MY BIZ: Surrounded by color

PALO — Heather Sage just happens to have a great last name that lent itself well to naming her business.

As the owner/operator of Sage Advice Landscaping, she puts her 15 years of experience in the horticultural industry to good use, helping her clients design outdoor spaces.

“We are a landscaping company that truly loves and appreciates plant material,” she said. “I enjoy listening to our customers and selecting plant material based on our conversations.

“Someone might mention a smell they remember from their grandmother's garden, or that they saw a beautiful plant while on vacation. I love trying to find special material to make their yard feel unique and inviting.”

Sage Advice is a full service landscaping company that offers tree plantings, hardscaping — such as walls, and patios — and, of course, Sage’s favorite part, plant installation and DIY design consultation.

Starting a business

Sage, 37, said she decided to start her own business after working at a greenhouse for some 15 years.

Before she started working with plants, she thought she wanted to teach history and had enrolled at the University of Northern Iowa.

“But I took a summer job taking care of the grounds for Frontier Natural Products Co-op,” she said. “They had a one acre botanical bed, and I loved going to work every day that summer. It was hot, hard, dirty work, but still I was happy.”

Sage transferred to Hawkeye Community College to study horticulture, then went to work at a garden center for 11 years before launching her own business.

“Landscaping is a combination of art and science,” she said. “I love getting to incorporate both those aspects while getting to truly know our customers. After working with our customers year after year, we are thankful to call some of our customers our true friends.”

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Hot, long days

Hers is a small, but mighty operation, she said.

“I work every day with my husband,” she said. “He is the practical mind that balances my creative mind.”

They also work with a team of up to three others who help with landscaping work. “They are fantastic, always eager to help and enjoyable to be with, even on the hottest days.”

And the days are hot and long at times.

“During our busiest time of the year, we usually work from 8 to 6 and then head home and prepare for the next day.

“We also farm, so my husband heads to the farm and does chores after we wrap up landscaping, and I usually head to design appointments for the evening. I am home around 7:30 and look forward to spending the evening with our daughter.”

Word of mouth

Based out of Palo, Sage works with residential clients all over the area. She has built a following through her business Facebook page.

“A lot of our business is word of mouth, and I like to use that page to highlight plant material and share tips for your own landscaping,” she said.

Sage said she also takes pride in supporting other local small businesses. “We try to source as much plant material from local garden centers as possible.”

But Sage said she will travel to find the exact plant or yard element she is looking for.

“I have been known to be a little particular,” she said. “If there is a certain plant or tree I want to use and cannot find it locally, I have been known to stop at garden centers while in other states and search for the material. Our daughter once had to ride back from Kentucky with two evergreens as her backseat buddies.

“After over 15 years in the field of horticulture, I still feel I found the place I am supposed to be,” she added. “We like being able to raise our daughter, visiting garden centers surrounded by color, and seeing what hard work can create. Every day I am grateful to be able to wake up and create in the field I love.”

Know a business that should be considered for a “My Biz” feature? Let us know by emailing mary.sharp@thegazette.com.

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