I met a man
this week that I’ve been looking for all over the
place. I knew he existed because I’ve admired his
work for some time now. I couldn’t find him because
he’d moved away. Now he’s back and looking to
get to work.
John Duffy builds wooden flower boxes. Nice ones that are
substantial with copper liners and drains aimed at keeping
people and things meant to be kept dry below the box dry.
You’ve probably seen his work displayed on railings
and below windows on some of the finer homes in the valley.
After examining his portfolio of the boxes he’s built,
knowing some of the homes, and listening to him talk of
his desire to build more boxes similar to those he has hanging
around the valley, I became convinced he is as committed
to building the perfect flower box as some of my customers
are committed to having perfect flowers.
My guess is he works fairly efficiently, but, upon examining
his work, one comes to the conclusion that mass production
and economies of scale are not the targets he’s aimed
at hitting.
His work exhibits strong engineering. The problems involved
in retrofitting a heavy wooden box filled with wet dirt
and flowers onto a railing or out on a window sill are not
to be taken lightly. Without visibly utilizing treated 2-by-6
trusses, 6-inch lag bolts, a come-along and a matched pair
of mules, John manages to hang everything over the edge
quite nicely with a proven record possessing a strong measure
of security.
Describing his work as possessing strong engineering is
not intended to imply his flower boxes resemble oxcarts
and packing crates. Some of his boxes bear some of the earmarks
of Craftsman furniture in their honest display of joinery,
even combining copper into the visible and hidden elements
of construction. Other examples of his work are of a lighter
design. I think John sees a flower box somewhat as a piece
of furniture.
In fact, he also builds custom garden furniture. Describing
the furniture as sturdy does not do it justice. It is most
definitely sound and built as if for an era now passed and
with an eye on the generations to come. It is heavy. It
is durable. It is built to survive winter and grandchildren.
There’s a Biblical proverb that says a wise man makes
provision for his children’s children. It appears
John is thinking of great grandchildren when he’s
making plans for flower boxes and wooden benches.
And, that’s the part I like most about his work. It’s
not veneer. It’s real and meant to solve the problem
of growing plants and placing furniture out in the elements
as a part of a plan for living a full life. He’s also
familiar with the rigors attendant to living more than a
mile-and-a-half above the level of the sea.
His boxes are built for those people who value having the
color of flowers in their lives as much as they value having
a warm home, good health, and a good time. Here’s
to your health and happiness in the valley, John. Keep up
the good work. In the grand scheme of things, I think it
has great value and will last many years. |
Select a Florist
