House had morphed into a beautiful and tranquil setting that we hope our recovering soldiers and their families can relax in and enjoy. The day was capped off with a visit from the base commander, Admiral Nathan, and the presentation of a commemorative coin and Naval Medical Center hats for everyone.

Thank you to our suppliers who donated their materials and made the day possible; Season’s Nursery, Country Springs Wholesale Nursery, Ernest Maier Block Co., Liberty Gas and John Deere Landscapes. A very special thank-you to Fisher House for allowing Allentuck Landscaping Co. the opportunity to help America’s heroes.

Bruce Allentuck Leads Design Charette at Dufief Elementary

Earlier this month, a group of over twenty parents and teachers, as well as about the same number of energized elementary school students, gathered for pizza and to design a new garden at Dufief Elementary School in North Potomac, Maryland. It was my pleassure to lead them through this exercise.

Some of the parameters for the new garden were:

• accessible to special needs students
• attract butterflies and bees
• spring color
• something for all of the senses

We broke into four teams. Each team worked very hard to put their ideas on paper and then presented their designs to the whole group. In the end, the best ideas from each team were collected and put into the master plan.

This was a great evening and showed how a community can create wonderful spaces for itself. Thnak you Dufief for including me.

Here are the results!

Eddie George Is An L.A.!

Who knew that Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George was a Landscape Architect?!

Check out the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6VAIuVVL3k

Allentuck Landscaping Co. Lends A Hand

For the second year in a row, Allentuck Landscaping Co. has had the opportunity to spruce up a Jubilee group home for mentally challenged residents in Rockville, Maryland.

Jubilee Association of Maryland (http://www.jubileemd.org/) is a not for profit organization that exists to provide support for adults with developmental disabilities to live in and enrich their community while fulfilling their personal, family and spiritual needs.

This year, Foreman Melvin Castillo and Crew Members Leonel Pineda and Jose Castillo pruned, cleaned out the beds and layed mulch in the gardens surrounding the home.

Announcing A New Service!
Beautiful Nights Begin With Allentuck Landscaping Co.

As you probably already know, Allentuck Landscaping Co. designs and installs beautiful landscape lighting systems. And you also probably already know, proper landscape lighting can make your property even more enchanting, relaxing, and safer. Unfortunately, keeping up with adjusting light fixtures, changing light bulbs, and re-setting timers can really be a drag.

In response to many customer requests, Allentuck Landscaping Co. now offers our Landscape Lighting Maintenance Program. Our service includes all of those tasks and more, to keep your lighting system working all of the time.

If you would like more information about our Landscape Lighting Maintenance program, please call us at 301-515-1900 or email info@allentucklandscaping.com.