Spring Home and Garden 2026

Presented by the Lynden Tribune & Ferndale Record Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Featuring the homes of

• Langei Family • Man/Levis

• Casey/Galambos

Home & SpringGarden

Table of Contents

Man/Levis:

Active but aging in place in Net-Zero Blaine home. Page 4

Langei: Creating a space to last. Page 10

Casey/ Galambos:

Couple enjoys their home’s kitchen remodel. Page 20

Van Wingerden: Looking forward to colorful spring planting. Page 28

Kent's: Garden and Nursery boasts increased ambiance. Page 32

Also ...

Aging in Place: Strength & balance are essential for independent living. Page 26

Finance: Avoid rental scams with these tips. Page 34

Active but aging in place in Net-Zero Blaine home

Retirement with privacy and quiet

By Elisa Claassen For the Tribune

BLAINE — After retiring from professional lives in Oregon, Linda Man and Michael Levis decided to leave city life behind.

With so many changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, the quiet seemed important.

With a list of budgetary concerns and life goals, Man and Levis knew they wanted to stay on the West Coast. They also wanted to avoid crowded Seattle and find something affordable.

Because of their love of outdoor activities, they had visited Bellingham and used it as a starting point.

“We’d done a lot of hiking in the North Cascades,” Levis said. “We are both members of a climbing organization in Portland and have spent a fair amount of time here. We like the vibe of Bellingham.”

But they didn’t like the prices in Bellingham, which were akin to Portland, if not higher, Levis said.

They went from looking for three years in Bellingham — and saw a spike in home prices around 2021 during the Pandemic, Levis said — to further out into Whatcom and Skagit counties.

They eventually found a neighborhood of 10-acre wooded lots behind a gate on a private road out of Blaine in what was once a gravel pit. Yes, they have neighbors — both humans and a variety of wildlife.

Their previous homes, a city home and later a condo, were quite different from this current home. Levis said they valued reducing their utility use and costs — and simplifying their lives.

Neither wanted a large footprint

but the community they selected has a homeowner association which does have a stated square footage requirement.

So their home is 2,500 square feet as opposed to 1,800-2,000 square feet. The attached garage is an additional 624 square feet.

“We wanted a house that allowed aging in place,” Levis said. “Both of us had gone through a situation with our parents where we saw what happens as you get older.”

They also wanted energy efficiency as costs are increasing faster than they used to. This is found in an open space plan which has bedroom space upstairs and down (for when they no longer want to climb stairs).

While working with TC Legend builders, Man and Levis received a package deal of handling planning, permits and practically everything else.

They bought the lot in January 2024, got permits in August 2024, proceeded to work quickly toward their plan purchasing material before tariffs and price fluctuations took hold, and were in the home by July 2025.

Healthy Net-Zero homes

TC Legend’s motto is that it “strives to design and build net-zero energy homes that are bright and healthy to live in, that power themselves and an electric car, and that are available to all.”

Builder TC Legend Homes claims it has built more zero-energy homes in the Northwest than any other builder — more than 40. The team, based in Bellingham, focuses on Whatcom and Skagit counties. It has won 18 U.S. Department of Energy Housing Innovation awards and honorable mentions.

The two-story home of Michael

and Linda Man was designed and built by TC Legend Homes with a focus on Net-Zero building. The home has systems for creating its own energy but also tapping into electric systems as needed – or giving back. (Photos courtesy

Net-Zero: Active but aging in place in Blaine home

TC, according to its website, states that its “actions today will affect our children tomorrow. At TC Legend Homes, we see a carbon-neutral future of healthy homes and clean transportation that will allow future generations to thrive.”

TC believes good candidates for their home encompass different family types including retirees such as Man and Levis, per a builder bio.

“We had a budget that we wanted to stay within,” Levis said. “They are very good at that and came in within 1 percent of their initial estimate.”

Although Net-Zero homes generate their own energy, they can still be connected to the power grid — to borrow energy during the winter or to send energy to the grid in the summer, according to Jake Evans of TC Legend Homes. Evans, whose role is to design the homes, said usually the energy is created from roof top solar panels, but some locations can even use wind power.

So far the couple has used the solar system as is and not gone to the use of the costly batteries, but have kept that as a future option.

5-acre plant

an unrivaled selection of plants, trees, shrubs, edibles, perennials, and more, we have everything you need to transform your outdoor space. Our extensive selection also includes garden art, planters, water fountains, and more!

Our amazing staff is ready to assist you, whether you’re a beginner, a master gardener, or a professional landscaper. Our experienced team can guide you with your specific needs.

If selecting plants is too overwhelming, we offer plant design services to include an in-home consultation, convenient jobsite delivery and even plantings. We love to make your gardening experience fun and enjoyable and can meet you wherever you are at in your plant journey.

Bring the kids and explore the largest nursery in Whatcom County! Discover why Kent’s has been a trusted source for quality plants for over four decades.

Michael Levis and Linda Man selected a home that has the ability for them to age in place – everything they technically need on the first floor, door width that could eventually accommodate wheelchairs if needed, colored concrete floors, and easy-access showers with no lip at the bottom.

Active: Aging in place in Net-Zero Blaine home

So far their power outages have been few and limited in duration.

“A net metering agreement with the grid allows summertime energy over-production to be banked and drawn back in the winter,” Evans said.

The home

While the outside of the home is a memorable blue (Blue Blood from Sherwin Williams), the interior uses a more neutral palette of white walls and light wood stairs and shelving. The concrete floors have an acid wash colorant they selected, burnt umber. They took some furnishings from prior homes and the selection of art and other furnishing is a work still in process.

A two-car garage hinges off to the left of the entry. Walking in the energy system components are located by the laundry to the left by the interior garage entrance.

To the right of the entry is the powder room – one of three restrooms in the home.

Of the great room, the kitchen area is to the left with the living space occupying much of the first floor.

A master bedroom with en suite bath — with a wheelchair accessible shower — and a den are to the right. Floor to ceiling window variations are throughout to provide a lot of natural light and forest scenery. All doorways are wide enough for wheelchairs.

The couple’s two large dogs and cats enjoy life indoors and out including accessing the water at Semiahmoo’s beach.

Hiking books, photos from trips, carpets from Morocco, small art pieces from travels and a small colorful chair from childhood provide color. The small art chair had belonged to Levis’ late daughter Isabel.

Another item attracts attention: It’s a pelvis model used to test orthopedic screws which was from Levis’ retirement from the medical device industry and signed by colleagues.

A central open staircase takes the focus and the visitor to the 700-square-foot sec-

ond floor.

While one intention was for the second floor to be available for future home owners to make into office space or separate bedrooms as they see fit, right now the couple use it as their main bedroom with space to work and work out.

Spare space by the second floor restroom has been well utilized, and not wasted, for storage.

The den has bookcases taking up one wall and windows on the opposite wall benched in a three-compartmented storage window seat.

When asked about favorite associations and parts within the home, Levis said the proximity of the property to Canada has made day trips there enjoyable for ski trips as well as the home’s open layout and the stainless steel counter-topped island.

They first looked at engineered stone but found it was more costly and the manufacturing process was not environmentally friendly.

“I did not even know it was an option,

but Lynden Sheet Metal (LSM) did all of this — and they did a very good job,” Levis said. “It’s very easy to maintain.”

When the couple found a broken vintage orb light fixture to their liking, now in a prominent place in the living room, the electricians from Benson Service Electrical were happy to rewire it for them to bring it back to life.

The adjacent cabinets found in the kitchen and den use a type of bamboo plywood called Plyboo. According to the Smith & Fong plyboo website, they produce decorative and acoustical wall and ceiling panels, flooring, and types of plywood and veneer products.

Manufactured in the U.S., the panels are milled to expose a core layer to give more texture and design.

Another thing Levis loves about his home: It’s very quiet.

At night the stars are visible above, the deer, coyotes and other animals walk through the woods. The space is protected with the acreage and the wetlands.

Building a home... ...and

family

Creating a space to last for Dylan and Cara Langei

By Racquel Muncy Staff Reporter

LYNDEN — Dylan and Cara Langei had dreams of a home with a yard for kids to run around in, plenty of windows to light up the rooms and arches — arches everywhere. They wanted some privacy, but still be a part of a neighborhood.

So in October 2023 they bought a corner lot on Lagerwey Circle with one-third acre of land, sold their home in Bellingham and found a rental to stay in just up the road from their new dream home.

Dylan said they liked the area for its safety and enjoy being a part of the greater Lynden community. From the backyard they have a view of the Lagerwey Farm.

From here, the planning began. The couple worked with JWR Design to build their perfect home, Front & Main to design the interior and a myriad of contractors who all worked to create their dreams.

Dylan said they were very intentional about utilizing local businesses for most aspects of the home.

“It’s nice working with local people,” he said.

The general contractor was Sam Radar with Radar Custom Construction, a family friend of the Langeis. Dylan said he was grateful to have someone with so much experience to help guide them as they created their perfect home.

“He saved us on a lot of things with his advice,” he said.

When hearing of others building their dream home, there are always horror stories of things not going to plan, items coming in that didn’t quite look as expected or to measurement. But thankfully they didn’t have anything go largely awry.

They attribute this to working with amazing, experienced local businesses who communicated well.

See Langei on 18. More photographs on the following pages

The Langeis wanted a home that they could grow into as they grow their family. They wanted something that would last. (Racquel Muncy/ Lynden Tribune)

working with a multitude of local companies to make their dream home possible.

features several unique rooms, from an office space for Dylan (at left) to a home gym and media room. (Courtesy photo)

Langei said she preferred the look of the light oak wood to other options. The light, neutral colors allow the home to be easily decorated for holidays, special occasions and get-togethers with friends and family. (Photos courtesy)

(Photos courtesy)

Langei: Building a home and a family in Lynden

Continued from 11

And with the house built everything seems to be working as intended as well.

The house had been fully designed prior to breaking ground in May 2024. Dylan said he was the “functional guy” who helped with most of the while Cara served as the interior designer.

Dylan had previous experience designing a spec homes before, but going through the experience for himself was a different beast entirely.

“Until you build you really don’t understand the scope,” he said. “It really is eye opening.”

Cara said she had no experience with interior design previously, but she knew she wanted the home to be filled with beige and white and huge windows that light up the space. She wanted the neutral background, so the home could be easily decorated seasonally and for holidays.

“We wanted it light and bright and functional,” Dylan said.

With an idea in mind, Cara went to work

creating Pinterest boards, gathering ideas from Instagram and watching rooms come to life on TikTok.

She said Front & Main Studio had visuals of the various materials and how the rooms could be configured, which helped to give life to her inspirations.

“Their concepts and visuals helped a lot,” Cara said of the design process. Their expertise was also top notch.

The home is also full of light hardwood, including sleek, custom cabinets from HighCraft Cabinets. Even the garage doors feature light wood that truly brings together the interior and exterior of the home.

Dylan said it can be difficult to see a piece of land as only dirt and visualize what could be there, but with the help of all the experts they were able to make it happen.

Once construction began, there was always something that needed to be handled.

“We were here every day,” Cara said.

The home has an open concept, with the master bedroom downstairs and kids’ bedrooms upstairs.

“When they’re older, it’ll be nice,” Cara said of having the upstairs dedicated to the children.

The home is also complete with an office for Dylan, a home media room and home gym space. While the rooms may be underutilized now, as their two young children get older they expect the rooms to be well used.

“We wanted to build a home that would last,” Dylan said. “Something that will still be good in 15 years.”

When everything was said and done, the home had about $2 million put into it, when the land, permitting and construction were all factored in.

“We went high end on a lot of things,” Dylan said, adding that they could have opted for cheaper finishes, counters, insulation or a hundred other small things to keep the cost lower. This also included paving the driveway, a retaining wall in the back to make the yard flat, fencing and a patio.

Much of the added cost occurred in the kitchen, including real Taj Mahal Quartzite

countertop for the island. They also wanted to ensure high ceilings, with a 10 foot ceiling for the first floor and 8 foot for the second floor.

Working in the mortgage industry, Dylan said he knew it would be more costly and take longer than they anticipated.

About $800,000 over budget, their dream home was completed last summer and they were able to move in last July.

“It’s all worth it,” Cara said.

Dylan agreed.

“There’s nothing we would change,” he said.

Cara said she is most looking forward to hosting friends and family in their new space. Although they have been in the house nearly a year, it has been a busy one between a trip to Florida and welcoming in a second baby to the family. Though everything the year has brought them, they had yet to get artwork up on the walls or other finishing touches.

-- Contact Racquel Muncy at racquel@lyndentribune.com.

Couple enjoys their home’s kitchen remodel

Casali’s work opened up the space ‘so that folks in the living room can converse with the cooks’

By Bill Helm Editor

WHATCOM — Every home has a story. Take the home of Megan Casey and Tom Galambos, for instance.

Built in 1961, the 1,900-square-foot, three bedroom two bathroom home was split into two and relocated to its current spot along Laurel Road in the late-1980s from its original spot on Marine Drive to accommodate expansion of the Bellingham airport.

Megan told the Lynden Tribune that “some of the neighbors remember it coming down the street on a flatbed truck.”

“We discovered where they had cut it in half during the renovation,” Megan said.

Married for 39 years, it’s been about two years since the couple bought their home and left behind the hustle-and-bustle of the Seattle metropolitan area.

Megan described the house at time of purchase as “your standard 1960s rambler with a small, closed-off kitchen.”

Recently, Alexa and Chris Casali of Casali Construction and Remodeling were tasked with remodeling the kitchen to make it more functional and easier to host guests and entertain.

Megan said Chris Casali was “super responsive and eager to get the job.”

Casali removed the wall separating the kitchen from the dining room and main living room, adding a large island which Megan said “opened up the whole space so that folks in the living room can converse with the cooks.”

It really is about the conversation. Enter the home and there’s no television in plain sight. Oftentimes homes are either built or remodeled in an open style for folks to enjoy the big game or other screened activities.

“With Megan and Tom, they had a pretty clear vision of what they wanted for their kitchen remodel, said Alexa, who is also

See Remodel on 22

Tom Galambos and Megan Casey recently tasked Alexa and Chris Casali of Casali Construction and Remodeling with remodeling their kitchen to make it more functional and easier to host guests and entertain.

(Photo courtesy Dan DeWaard)

Casali’s interior designer. “They have had remodels done on other properties they owned in the past and were well versed on what to expect. Megan also did her research on what style she wanted. Tom loves to cook and they both love entertaining, so they knew they wanted to open up the space.”

Alexa explained that she gathered Megan and Tom’s wants and needs and took measurements at the initial meeting. With that in hand, she “drew up an initial concept for their kitchen.”

“Megan and I worked closely together to refine the drawing,” Alexa said. “We were very thoughtful of the work zones, how far apart things were from each other, and functional storage.”

Casali worked with Tera Allard at Westside Do It Best in Lynden, who supplies Canyon Creek cabinetry and “helped us put the final touches on the kitchen layout.”

Alexa and Megan also visited more than a few Whatcom County showrooms to select materials for the new kitchen. According to Alexa, once they selected all the materials she gave Megan and Tom a final quote. Once Casali received approval, they ordered the materials.

“When we had a good idea of when the materials would arrive, we set up a start date,” Alexa said.

Megan Casey and Tom Galambos, pictured on the opposite page, are able to share their recently remodeled kitchen as they entertain family and friends in their home on Laurel Drive. Their home was remodeled by Casali Construction and Remodeling. (Photo courtesy Dan DeWaard)

Megan Casey shows off the in-cabinet microwave oven as part of the home's recent remodel by Casali Construction and Remodeling. Pleased with the couple’s new kitchen, Megan said there are “lots of reasons” she liked working with Casali Construction and Remodeling. (Bill Helm/Lynden Tribune)

Kitchen

Continued from 22

Once they began the project, the Casali crew learned that the home had not been put back together level when it was moved to Laurel.

“We had to do some adjusting to level the floor and ceiling to complete the project,” Alexa said. “We also installed a large beam inside the ceiling for structural support when removing the wall. We replaced the flooring throughout with LVP and remodeled the kitchen.”

As Megan and Tom wanted to keep the mid-century modern style of the house, Casali used a natural stain Rift White Oak cabinetry “with clean lines and quartz for the countertop and backsplash that had gray and brown veining to bring in both warm and cool tones,” Alexa explained.

“We added two large windows to let in natural light and views of the backyard,” Alexa said. “The kitchen has features such as a pot filler over the oven, a pull-out spice rack next to the oven, roll-out drawers in the tall cabinet, a trash and recycling drawer, and a panel ready dishwasher, so it blends seamlessly with the other cabinetry.”

Pleased with the couple’s new kitchen, Megan said there are “lots of reasons” she liked working with Casali Construction and Remodeling.

“The main reason was their honesty and willingness to get things right,” she said. “Also the whole team was very collaborative, meaning, between me and the team member who installed the cabinets, we figured out the best way to hide the fact that the ceilings were uneven (old house thing). The whole team is very respectful, left the jobsite clean every day and just generally a pleasure to work with.”

Not only are Megan and Tom happy with the finished product, so is Casali.

“It’s aesthetically pleasing to look at, but it’s also functional,” Alexa said. “They are able to use their space to its highest level and entertained like they have been wanting to do.”

Lynden residents, Alexa and Chris Casali have owned and operated Casali Construction and Remodeling in Bellingham going on 10 years this coming fall. More information at casaliconstructionremodeling.com.

-- Contact Bill Helm at bill@lyndentribune. com

Chris Casali of Casali Construction and Remodeling, pictured, works on the new kitchen for Tom Galambos and Megan Casey. Lynden residents, Alexa and Chris Casali have owned and operated Casali Construction and Remodeling in Bellingham going on 10 years this coming fall. More information at casaliconstructionremodeling. com. (Photo courtesy Casali Construction and Remodeling)

Strength & balance are essential for independent living

By Susie Landsem Aging in Place by Design

Planning to remain in your home after retirement — and long after — means thinking not only about comfort but also about safety.

Aging in place works best when smart home design is paired with a healthy lifestyle that includes strength and balance training.

Falls send an older adult to the emergency room every 11 seconds in the United States, yet here’s the encouraging part: balance and strength can be improved at any age.

You don’t need to be an athlete — small, consistent efforts make an enormous difference.

Whether you’re being proactive or responding to concerns from family mem-

bers, starting a simple routine today can help protect your independence at home.

Why Balance Matters

Have you tripped recently? Maybe on a cracked sidewalk, a lamp cord, or the corner of a rug? Staying upright in those moments requires balance, muscle strength, and quick reactions.

Balance supports nearly everything we do — walking, getting out of a chair, climbing stairs, and bending down to pick something up.

We all have unsteady moments, but the consequences of a fall can be serious. The good news is that balance and strength improve with practice.

Below are beginner-friendly exercises that can be adapted and made more challenging over time. As always, check

with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program.

Single-Leg Stand

Stand behind a sturdy chair and hold the back for support. Lift one leg to a 90-degree angle and hold for 20–30 seconds. Switch legs.

As you get stronger, try releasing your hands and engaging your core.

• Start with 3–5 repetitions per leg.

Heel-to-Toe Raises

These can be done sitting or standing. Lift your heels off the ground and balance on the balls of your feet for 5–10 seconds. Lower your heels, then lift your toes, pressing into your heels.

• Repeat 10–15 times.

This strengthens ankles and shins and helps prevent shuffling when walking.

Sit-to-Stand

Sit in a sturdy chair with feet flat on the floor. Cross your arms over your chest and stand up without using your hands. Lower yourself slowly and with control.

If needed, use the chair arms until you build strength.

• Aim for 10–15 repetitions. This exercise is excellent for the leg strength required to get up safely.

Side Steps

Stand tall with hands on your hips or lightly touching a counter. Step to the right, then bring your left foot to meet it. Continue for 10–15 steps, then reverse direction.

This builds the ability to shift weight — important for daily movement and fall prevention.

Step-Ups

Use a sturdy step or low platform. Step up with your right foot, bring your left foot to meet it, then step down in the same order. Use a handrail or wall for support.

• Start with 5–10 repetitions per leg. This boosts leg strength and confidence on stairs.

Staying active — and Connected

Strength and balance are essential for staying safe in your home, but staying socially engaged also supports a healthy lifestyle. Joining a gym, taking a group exercise class, or inviting a friend for a walk can provide motivation and enjoyment.

Today is a great day to start a consistent plan for a healthy and safe future.

-- Susie Landsem, is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist. As a home safety and aging-in-place design consultant, she helps people stay independent in the homes they love. Contact her at AginginPlacebyDesign@gmail.com.

Planning to remain in your home after retirement — and long after — means thinking not only about comfort but also about safety. Aging in place works best when smart home design is paired with a healthy lifestyle that includes strength and balance training. (Photos courtesy Susie Landsem)

Ready, set, plant: The more color, the better

Looking forward to colorful spring planting

By Elisa Claassen For the Tribune

BLAINE — Spring is the busiest time for gardeners and garden centers. The peak of that is Mother’s Day (May 10 this year), according to one of the larger local growers, Van Wingerden Greenhouses.

Of this, plant hanging baskets are a top seller.

“We grow millions of plants every year which are sold across North America,” Tom Van Wingerden said. Van Wingerden is second-generation at the large plant grower near Blaine and serves as the company’s sales director. “We are plant people who are proud to offer our plants and supporting products through our garden centers. We are always focused on the plants first as that is what we do best.”

The north Whatcom County-based grower has a prominent location near Blaine — plus other properties including a recent purchase for a footprint in Skagit County.

Van Wingerden said he looks toward a patriotic scheme for planting.

“This year is the 250th anniversary of the US, so we are obviously rocking the red, white and blue this year,” he said.

But he and his sister, Jen Olivarez, both agree on offering every color they can to the mix.

“We are always looking for colorful options for our crops,” Van Wingerden said. “Petunia and Calibrachoa are always very popular for their flower density. They flower freely and continue to flower all summer long. To complement them, there

See Ready, Set, Plant on 30

Ready, set, plant: The more color,

Continued from 29

are thousands of accent plants – and other flowering plants — that play well with different plantings such as flower beds, hanging baskets and planters.”

“Every customer is drawn to a different aesthetic which makes growing and selling plants so exciting,” Olivarez said. “Finding just the right combination for every person is rewarding. As a rule, most people are drawn to a bright variety of colors while some prefer a more muted or monochromatic look. It really depends on the person. I have yet to see a trend that everyone gravitates to every year. As far as style, most people want a thriller/filler/spiller combination when it comes to planters. We aim to give them options for shade and sun, color and style.”

Van Wingerdens grows as naturally as possible, minimizing pesticide use and making sure their plants, per their website, originate from trusted suppliers. Between the website and email distribution, gardeners can find out what is available to them week by week online or via email. In early March, the offerings were specified by indoor and outdoor options such as cyclamens, violas, primroses, ferns and succulents.

While the Van Wingerden family has been involved with plants dating back to 1910 in The Netherlands, locally Van Wingerden Greenhouses was founded at its present location by Mike Van Wingerden in 1980. By 1990, the operation had grown to three acres of greenhouses. Within a decade, that had expanded to 10 acres and continued to grow.

Several years later they added a second site with 30 acres. Now the original site has

15 acres of greenhouses and five acres of outdoor space. Inside of the greenhouses, propagation is happening through creation of plugs with seeds or plant cuttings. Trays are checked to make sure they are full using a process called patching, Olivarez showed, and then the trays are sold, or the product is eventually used to make planters, etc.

The retail side, VW Home and Garden Center, which opened in 2001, is overseen by Mike and Kathleen’s oldest child Olivarez. Of the 11 children spanning 20 years’ range, Olivarez said seven are involved in the business now.

In addition to homeowners and individual clients, Van Wingerdens also makes baskets for a number of different companies and cities including the City of Blaine and the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden. The larger baskets can contain from 9- 15 plants, Van Wingerden said, depending on the mix of species. The largest baskets they produce are actually for their

own entryway: they measure six feet across when fully grown and have up to 40 plants in them.

Van Wingerden is at 8210 Portal Way, Blaine. More information at vanwingerden.com.

Note: There are other Van Wingerdens in the nursery business in the United States.

Van Wingerden Nursery locally sells wholesale plants mostly to grocery stores, hardware stores and garden centers in the Pacific Northwest. They offer young plant starts throughout Canada and the U.S. through a broker called Ballseed: ballseed.com. They also offer plants via a webshop through a partner, Plantsome: plantsome.com. The large spring open house at both retail operations is Saturday, April 25. It will have special sales, planting opportunities, food trucks and kids planting events. Anyone interested can sign up for the company’s emails to be notified at vwhomeandgarden. com or through social media.

Kent’s Garden and Nursery boasts increased ambiance

Premier Landscape Co. brings water features to Whatcom County

By Racquel Muncy Staff Reporter

WHATCOM — Kent’s Garden and Nursery has been a staple in Whatcom County for 50 years since it was initially founded by Kent Gerard. In 1999, Ginny Crump and Nancy Henshaw took over and diversified the plant offerings.

In 2022, Isaac and Laurie Burrous bought the business and brought a new vision that includes increased ambiance and customer experience.

Isaac Burrous had been a longtime, loyal customer as he worked in the landscape industry.

Kent’s Garden and Nursery was where he bought all of his plants, so when Crump and Henshaw stepped back, he moved forward.

While he has an ever-growing list of projects, the addition of a pondless water feature was something he knew he wanted to see happen.

Andrew Ziegenfus, owner of Premier Landscape Co., is often at the nursery as that is where he gets many of his plants for landscaping projects.

One day Burrous and Ziegenfus began to talk about Premier Landscape earning its aquaculture certification and looking to do more projects with water features. It was perfect timing as he wanted something to increase the customer experience and ambiance of the nursery.

Burrous had an idea of what he wanted, but overall he gave free reign to Ziegenfus and the Premier team. He was looking for something that would have sound and visibility as customers come in and walk around.

“He took the design and ran with it,” he said.

The pondless water feature needed to be sustainable, low maintenance and something that would last.

“That was really important to me,” Burrous said.

The water feature cycles water through a filtration system underneath the display. The water level and speed can be adjusted to change the volume of the display. The running water also does not freeze during the cold weather, so no winterizing needs to be done.

“He nailed it,” Burrous said of the water feature.

Ziegenfus said while there was a general design, these projects are fun to see come to life. There are always adjustments that need

to be made as the project comes together.

Burrous decided not to plant around the feature, but instead showcase different patio pots and seasonal plants that can be displayed and swapped out as the seasons change. The hope is this may inspire customers for what can be done in their backyards.

While working on the first water feature, Burrous showed Ziegenfus the old one that was overgrown and hidden away. Burrous outlined his dream creation for the rundown space and Ziegenfus made it happen.

Ziegenfus said while he had been a customer of Kent’s for many years, he never knew the old water feature was there.

Now, what was a small water feature hidden away with overgrown plants is now a stunning display with a much larger pond that may feature koi fish this spring. The site

also serves as the entrance to the display garden.

“There’s a lot of different ways to go about a water feature and he nailed both of them,” Burrous said. “They exceeded what I was hoping for.”

While Premier Landscape built the water features, Ziegenfus said Burrous made them come to life with the plant arrangement surrounding the areas. It gives customers a real look at something that could be in their backyard.

“I felt honored that Isaac trusted us to help these projects come to life,” Ziegenfus said.

Burrous said he enjoyed working with Ziegenfus.

“I’m critical a lot of times on peoples lack of follow through, service and craftsmanship,” he said, as he spent many years

in the industry. “They have all that.”

Not only is Premier Landscape great as professionals, but Burrous said it takes more than that for him to recommend a contractor. They have to be great people, too. He said he has seen Ziegenfus out day after day helping the community clean up after the flood event.

“There’s a trust factor there,” Burrous said. “They’re great people.”

Aquaculture is not a common landscape feature in Whatcom County. According to Ziegenfus, Premier Landscape Co. is the first company in the county to become certified and they look forward to becoming known as the contractor to call for those looking to add water features.

“We hope people see our commitment to these high quality installs,” he said.

More about Kent’s Garden and Nursery at kentsgardenandnursery.com. More about Premier Landscape Co. at premierlandscapecompany.com

-- Contact Racquel Muncy at racquel@lyndentribune.com.

Avoid rental scams with these tips

By StatePoint

Are you currently looking to rent a home or apartment? Then you need to protect yourself from rental fraud.

Rental scams are common. The Federal Trade Commission reported over 10,000 cases in 2023 alone. Fortunately, they are avoidable. By following a handful of practical, common-sense steps, you can protect yourself and avoid costly mistakes.

1. Always see the apartment before renting. Fraudsters are known to post phony ads using real pictures of properties they don’t actually own. They will push you to rent the unit and to send your personal information to them, without seeing the apartment first. Visiting a unit is not only a way to avoid this scam, it also has the benefit of helping you ensure the apartment fits what you are looking for. If you are moving to a new city and can’t visit in person, ask if the property manager will take you on a video tour of the unit.

2. Don’t pay rent or a security deposit until you have signed a lease. Application fees are commonly requested before signing a lease agreement, but the security deposit or first month of rent are not required before signing. Be especially careful if a prospective property manager asks you to wire transfer money. There’s never a good reason to wire money to pay an application fee, security deposit or first month’s rent. And when you wire money, it’s the same as sending cash: you have no way to get it back.

3. If the price seems too good to be true, it might be. If the unit is listed for substantially less than other compa-

rable units in the area, that could be a sign that the listing is part of a rental scam.

4. Make sure you sign a complete lease. Do not rent an apartment without signing a lease. When you get a copy of the lease, make sure to read it carefully and confirm key details. The agreement should always include applicable fees, monthly rent cost and maintenance costs. If you have questions or concerns about the language in the lease, ask.

5. Do not give a property manager extensive personal information until you want to move forward. A property manager asking for personal information before you’ve seen a unit or before you’ve stated that you would like to rent the unit is often a sign of a scammer looking to steal your identity. That said, providing personal information, including your social security number, should be required before you are ready to move ahead with renting the unit.

6. Watch out for listings with grammatical and spelling errors. If the rental listing has a lot of errors, this might be a red flag. Most property managers will take the time to proofread the listing before they publish it online.

For clear guidance and tools to help you stay one step ahead of scammers, access Freddie Mac’s My Home resources about fraud prevention at myhome.freddiemac.com/blog/keyword/ fraud-prevention.

The search to find a place to live can be stressful, especially if you don’t know what to expect. Understanding the rental process can help you avoid fraud and find something that fits your budget and lifestyle.

Rental scams are common. The Federal Trade Commission reported over 10,000 cases in 2023 alone. Fortunately, they are avoidable. (PeopleImages/iStock via Getty Images Plus)