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Why Leaves Change Colors and Other Musings

September 30, 2026September 15, 2020 by The Parke Company

The Parke Company trees with fall colored leaves

Leaves changing color is one of the best parts about fall. Nashville is a great town to watch the leaves turn vibrant shades of red, yellow, orange and brown, and eventually fall from their branches. With the help of chlorophyll (or lack of help, we should say), the leaves drastically change — and this year more than ever.

And thanks to many literary legends, we can enjoy the change of seasons in word form as well as looking outside our window. Inspired by fall, Robert Frost’s “Gathering Leaves” gets you right in the spirit of fall (if Vanderbilt football and pumpkin pies don’t work for you).

Read the poem below for some fall fun:

“Gathering Leaves” by Robert Frost

Spades take up leaves

No better than spoons,

And bags full of leaves

Are light as balloons.

I make a great noise

Of rustling all day

Like rabbit and deer

Running away.

But the mountains I raise

Elude my embrace,

Flowing over my arms

And into my face.

I may load and unload

Again and again

Till I fill the whole shed,

And what have I then?

Next to nothing for weight,

And since they grew duller

From contact with earth,

Next to nothing for color.

Next to nothing for use.

But a crop is a crop,

And who’s to say where

The harvest shall stop

The team at the Parke Company loves when the leaves change colors. (And so does Robert Frost!) What other poems, quotes or literary works gets you in the spirit for autumn?

Harvesting Thanksgiving Traditions in Nashville

September 30, 2026September 15, 2020 by The Parke Company

The Parke Company harvesting pumpkins for halloween

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. And we don’t know about you, but we’re already dreaming about what we will eat for Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey, stuffing, pie — the possibilities are limitless! And one great thing about having Thanksgiving in Nashville is the large amount of local produce available to make your dinner plate fantastic. We think it’s about time to bring that festive harvest to your own backyard. Here are a few reasons why you should consider growing your own produce:

Good for the environment

— Growing plants, vegetables and other crops on your property not only enhances the look of your yard, but it is also beneficial for the environment. While you can eat many of the crops for a Thanksgiving feast (or any feast, really), the non-edible plants are great for little Nashvillian critters to gobble up nutrients.

Cost effective and delicious

— What better way to cut the cost of your Thanksgiving feast than growing your own ingredients? Growing your own crops can reduce your spending on groceries all year long, and somehow, eating crops you grew yourself is much more delicious than buying them from the store.

A relaxing hobby

— So many people find enjoyment and relaxation in taking care of a garden. Want to have a prosperous garden or landscape but you’re not sure where to begin? The Parke Company doesn’t just cover tree services. They can help you get set up the right way with any landscaping, flower bed cleaning, mulching and more.

Thanksgiving is a great time of togetherness and being thankful for friends, family and other blessings. With the help of the Parke Company, you can celebrate Thanksgiving all year round with your garden, trees and landscape. It doesn’t matter if you do it for good of the environment, to save money or if you just love taking care of your garden. Celebrating nature’s gift of food is always fun! For more information on landscape design, mulching or tree services, call the Parke Company today to get started.

Giving Thanks for our Trees

September 30, 2026September 15, 2020 by The Parke Company

Another Thanksgiving down and the holiday season is in full swing. We don’t know about you, but our bellies are full of delicious turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie! We hope you took account of all that you were thankful for this year — your family, friends, health — whatever it might be! But there is one important thing we must never forget to be thankful for…trees!

Here are some reasons why we should be thankful for trees:

Protection. Whether you need shade from a very sunny day or you need protection from an unexpected rainfall, trees and their leaves will provide it for you. For centuries, trees have been shelter for those who need protection from the elements and for that, we’re thankful!
Nourishment and Oxygen. It goes without saying that trees are a valuable resource for nourishment and oxygen for both humans and animals. For hundreds of years we’ve been utilizing trees for clean air as well as fruit, nuts and much more!
Beauty. If not for anything else, be thankful for the beauty trees provide our environment. Whether it’s springtime and the leaves are blooming in Cheekwood, summer with bright, green leaves in Percy Warner, or winter with bare limbs, trees elicit a gorgeous backdrop outside to enjoy.

Whether you are a self-proclaimed tree hugger or someone who just enjoys celebrating Thanksgiving, there are so many great reasons to be thankful for the trees around you. And just like trees provide so many things for us, it’s important to give back to them. Keeping up with tree services is a great way to ensure they’re healthy and beautiful for years to come! For more information about tree services, contact us today. Happy holidays from The Parke Company!

New Year’s Resolutions for Lawn and Tree Care

September 30, 2026September 15, 2020 by The Parke Company

2014 was another great year, but it’s time to take 2015 head on. With a new year full of promise, it’s important to commit to some great New Year’s resolutions that not only benefit you, but ones that you can keep all year long. And yes, losing weight and eating right are great goals, but take your resolutions outside and commit to better tree care and lawn care services this year with the Parke Company.

Plan, Plan, Plan!

This is probably one of the most important factors to consider for lawn care and tree services. Planting bulbs, transplanting trees, invasive species and irrigation systems all require a bit of planning, so it’s important to work with the Parke Company early and often. Not only will this ensure things get done as planned, but it’ll help you follow through with your New Year’s goal.

Winter Tree Work: This is often overlooked when people think of tree services, but it’s an important part of properly taking care of your trees. If you only make one resolution about tree care, make it this one. Winter tree work is vital to the livelihood of the trees all year long. Professionally trained arborists are equipped to help with any questions you might have and will help you keep your resolution all through the year.

Flower Beds & Debris Clean-Up:

Landscaping can be a daunting task, especially if you have a lot on your plate. That’s why this is an easy New Year’s Resolution to keep. Simply call the Parke Company to take care of it. Not only will they keep your flower beds healthy and beautiful, but it’s one less thing you have to stress about!

Irrigation Work:

This is key to a beautiful landscape! If your New Year’s resolution is for a knock-out lawn, then call The Parke Company to schedule end-of-winter irrigation work. The Parke Company will come and do a system check to make sure everything is good to go for the peak season. Because the last thing you’ll want to deal with is a malfunctioning irrigation system when spring arrives, right?

Planting & Design:

Perhaps you’re great at keeping up with landscape and tree services, but you’d like to improve your planting and design. Don’t go at it alone! The Parke Company can help with that too! From planting bulbs to designing gorgeous landscape displays, Parke will keep your resolution in check.

The Parke Company makes this New Year’s resolution easier than ever. With a simple phone call, arborists, landscape specialists and other team members make sure you stay true to your new goal. Cheekwood, Percy Warner or Belle Meade Plantation aren’t the only areas around town that can have beautiful trees and a beautiful lawn! Whether you need irrigation, landscape, or tree care, they’ve got you covered. For more information, call the Parke Company today!

The Parke Company Helps with Capitol Christmas Tree

September 30, 2026September 15, 2020 by The Parke Company

Another Christmas season and another beautiful Christmas tree at the capitol. With the help of the Parke Company, Nashville has a beautiful, 44-foot Norway Spruce for the city’s annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade, which was held on Dec. 5.

The tree was so beloved this year that it was even featured in a Huffington Post article.

Set on the lawn in Public Square off downtown, the lighting ceremony is the city’s kickoff to the holiday season. Decorated with over 5,000 lights on its limbs, the mayor and his family switched on the lights to begin the festivities which included a Christmas parade, hot chocolate and cookies.

Like last year, the Parke Company had a helping hand in making sure the tree made it safely to Nashville. From Manchester, TN, the Norway Spruce made the journey to Music City for its final resting stop in the public square. The majestic tree was originally being chopped down because its limbs were obstructing a power line utility right-of-way. But thanks to a handful of people’s vision, including Parke, the tree is now being repurposed for Nashvillians to admire during the Christmas season.

The Parke Company can assist you in your own tree decorating and holiday landscape needs. Your lawn can look as majestic and spirited as the Capitol with a little assistance. The Parke Company can do everything from decorating mailboxes to festive displays. For more information about the Parke Company’s services, contact them today. And be sure to check out Nashville’s Christmas Tree this season located in Public Square of the Metro Courthouse.