McCaskey Landscape & Design Wins Award For Patio Project
When Jim McCaskey solved a landscaping problem for Paul and Debbie Johnson a couple of years ago, he didn't know it would lead…
When Jim McCaskey solved a landscaping problem for Paul and Debbie Johnson a couple of years ago, he didn’t know it would lead to winning the Merit Award for Garden Structures and Pavements in the Ohio Landscape Association’s prestigious Landscape Ohio! awards program.
When they contacted him, the Johnsons, of Chardon, said they were pleased with their new deck, but felt something was missing.
“We want a reason to go down these steps,” McCaskey recalled him saying.
The client had a nice, big deck and an ugly hole in the ground at the base of the stairs.
Recently McCaskey, CEO of McCaskey Landscape & Design in Munson Township, learned the “reason for going” has resulted in his firm receiving statewide recognition.
“It’s a nice feather in your cap,” he said.
And it seems especially nice as it marks the 10th anniversary of the start of his business.
McCaskey said he and the Johnsons sat for hours designing a back yard space where they could relax and unwind.
In the process, the trio built a friendship and met the budget and his clients’ expectations.
To stay under budget, they had to shrink the plan slightly, but the negotiations were successful.
“It was value-engineered without losing its integrity,” McCaskey said of the plan.
The award is a nice cherry on the top.
The circular plan includes two levels and the steps delineate the two different areas, the outdoor living area and the dining area, McCaskey said.
“Cool fall evenings are extended by installing this patio to create a relaxing outdoor space and a fireplace to combat the chilly air,” he said.
Landscaping awards are not won overnight.
McCaskey and his certified landscape technicians spent weeks on the hardscape part of the project.
When the brickwork was done, they put in the plantings. However, to get the full effect in a picture, he waited patiently for the best effect.
“It usually takes a year to fill in with plants and mulch,” he said. “Projects get better-looking as they age.”
Last summer, he took the pictures and submitted the project last fall.
The judging was done through the winter and the banquet, sponsored by the Cleveland Botanical Gardens, Cleveland Magazine and Ohio Landscaping Association, was held in the early spring.
“It was a nine-month process,” McCaskey said.
But his real pleasure comes from creating something that will mature and provide years of delight for the Johnsons.
“I like to do patios and their enhancements. It’s fun to landscape a patio,” McCaskey said.
He aims to design a landscape that changes by the seasons with daffodils and tulips in the spring, roses and spirea in the summer, shrubs changing color in the fall and even attractive winterscapes with interesting grasses, bark and branches.
“They’ll have something all year long to look at,” he said. “There’s much, much more you can do with a winter scene.”
The Ohio Landscape Association offers the Landscape Ohio! awards program to increase awareness of quality landscaping and how it improves our environment, McCaskey said.
As Ohio’s most prestigious awards program in the landscape industry, this annual competition recognizes and applauds landscape designers, installers and property owners throughout the state.
“It is an industry honor to win a Landscape Ohio! landscape award. Companies with winning projects recognize their award as a highly prized accolade,” he said.
The entries are judged by a panel of industry peers, based on the quality of design and workmanship, along with creativity and overall appeal.
“As we celebrate our 10 year anniversary, we would like to thank our clients for their continued support,” McCaskey said.
