Tag Archives: Thomas Landscape

Thomas Landscape named Webster Chamber Business of the Month

20 Mar

Congratulations to Thomas Landscape and Design on being named the Webster Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month for March 2024.

Thomas Landscape and Design, at 775 Ridge Rd. Webster, has served the greater Webster community for 46 years with full-service landscape, lawn, tree and shrub selection; design, planting and maintenance; and garden center and nursery services. Led by owner Richard Thomas, the business employs 46 full- and part-time employees, with 18 trucks.

Upon presenting the award, Chamber President & CEO Barry Howard stated,

Second-generation businesses send a strong message. Some characteristics of this business stand out to me as success factors: Richard’s vision of this service starting as a high school student, outdoor passion, strong work ethic, customization, visual attraction, steady business building over time, including bricks and mortar, and a commitment to the community. They are a solid example of success for our community.

In addition to their landscape work for community members and businesses, the talented Thomas Landscape staff members have for more than 35 years maintained the WEBSTER bushes that greet visitors on Rt. 104 east of the Bay Bridge, and are working hard to bring them back to their full beauty following the vandalism many years ago. (Click here to read more about that.)

Owner Richard Thomas and his wife Pam have started the transition toward retirement, and Richard’s daughter Heather and her fiancé Tony will be stepping into leadership roles. But you’ll still see Richard and his wife at work. Their retirement will progress in stages to ensure a smooth transfer of responsibilities, while maintaining and building upon their 46 years of success. 

The Webster Chamber of Commerce presents a Business of the Month award to one of their member businesses at each of their monthly breakfast meetings. It’s one way the Chamber helps keep their member businesses and organizations visible throughout the Webster community.

The next breakfast meeting is this Friday March 22, beginning at 7 a.m. at the Webster Recreation Center. Network with as many as 90 business and organizational leaders before breakfast, enjoy an informative program and then take part in the “pass-the-mic” time, when everyone has an opportunity to be visible.

Visitors and members are welcome. Please register here.

Pictured above: (L-R) Tony Zucco, Heather Thomas, Pam Thomas and Richard Thomas accepting the award from Webster Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Carolyn Montanaro.

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(posted 3/20/2024)

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Who takes care of those WEBSTER bushes?

3 Mar

We drive by them all the time, those bushes along Rt. 104 just east of the Bay Bridge that spell out WEBSTER, welcoming residents and visitors alike to our fair town. But did you ever wonder about their history, who originally planted them and who takes care of them now?

According to Webster Chamber of Commerce president Barry Howard, the WEBSTER bushes installation was a project spearheaded by the Chamber in 1986 as a beautification project. The Chamber commissioned the design in February of that year, got all the required permits by September, then arranged to have the bushes and stone scape installed. The sailboat motif in colored stone mosaic was added in 1993.

The landscaping company who originally planted the bushes went out of business, and Thomas Landscape took over their maintenance just a year or two later. The company has been taking care of them every year since, for more than 35 years, at the Chamber’s expense.

Many will remember that back in 2010, vandals destroyed the bushes, cutting every single one of the plants to the ground. At the time, the Chamber asked people if something like a welcome sign should be put in instead. But the community stood behind their much-loved WEBSTER shrubs, and overwhelmingly voted to replace them. With help from a radio-thon fundraiser hosted by WARM 101.3, 75 new bushes were purchased and planted.

It’s been more than 10 years, and the new bushes are doing pretty well, but it’s going to take them a while to get back to their former glory.

“They’re coming around,” said Thomas Landscape owner Rick Thomas. “Last year we started doing an organic-based fertilizer on the plants and it’s definitely helping.”

“It’s an extremely hard area to grow plants because of the steep slope,” he added. “You don’t realize how steep it is until you’re standing on it. Water and nutrients just roll down it. It’s a tough area to grow anything.”

Between the Chamber of Commerce and Thomas Landscape, the WEBSTER shrubbery continues to get regular TLC. The stone scape was repainted a few years ago, and Thomas staff members head up there three times a year for general maintenance. They’re even giving some thought to perhaps changing out the stone design in front “to keep things fresh.”

“I think it’s still viable,” Rick said. “People like to look at it. It’s fun; we’ll be up there trimming and weeding and cleaning up and people drive by, waving and cheering.”

I’ll be one of those people waving and cheering next time I see you up there, as a thank you for keeping our favorite town landmark looking great.

Thomas Landscape is located at 775 Ridge Rd., Webster.

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email me  at missyblog@gmail.com. “Like” this blog on Facebook and follow me on Instagram and Threads (@missyblog)

You can also get email notifications every time I post a new blog by using the “Subscribe” link on the right side of this page (or all the way at the bottom of the page if you’re on your phone).

(posted 3/3/2024)

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