06/22/2026
After six years of dedicated ecological services to the Village of Hainesville — design/build/maintenance of 2 parks, 3 natural areas, 3 entrance signs, 4 medians and Village Hall using native plantings — the new Mayor has terminated our contracts due to a desire to replace native plantings in most public spaces with ornamental cultivars (Eurasian species) to “add color.” The most difficult and heartbreaking part of my job is seeing changes in governmental leadership or transfer of some private properties lead to replacement of well-established native plantings in favor of traditional landscaping which cannot support pollinators, birds and wildlife (or survive drought without intensive watering). It happens and is always a sad day. The good news is that more and more homeowners and governments are asking for native, sustainable plantings. It’s a solid trend here to stay being adopted across North America. So we leave Hainesville with our heads held high that we did our best and offered plant solutions for a good period in that Village’s history — a village that claims to be the oldest town in Lake county.
