By Staff
Story and Photos by Kerry Whipple Bean
Larry Dixon has never worked a day since he was 12 years old. His profession as a landscaper is too much fun to call it work, he said.
Those years of enjoyment are paying off, as Dixon was recently nominated one of the best landscapers in the country by Total Landscape Care magazine. A photographer from the magazine was in town Friday to shoot photos of Dixon at several of his projects in the community.
Dixon, who works in the business started by his parents, Dixon’s Nursery, said he appreciated the recognition.
Dixon has placed in the top 12, who will find out soon which one is Landscaper of the Year.
One of those references, Ann McMillan, was on hand Friday as Dixon showed Gruver his work at Grace Gardens, McMillan’s property on U.S. 31 North.
Gardens around the two-story cottage include an evergreen maze in front of the house; a private, all-white garden in the backyard; and a goldfish pond with lush greenery and a waterfall.
McMillan and Dixon have worked together to plan the landscaping on the property. She credits Dixon with the idea for the maze, which will become more complex and private as the greenery grows. McMillan has honored her daughter Christine with the all-white private garden. She has plans for a formal garden and herb garden, along with other plants on the property.
Dixon and McMillan consider Grace Gardens a work in progress.
Dixon also took Gruver to tour some of his other projects. “The pictures they took are of some of my favorite work,” Dixon said.
Dixon and the 11 other finalists will each be featured in the magazine throughout the next year and will go on a cruise next month, with expenses paid by the magazine, where they will find out who the overall winner is. But Gruver said that all of the finalists are considered winners.
Total Landscape Care magazine, published by Randall Reilly in Tuscaloosa, has a circulation of 75,000, and is distributed mainly to landscapers throughout the country, Gruver said.
Lisa Tindell contributed to this report.