Today we’d like to introduce you to Fern Cook.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Fern. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Shady Grove Landscape Company was born in 2004 after the birth of my youngest son. I had decided to be a stay at home mom and spent a glorious year raising my boys. My husband had a grass cutting business and because of my degree in Horticulture and burning desire to beautify with world around me, I slowly began contributing to the business by doing landscape designs and installation. In 2005, we hired a family-helper and I spent gradually spent more and more of my time creating art with stone, plants and wood in Gwinnett County.
Once all the children were in school full time, I took on the leadership position with the company’s installation division. From 2007 through the present day, I have enjoyed growing my knowledge base and building relationships with clients, vendors and my family of employees. Shady Grove has experienced a slow and steady growth each year through floods, economic down-turns and drought. Almost like another child, I have raised the business to be strong, financially conservative, honest, and true to its word. We are a team of dynamic, creative people and systems that strive to do our best in every situation.
The year 2016-2017 was our most challenging yet. In December 2016, my long-time partner and husband left our family and our company. Then on March 2, 2017 my oldest son lost both of his legs when a train struck him near Lilburn City Park. Our family moved twice in 5 months and we all struggled. The business was closed for most of the spring and summer of 2017 with dim future prospects.
Last May, we relocated our family home from Lilburn to Decatur to be closer to our friends and doctors. In July, Shady Grove took on a quarter million dollar commercial project that had been in the works for over a year. It did not go smoothly and although was completed and functions beautifully, it almost bankrupted us. A scary change in school for my youngest son and all the expected struggles with my oldest son left us all emotionally bankrupt.
But the Shady Grove spirit was strong. Its embers still burned brightly in the ashes of our lives. In December 2017, the Shady Grove Phoenix began rising from the flames. We have refocused our business towards our new clientele in Decatur and Atlanta. We now offer a gorgeous 3D design product that includes a detailed work order. These designs help clients understand their own landscape potential and allow us to share our knowledge with more who can be helped by it. We still do landscape design and installation for as many people as we can.
This spring, my oldest son has taken on an internship role in learning the business and helping his Mom. He is walking on prosthetics like a champ and hopes to start college this fall. Playing his guitar and saxophone remains his favorite therapy. My youngest son has adjusted and now loving his new life in Oakhurst. He will play trombone in the marching band at Decatur High next year.
Our story is real. And hard. And beautiful. Like everyone’s story.
The support of our clients, employees, vendors, friends, family and the community continues to push us forward. Shady Grove and I look forward to many more years serving Atlanta with our unique art and love for Outdoor Living.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Shady Grove Landscape Company story. Tell us more about the business.
Knowledge, experience and honesty make our company great. Relationships with clients, employees and vendors make us successful.
Most landscape architects and designers have not spent years pushing the wheelbarrow and installing the plants. There is no disconnect between form and function at Shady Grove. When designing and installing an outdoor room, we consider all aspects of the space including how the space will be used, storm water flow, choosing the perfect plant for the space, traffic movement around the area, and budget.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Staycations seems to have become more and more popular in recent years. Atlanta residents are enjoying their own yard. People are growing their own vegetables and flowers. Even chickens are reappearing in the urban landscape.
We are thrilled to see these trends and hope they continue in the future. When asked, I will reply that my job is getting folks out of their home and into their own outdoor spaces. I sell ‘Outdoor Living.’
Contact Info:
- Website: SGLSCO.com
- Phone: 404-441-0000
- Email: fern@sglsco.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shadygrovelandscapecompany/?ref=bookmarks
- Other: https://www.kudzu.com/m/Shady-Grove-Landscape-Company-730968
Image Credit:
All photos Fern Cook and Jason Kenney
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