Marek Landscaping, LLC

Homeowners are increasingly re-wilding their homes with native plants, experts say The days of the perfect-looking yard -- often lawns that guzzle copious amounts of water to stay green -- may soon be gone.

Baldwin Introduces Bill to Revitalize Waterfront Communities, Support Economic Development and Strong Ecosystems | U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin introduced comprehensive legislation to...

Butterfly Milkweed is not only beautiful when in bloom, but it also plays a crucial role in supporting biodiversity. This gorgeous bloom lasts as long as two months and is dwelling host and nectar plant to bees, monarchs, skippers, moths, hover flys, beetles, and hummingbirds! It's an adaptable native prairie plant and behavingly thrives in urban spaces, gardens, planters, and green infrastructure. If you like being amazed, let us plant some of this for you, next to the lake, in your garden, or on your bluff!

Do you have a profound appreciation for nature and a commitment to excellence in your professional endeavors? If you're eager to make a positive impact, we'd love to have you join our team! Learn more at Mareklandscaping.com and apply by sending your resume and cover letter to : [email protected].

So proud to be a part of the team helping to restore one of the headwaters of the Pike River! We attended this great kickoff groundbreaking and helped get some plants in the ground! It's refreshing to see a diverse group of champions of many backgrounds, ages, and experience! The community engagement and support and excitement was palpable! Thanks Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network! Stitching together our urban watershed with the community that has been largely disconnected from it is no small effort and your work will create a fabric that's durable, resilient, and beautiful!

Each year for the past 14 years Marek has helped with the MMSD Fresh Coast Internship training with our partners at .
The team consists of ambitious environmental scientists and civil engineering students who apply to the program. This is an amazing program ensuring that we enlist and inspire driven professionals to our practice.
Mike Marek leads a day of classroom training at our office on all things Green Infrastructure followed by a day of field work disconnecting downspouts, adding rain barrels, and installing a rain garden with the team. For some it might be their first time using a spade, wheelbarrow, or garden rake. These skills, this tactile process, is part of the training- connecting with the earth quite literally in a process of stewardship and care. Conveying the “why” is our favorite part though and the piece that brings the most pride.
We are honored to pass along our knowledge, expertise, and passion on how to help ‘Slow the Flow’ of rainwater through our city with the use of these simple and practical solutions. Protecting the Great Lakes is at the heart of all we do, and this training is one of the most important projects of the year to ensure we are having as big of a positive impact as possible. We learn more every year through their curiosity, great questions, and drive. We get as much as we give from this program and always come away with renewed motivation and hope for the future of the Fresh Coast.

At this time of year, many plants are flowering, and a common question arises: Is this plant native or invasive? The image here shows one of each. Can you identify the difference?

Exciting day here at Marek Headquarters !! We have been observing the life cycle of Painted Lady Butterflies here in the office. Just a few short weeks ago our caterpillars arrived and it has been an interesting progression to witness. Today , three of the six have emerged from thier chrysalises! 😃🦋

Had the pleasure of visiting a residential client for contract maintenance work today. We love checking in on past work and hearing how the clients are enjoying their beautiful landscape!

A Jack-in-the-Pulpit spotted during a recent site visit!
These exotic looking perennials are actually somewhat common and love to grow in shady areas with moist soil.Prior to blooming,they can easily be mistaken for poison ivy with the similar leaves of three.

Hello, I wanted to bring to your attention a volunteer opportunity at Shorewood Nature Reserve. If you have the ability to help, we would greatly appreciate your assistance!

April showers bring May flowers... and May flowers bring pollinators 🐝🦋

Spring is a wonderful time of year , we enjoy seeing nature do its magic and love to observe everything coming back to life.
This week the crew was out in the field in several locations around Milwaukee working hard and captured some pictures of Virginia Blue Bells in various stages of Growth.
Blue bells -also known by their scientific name (Mertensia Virginica) are a herb that grows from bulb. These sweet scented flowers attract butterflies, moths and various bee species making them a useful addition to wildlife gardens. Did you know blue bells are not able to self fertilize and must rely on pollinators?

A culture of gratitude can lead to increased motivation, better morale, and a stronger sense of community within a team. 🪴

Happy Earth Day!🌎

May we all be inspired by the beauty of our planet and in turn take action to ensure a healthy future for many generations to come.🌱

February is National Bird Feeding Month! According to Perky-Pet, many environmental changes have impacted bird populations over the years. By contributing food and shelter for your backyard birds, you're providing vital resources to help populations nourish themselves, find mates, build nests, raise their young, and generally thrive. Thank you to all of the bird enthusiasts who provide shelter, food, and recreation for the birds who need it!

Today is World Wetlands Day! According to the Nature Conservancy, A Wetland absorbs excess nutrients, sediment, and pollutants before they reach larger bodies of water. It improves water quality, and helps absorb, store, and slow floodwaters, decreasing the effect of streambank erosion. It is also an important rest stop for migrating birds and provides a habitat for fish to lay their eggs. The Wetlands are also a source of all-natural outdoor recreation opportunities. The Wetlands are a life force that is an important aspect of life for all of us! Let's celebrate those who work hard to support wetland restoration.

Marek acknowledges that Friday, February 2 is Groundhog Day! It is also World Wetlands Day! Will the Groundhog see his/her shadow today? We will find out to see how many more weeks of winter we shall have! According to the United States Geological Survey, wetlands provide habitat for thousands of species of aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals. Wetlands are valuable for flood protection, water quality improvement, shoreline erosion control, natural products, recreation, and aesthetics. Let's hope that the groundhog and the wetlands make everything "Alright"!

February is Black History Month! Marek would like to bring attention to 7 black environmentalists whose contributions truly made and continue to make history: Solomon Brown, George Washington Carver, Captain Charles Young, MaVynee Betsch "The Beach Lady", Wangari Maathai, John Francis "The Planetwalker", and Rue Mapp. Read more about their amazing contributions to the environment HERE: https://urbangreenlab.org/black-environmentalists/

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL ZEBRA DAY! According to the Humane Society of the United States, Zebras are social animals that live together in groups. They help the local ecosystem by grazing on dry, hardened grass that is too tough for other species to digest (e.g., wildebeest, ostriches, and antelopes). There are also 3 species of Zebras: The Grévy's Zebra, The Plains Zebra, and The Mountain Zebra. The Plains Zebra is the most common. The stripes are similar to human fingerprints and are specific to each Zebra.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND WORK ANNIVERSARY MIKE MAREK! Mike Marek will often comment that his anniversary date as an employee of Marek Landscaping is on his birthdate. He knew this was what he wanted to do when he entered the world! So today, we wish Mike a wonderful birthday and a happy work anniversary! Mike's passion for serving our clients and making this world better drives his commitment to excellence! Feel free to wish Mike a happy birthday and work anniversary below!

Make sure to read about Riverwest Currents for 2024, which features a neighbor spotlight. For January, read about Tiffany Miller (photo) and her amazing art! To read about other Riverwest happenings and upcoming events, visit https://riverwestcurrents.org/2024. Marek Landscaping is proud to be a Riverwest resident!

Happy birthday Dian Fossey (January 16, 1932-December 26, 1985). Dian was an American primatologist and conservationist known for undertaking an extensive study of mountain gorilla groups from 1966 until 1985. She studied them daily in the mountain forests of Rwanda, initially encouraged to work there by paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey. Her research and conservation work helped reduce the downward population trend in mountain gorillas. , ,

Dian Fossey, born today, January 16, 1932, was an American primatologist and conservationist known for undertaking an extensive study of mountain gorilla groups from 1966 until her passing in 1985. She studied them daily in the mountain forests of Rwanda, initially encouraged to work there by paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey. "Gorillas in the Mist", a book published two years before her death, is Fossey's account of her scientific study of the gorillas at Karisoke Research Center and prior career. Her research and conservation work helped reduce the downward population trend in mountain gorillas. We celebrate her amazing contributions to our world's environment and wildlife communities! , , , ,

We at Marek Landscaping, LLC celebrate the amazing diversity and inclusive environment fostered by the amazing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On this federal holiday that celebrates the monumental changes that he and so many have brought to our country and world, Marek thanks him for the diverse collaboration we have been a part of in the environmental field due to his selfless efforts.

HAPPY MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY!

Happy birthday Aldo Leopold (January 11, 1887-April 21, 1948)! Aldo was an American writer, philosopher, naturalist, scientist, ecologist, forester, conservationist, and environmentalist. He was a professor at UW-Madison and is best known for his book "A Sand County Almanac" (1949), which has been translated into fourteen languages and has sold more than two million copies. Thank you Aldo for your work in breathing community engagement back into the environment! , , ,

Last week was a great run of Rx Fire for the Marek team! We were able to get some fire on the ground between red flag warnings and had several safe and productive burns.