“Hello, hello, hello, it’s another sunny day in gorgeous San Diego. The time is 7am, and this one is for those of you heading into work on this Monday morning.” The radio cut to the music as Lily Cain coasted down Interstate 5. She was headed to a meeting, running 15 minutes early as usual.
Lily Cain made her wage off making other people interesting. That’s not to say they weren’t actually interesting, but Lily had a way of making the driest of stories nail biters. She had been writing for the San Diego post for about 6 months, trading the four seasons of New York City for something a little sunnier. So far, she couldn’t help but love San Diego. She loved the weather, the food, and her new job wasn’t half bad either. She primarily wrote about businesses local to San Diego that were having a big impact on the community. It was a great way to showcase her skills.
This morning she was especially excited for her meeting with Don Whales, the owner of a local company that did landscaping work in La Jolla and surrounding areas that she had been hearing great things about. Don had been in business with his late father before starting Whales Landscaping. It had just been the two of them, but after his dad passed he had decided to start his own company. With Don’s experience, they had expanded quickly, marketing themselves as trustworthy, experienced, professionals. They had even created a little landscaping tips guide for DIYers.
She pulled into the parking lot of the coffee house she was meeting Don at and hopped out of her car. She walked in prepared to grab a drink and prep until Don got there because, of course, she was early. To her surprise a man, younger than she had thought, opened the door for her. “You must be Lily,” the man said. He had bright blue eyes, a deep tan, and gorgeous smile.
“Oh my gosh,” Lily said, a little to loud. She wasn’t used to people beating her places. “Um, yes I am. It’s nice to meet you,” she extended her hand.
“Likewise. Why don’t you grab some coffee and meet me at my table,” Don said, pointing to a table in the back. Based on his half empty coffee cup, Lily guessed he had arrived at least 15 minutes ago.
Lily retrieved her coffee, black with a splash of skim, and headed for Don’s table. “So, I have really been looking forward to this interview. Obviously, there are a lot of companies that do landscape design in Rancho Santa Fe but yours has really made a splash. You guys really have a reputation for excellence.” Lily took a seat and began pulling out her tablet to take notes.
“Lily, flattery will get you far,” Don smiled. “It was always a dream of mine to start my own thing. That’s not to say I don’t miss working alongside my dad, we had several good years, and I miss him every day. I’m really happy with where I landed though.”
Lily smiled back, “That is great stuff. You sort of answered my first couple of questions though.” This guy kept beating her to the punch, Lily thought, and she kind of liked it. “So, I guess I’ll have to skip to my next question. In your mind what makes your company so special?”
“Hmmm,” Don thought out loud, “If I really had to say, I would say we are a larger company with a small company feel.”
“One more question for you,” Lily said, “What has been your favorite project to work on?”
“O, that is an easy one,” Don replied, “It has to be the Mission Hills landscaping project we did a few months back. I’m not going to lie, it was in rough shape when we first got there, but by the time we were done it was simply stunning. It literally made the homeowners cry.”
“Great answer,” Lily replied, “and great interview. I really appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to meet with me.”
“Oh, Lily it was an absolute pleasure,” Don replied with a wink.
If you are looking for a great landscaping company in San Diego, we recommend:
Torrey Pines Landscape Co.
P.O. Box 6742, San Diego, CA 92166
(858) 454-1433