RALEIGH, N.C. – A local landscaper with an eye for grass sent 10 workers to the State Capitol to spruce up the ragged and bare lawn.
The workers aerated the lawn, planted grass seed and spread a layer of fertilizer Friday, a $9,000 job provided to the state free of charge.
Sam Lang, owner of Fairway Green Lawncare in Raleigh, said he passes by the Capitol weekly and noticed the grass was in poor condition.
He suggested donating seed and manpower after consulting with state officials. Bland Landscaping of Apex also sent a crew Friday. The seed and fertilizer were donated by Jonathan Annas of Nivek in Greensboro, N.C.
"We felt, since we're in the turf business, we could come up with a grass blend that would do better in the shade and with the traffic," Lang said.
Tony Jordan, who manages the facilities and grounds for about 150 state buildings, agreed the grass wasn't in the best of shape. The primary reasons are irregular watering caused by years of intermittent droughts and the raised level of the property, he said.
The Capitol, completed in 1840, is a historic landmark, and its Greek-revival architecture is a favorite of sightseers.
Cassie Hayes, 16, was walking over the grounds Friday with her stepmother, Jennifer Wingate, and Max, a 10-month-old American Eskimo puppy.
Wingate saw the lawn as a perfect spot to set Max down for a walk.
"I saw the fertilizer and thought, `Well I guess they won't mind if I bring Max on the lawn,'" Wingate said.