2006
 2004 |
 1994
|
Written by Roger Lewis Jr. of Lewis Bamboo Inc. &
Gayle & Roger Lewis Sr. of Bamboo Design
April 24th.
Today guest was Jim from nearby Chelsea, Alabama. Jim and his
wife visited Disney World recently and fell in love with all the bamboo
that is used in their landscaping. There are hundreds of bamboo species
used throughout the many theme parks at Disney. Many of which are
the running type bamboo we specialize in. These giants provide privacy
screening and walk through type groves.
Above photo is taken in our main grove of 'Slender Crookstem'. There
isn't anything slender or crooked about this tough bamboo. Below, Roger
loads Jim's trailer with the order he had dug several months ago. We have
been watering these divisions everyday so they would be ready to go with
new leaves and roots. Most of these were around 14 to 18 feet in height and
weigh 80 to 100 pounds each.
We have a special on this size for $90 each. If you can not pick up some large
divisions here or have them delivered take a look at your other option below.
This is our holding area of mail order sizes. Our 2006 Spring stock begin with 80
and there are still 38 of the 3 gallon sizes ready to go.
Above Roger and Jim talk after the load is completed. They took a tour of the
main groves prior to loading up his order. He also purchased some the 'Pigskin'
bamboo which is another timber bamboo that sizes up very fast. Thanks Jim and
we know this bamboo will meet all your expectations.
April 17th.
Today Tina and Paul visited us from Morristown, Tennessee. Their beautiful
Hungarian Poli ' Bob' also came along to look things over. Paul graduated from
the University of Tennessee, but we did not hold that against them, they were a
lovely family. They choose the 'Black', Moso and 'Golden' bamboo to start their
bamboo groves with. Using 35 divisions of the 'Golden' to form a 'neighboring
privacy screen', it should not take long.
Above, Tina and Paul visited at just the right time to
enjoy the new giant Moso shoots. They drove down a day
early and stayed over night in nearby Jasper. Both were
extremely nice and we do appreciate them selecting us as their
bamboo source.
They both assured us that 'Bob' had ears and eyes under all that
beautiful hair. After 'Bob' stretched his legs and the bamboo was
all loaded they headed home. We hope the trip will be safe and they
will visit again soon.
We wish to thank everyone for ordering bamboo from us.
Above photo was taken today awaiting UPS pick up.
There are 137 boxes containing one and two bamboo
divisions in each box. If you waited late to order, this
Spring, you have found out there are hundreds of bamboo
growers in front of you. Sorry but we are trying our best
to meet all our customer orders.
April 15th.
In case you have over looked it, we have a new page. We have been photographing
the progress of three giant Moso shoots. This is on our front page or click here to see
New Shoots
We just wanted to share some pictures of the newest addition of the Lewis family.
This is our precious little angel, Bonnie Harper Lewis.
April 9th.
We had a lot of damage from the storms that hit our area at 1 am Saturday April the 8th.
Our friends came swarming in like bees to clean up all the downed trees.
All utilities were knocked out during the storm. Above left you can see the power
pole lying in the driveway. To the right above a large pine tree blocks one drive way
and crushes several bamboo groves to the ground.
One three foot diameter white oak crushes the 250 gallon propane tank taking
down the power lines and transformer.
Below left, one large pine tree crashes through the roof of our office.
Our friends made short work of the damage. We are open and operating at full
capacity Monday the 10th.
With Roger Sr. down again with back problems, we really needed help. Our deepest
appreciation to all our true friends who are always there for us.
Joe & Sandra Kilgore
Kyle Yielding
Nick & Julie DeRocher
Sidney Busby
Rob Wise
Russell Crowe
April 6th.
Owner Phil Bashow, In Town Landscape, arrived around 9 am yesterday to pick up
another order he had pre-arranged. In the below photo, Roger and Phil look at
some Indocalamus latifolius. A great screening bamboo in the 6 to 12 foot height
range. It has large tropical size leaves which screen completely to the ground.
This grove has a little over 400 new shoots this April 2006.
Above left they are in the cool shade of 45 foot tall P. viridis 'Robert Young'. On
the right photo, Phil decides on which containers of P. nigra 'Black' he wants to take
home to Atlanta. He picked out three nice 10 gallon sizes that had multiple canes
and rhizomes growing out the drainage holes.
Here Phil checks out a 5 year old grove of S. fastuosa or 'Temple Bamboo'
from a single 3 gallon planting. We have mowed to grove to run long and narrow.
Below, Phil looks over one of the shrub bamboo Pl. linearis. This little
bamboo will usually mature at 14 feet in 5 years or less. Only cats and
small animals can weave their way thorough a grove of this bamboo.
Canes in the 1 inch diameter range with long willow tree type leaves.
Below left, thirty of the 15 gallon size 'Golden' we had pulled and wrapped
in burlap for Phil before he arrived. The specimens had been potted for
one year and had fantastic rhizome growth on every root ball.
Above right and below, Roger Jr. with Russell's help got all the bamboo
loaded up. Phil also chose six of our well rooted P. rubromarginata
to take home. He plans to return soon for Sasa Palmata and I. latifolius.
Above right shows the final wrap and ready for interstate speeds back to Atlanta.
If you are in the Atlanta area and are looking for a landscaper, be sure to call Phil at:
In Town Landscape Office 404-627-3700
2083 Cavanaugh Avenue SE Cell 404-557-0867
Atlanta, Georgia 30316
April 5th.
Today we have a returning landscaper from the Atlanta area coming
for a large order. I will post some information and his visit soon. Yesterday,
Jennifer and her husband Scott drove over to our bamboo farm to tour and pick
up some bamboo. Roger Jr. was available and very happy to show them around.
They toured the Moso grove shown above and purchased one of the larger divisions
we currently have available. They also bought P. v. 'Robert Young', P. nigra 'Black'
and a five gallon size of the very unique 'Green Onion' bamboo shown below.
With these great divisions they will soon have their very own bamboo
groves to enjoy forever. We hope their journey home was a safe
one and will return soon.
Below is one of the square bamboo sections I just turned loose of with
some regrets. It was taken from the cane shown in the photo on the far right.
This piece was cured for two years and smoked with one of my techniques.
April 1st.
Friday was a day when there wasn't enough day light to finish all the work. Roger and
Russell put in another full day digging bamboo for up coming orders. Below are some
new photos and details on what is happening now. We are having so many large orders
it is stretching us in all directions. We are now shipping 5 days a week to fill our mail
orders. Next week, the first week of April, we have 111 mail order divisions going out.
The second week of April, we have cut off at 158 divisions due to work time needed
for large division orders. The third week of April is closing in on 200 mail order divisions.
By the time I realized they were back from our bambusoides grove, the
trailer was almost unloaded. They laid a few down in the loading area
so I could take a picture. These were being loaded into the holding area
for watering. There was a total of 40 large divisions dug today. Last week
they dug 260 of the 3 gallon divisions in one day.
All of the above bamboo are 'Slender Crookstem'. A customer is coming in 6 weeks
to pick up an order of these large field divisions. This giant grows to over 45 feet tall
and can do it very quickly. A perfect bamboo for a walk through type grove and can
screen out a three story building in under 6 years.
The specimens below are Phyllostachys bissetii. A beautiful very cold hardy
bamboo. This customer is flying down from Oak Park, Illinois into Birmingham,
Alabama next month. From there they will taxi over to a local rental center for a
large truck.
They also will be be getting 20 large field divisions of Phyllostachys rubromarginata
on this trip. In groups of ten we offer both of these species for $90 each in this size.
As you can tell, these divisions are well over 20 feet tall. Many of the root
balls are multiple canes and most all are over one inch in diameter. Note the
emerald green cane on this bamboo. This species makes a great privacy screen
in any area of the country. It is often selected as it usually does not grow much
taller than 24 feet in height. We have measured some at 36 feet, but this is an
exception to its normal growth habits.
Above, Roger unhooks the 18 foot trailer once again. He is headed back to the
loading area to ball and burlap 30 of the 15 gallon size 'Golden' to be picked up
this coming Monday. This order is for a repeat customer (Uptown Landscape)
who works out of Atlanta, Georgia. When landscapers come from out of state
to purchase our bamboo it speaks highly of our reputation. We deal regularly
with landscapers in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and several
other states. Many of our commercial customers are listed on our News Index
page and have their own web page listed on our web site. This page contains
contact information for their company and photos of the bamboo they purchased
from us.
Also coming up will be the delivery of 23 large field dug divisions of P. bissetii to
Grapevine, Texas in May. This will be our fourth trip to Texas this year and it is just April.
Today we have a returning landscaper from the Atlanta area coming
for a large order. I will post some information and his visit soon. Yesterday,
Jennifer and her husband Scott drove over to our bamboo farm to tour and pick
up some bamboo. Roger Jr. was available and very happy to show them around.
They toured the Moso grove shown above and purchased one of the larger divisions
we currently have available. They also bought P. v. 'Robert Young', P. nigra 'Black'
and a five gallon size of the very unique 'Green Onion' bamboo shown below.
With these great divisions they will soon have their very own bamboo
groves to enjoy forever. We hope their journey home was a safe
one and will return soon.
Below is one of the square bamboo sections I just turned loose of with
some regrets. It was taken from the cane shown in the photo on the far right.
This piece was cured for two years and smoked with one of my techniques.
April 1st.
Friday was a day when there wasn't enough day light to finish all the work. Roger and
Russell put in another full day digging bamboo for up coming orders. Below are some
new photos and details on what is happening now. We are having so many large orders
it is stretching us in all directions. We are now shipping 5 days a week to fill our mail
orders. Next week, the first week of April, we have 111 mail order divisions going out.
The second week of April, we have cut off at 158 divisions due to work time needed
for large division orders. The third week of April is closing in on 200 mail order divisions.
By the time I realized they were back from our bambusoides grove, the
trailer was almost unloaded. They laid a few down in the loading area
so I could take a picture. These were being loaded into the holding area
for watering. There was a total of 40 large divisions dug today. Last week
they dug 260 of the 3 gallon divisions in one day.
All of the above bamboo are 'Slender Crookstem'. A customer is coming in 6 weeks
to pick up an order of these large field divisions. This giant grows to over 45 feet tall
and can do it very quickly. A perfect bamboo for a walk through type grove and can
screen out a three story building in under 6 years.
The specimens below are Phyllostachys bissetii. A beautiful very cold hardy
bamboo. This customer is flying down from Oak Park, Illinois into Birmingham,
Alabama next month. From there they will taxi over to a local rental center for a
large truck.
They also will be be getting 20 large field divisions of Phyllostachys rubromarginata
on this trip. In groups of ten we offer both of these species for $90 each in this size.
As you can tell, these divisions are well over 20 feet tall. Many of the root
balls are multiple canes and most all are over one inch in diameter. Note the
emerald green cane on this bamboo. This species makes a great privacy screen
in any area of the country. It is often selected as it usually does not grow much
taller than 24 feet in height. We have measured some at 36 feet, but this is an
exception to its normal growth habits.
Above, Roger unhooks the 18 foot trailer once again. He is headed back to the
loading area to ball and burlap 30 of the 15 gallon size 'Golden' to be picked up
this coming Monday. This order is for a repeat customer (Uptown Landscape)
who works out of Atlanta, Georgia. When landscapers come from out of state
to purchase our bamboo it speaks highly of our reputation. We deal regularly
with landscapers in Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and several
other states. Many of our commercial customers are listed on our News Index
page and have their own web page listed on our web site. This page contains
contact information for their company and photos of the bamboo they purchased
from us.
Also coming up will be the delivery of 23 large field dug divisions of P. bissetii to
Grapevine, Texas in May. This will be our fourth trip to Texas this year and it is just April.