Walnut Way Celebrates new Headquarters for Blue Skies Landscaping in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood
Blue Skies Landscaping Special Announcement
Award winning team makes headlines for green infrastructure
See how Blue Skies has evolved into a leading green infrastructure team
Henry's story featured in Milwaukee NNS Article by Andrea Waxman
We reduce stormwater pollution with state of the art green infrastructure techniques.
Blue Skies Landscaping Program is an operation providing a full range of landscaping services in the Milwaukee area. Blue Skies Landscaping staff install and maintain landscapes, green infrastructure, gardens and fruit trees, maintain the Walnut Way campus, and execute landscaping contracts on all types of properties, including residential, municipal and commercial.
Blue Skies focuses on our greatest assets – our people. We offer job training in landscape horticulture for staff. The program provides job training and employment for individuals who have traditionally faced employment barriers and those seeking to build skills in a growing trade area.
The program also provides a sustainable source of earned income for Walnut Way and serves as a powerful vehicle for individual and community transformation. The impact extends beyond traditional job training programs as residents of the community are employed to help renovate once-vacant properties into community assets and serve as mentors to neighborhood youth who witness us working to lift up Lindsay Heights.
A Look at Our Work
Henry Hopkins
Blue Skies Construction Crew Lead
MREA Solar Training Academy (56 hours)
Certified Equipment Operator (Mini Excavator)
National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) Certified
35-hour Green Infrastructure Training (Water Environment Federation approved)
Resident Preferred Program (RPP) Certified
I am a hard worker and person who works to the best of his abilities. I love the outdoors and working with my hands. I enjoy the fact that everyday is a learning experience and I gain more knowledge each day. I am very friendly and easy to get along with. I am a big guy with a big heart.Joined Walnut Way in 2018
Aton Fox
Environmental Stewardship Program Assistant
Certified Public Notary
National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) Certified
35-hour Green Infrastructure Training (Water Environment Federation approved)
Resident Preferred Program (RPP) Certified
I started working with Walnut Way as an intern for the Growing Youth Leadership program. Through the program, I learned and developed the skills I now use as the Environmental Programs Assistant. I hope to see growth in the people and places Walnut Way works with, myself included.Joined Walnut Way in 2015
Jacob Liptack
Blue Skies Maintenance and Operations Supervisor
Certified Pesticide Applicator, 3.0 Turf & Landscape
Certified Equipment Operator (Mini Excavator, Track Loader)
National Green Infrastructure Certification Program (NGICP) Certified
35-hour Green Infrastructure Training (Water Environment Federation approved)
SAWW (Safety and Woods Worker) Training Level 1 Certified
I am a Supervisor and Horticulturalist with Blue Skies Landscaping. Born and raised in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, I love to see the beautification that landscaping brings to our community. It’s great working outside and being able to see the work we install blooming.Joined Walnut Way in 2014
Desmond Parker
Blue Skies Landscaping Technician
Resident Preferred Program (RPP) Certified
Zero turn Commercial Mower Trained
Walnut Way Driver Training (4 hours)
14 foot Trailer Trained
I’m Desmond and I’m from the Lindsay Heights area of Milwaukee. I enjoy being active and physical with a little quick thinking. I am laid back, but I get the job done. I’m 21 years old, a high school graduate and take pride in my work ethic.Joined Walnut Way in 2019
Laura Pehmoeller
Blue Skies Landscaping Bed Maintenance Crew Lead
Certified Pesticide Applicator, 3.0 Turf & Landscape
My name is Laura Pehmoeller. I was born and raised in Milwaukee. I have been in the horticultural industry for the last 16 years, mostly landscaping and plant identification. For the last 3 years, I have worked in greenhouse operations. What I love about my job is being outside seeing the landscape grow throughout the season. I chose to come to Walnut Way because I wanted to be a part of the sustainable landscaping in the Lindsey Heights neighborhood and surrounding communities. I take pride in what I do and doing it for a community that appreciates it is so much more satisfying than doing it for a big company. I hope to have a long and fulfilling career with Blue Skies Landscaping.Joined Walnut Way in 2020
Jose Zelaya
Blue Skies Landscaping Turf Maintenance Crew Lead
Resident Preferred Program (RPP) Certified
14 and 20 foot Trailer Trained
Zero turn commercial mower trained
I’m Jose. I am 24 years old. I have one daughter. I enjoy working with my hands and learning new things. I was born and raised in Milwaukee in the Lindsay Heights neighborhood. I was part of the Gardens 2 Market internship at Walnut Way years ago. After years of working in retail/fast food, I decided I needed a change in my career. I didn’t think I would enjoy landscaping as much as I do. What I love most about my job is the team work, the support, the diversity, and the sense of pride when a project is completed. My hobbies are working on cars, listening to music, and writing. One of my goals is to graduate with my Associate’s Degree in Landscape Horticulture Design and if possible continue to a Bachelor’s. I would love to learn as much as possible and become a landscape designer one day.Joined Walnut Way in 2019
Tyriek Foster
Blue Skies Landscaping Crew Member
Resident Preferred Program (RPP) Certified
Zero-turn Commercial Mower Trained
MREA Solar Training Academy (56 hours)
I’ve stayed on the south side of Milwaukee for half of my life. I enjoy the consistent work and being outdoors, as well as learning all aspects of landscaping such as planting and using landscape tools. I am a hard worker. Whenever I do work, I do it in detail. I enjoy playing and watching basketball. I love food, and I can cook all types of meals.Joined Walnut Way in 2019
Hector Zelaya Garcia
Blue Skies Landscaping Crew Member
My name is Hector Zelaya Garcia – I am 20 years old and a very hands-on person. I love working on cars and modifying them to go faster. I grew up in Lindsay heights, and I enjoy working outdoors, learning new techniques, and how to use new types of equipment. I love being able to work and better the neighborhood while also being able to see my work around the area.
Joined Walnut Way in 2020
Jevon Prowell
Blue Skies Landscaping Facilities & Crew Support Specialist
Certified Equipment Operator (Mini Excavator, Track Loader)
35-hour Green Infrastructure Training (Water Environment Federation approved)
Resident Preferred Program (RPP) Certified
SAWW (Safety and Woods Worker) Training Level 1 Certified
First Aid CPR AED Certified
In 2014 I joined the Blue Skies Landscaping team. I love working with my hands and meeting lots of people. As I always say, “We don’t just do landscaping, we do it all!”Joined Walnut Way in 2014Projects
Current
Upcoming
Inquiries
Please, contact our staff to verify if the Blue Skies Landscaping schedule is open for the season and the date you need. Submit your email, and we will get back to you as soon as we can:
Laura Pehmoeller lpehmoeller@walnutway.org
Dawnice Anglin danglin@walnutway.org
Exceptions will be considered for Lindsay Heights residents (please use the form below to submit your request if you reside in Lindsay Heights).
Thank you for your interest and support!
Please allow several business days for a reply during our busy season, which runs from April – November.
