Michigan Landscape Contractors Tackle Governor's Digs

LANSING, Mich. -- Three employees from Bay Landscaping are on the job of a lifetime in the state's capital this summer.

Wayne Vos, Jeff Zielinski and Jessica Metzger are moving earth and planting trees and shrubs at the governor's residence in Lansing.

The work is part of an effort, sponsored by the Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association and the Michigan State University School of Horticulture, to transform the property surrounding the home.

The home is owned by the state and is occupied by Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm and her family.

The project began in December and is expected to continue through the summer.

"I think it's going to be lots of fun," said Vos, a landscape foreman who has worked at Bay Landscaping for 25 years. "I've done a lot of big jobs, some of them out of town, but I've never done anything like this."

All 1,100 MNLA members were eligible, according to Amy E. Frankmann, executive director of the organization.

Frankmann said the idea for the project was spawned after she heard Granholm's husband, Daniel G. Mulhern, speak at a conference about renovations being done inside the governor's home.

"Afterwards, I joked with him about the yard and he said it looked awful," Frankmann said. "So, we started working with the grounds person there and came up with a whole new look to match the renovations to the house."

She said the landscaping plan includes water features, brick paving and new plant material.

Frankmann said Granholm showed up at the end of the last work day in June and spent about 30 minutes with the crew of 45 workers.

Metzger, a Cass City resident and a junior majoring in landscape design at MSU, was beaming with anticipation.

"I think this will be a really neat experience and a great thing to have on a resume," she said. "I'm not sure what to expect, but how many people can say they helped design the landscaping at the governor's mansion?"