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Standing Tall

Ed Hopkins looks to nature in his work as an arborist

written by Jennifer Ramsell

Trees, shrubs and landscapes surround us. Here in New England, lush greens, bold crimsons and barren branches frame picturesque seasonal views. Ask Ed Hopkins, president of Urban Tree Service, A Tree Health Company Inc. of Rochester, New Hampshire about nature, though, and you’ll get a bit of a different perspective.

Hopkins was born of nature. Raised as a Boy Scout, he spent much of his time outdoors hunting and fishing. He is still most comfortable camping under the stars, working on restoration projects or spending time on his four-acre property that is bounded by conservation land. Often lauded for his stewardship with historical landscapes throughout New Hampshire, Hopkins is a leader in his profession and a wealth of environmental information; imparting his knowledge of Mother Nature comes naturally to him.

Exactly how does a motorcycle-riding arborist adopt such an attitude toward the land? By going back to its roots. For Hopkins, studying the history of early American settlements—where properties were enhanced and sustained by nature—provides valuable information for his line of work. For inspiration, he recently took a motorcycle trip to explore the late seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century architecture of buildings in upstate New York.

“It was a prosperous time and the material culture is so interesting. European influences in architecture dating from that era are something you just don’t see much anymore,” said Hopkins. “It was a time when everything was handmade and people were resourceful in the true sense of the word.” Plots of land were cleared with the intent to use every piece of the earth, from wood, to granite, to clay for bricks. And the products that derived from these natural resources were not only aesthetically pleasing, they were long-lasting and complemented one another.

Hopkins brings these same principles to his work with Urban Tree Service. His approach is very organic—a direct result of his knowledge of the ways of early American settlers who themselves adopted a wise-use-of-the-land approach from Native Americans.

When called to a job, for example, Hopkins urges homeowners to consider how they can work with the land to maximize the benefits available to them. What trees provide shade? What areas demand more sunlight? Where is the natural drainage on the property? How can the homeowner maximize energy-efficiency? Hopkins looks for the value of the land in its existing state.

“I have lived my whole life trying to understand the natural environment. I work with trees every day. It’s my life,” Hopkins said of his 32-year career as an arborist.

An Urban Tree Service crew member removes dead wood from a tree at the Barrett House in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

An Urban Tree Service crew member removes dead wood from a tree at the Barrett House in Ipswich, Massachusetts.

He is quick to add that he is not in the business of cutting down trees. In fact, Hopkins does what he can to keep them alive and well; his overarching goal is to leave as many trees and shrubs as possible, and to use them for the benefits of privacy, shade, sunlight, efficiency, beauty and home equity. A tree’s health and the homeowner’s safety are his main priorities; Hopkins pays particular attention to trees that have not received adequate care.

Hopkins himself lives in a late seventeenth-century replica home built from trees he removed from the property. His home was created out of its natural environment, just as many in the pre-American Revolutionary era would have been. “It’s about utilizing the land for what it is,” Hopkins explained.

In 2009, the International Society of Arboriculture named Hopkins one of seven “True Professionals of Arboriculture” for his positive commitment to the science of arboriculture. His work can be seen throughout northern New England and along the coast, from the Hamilton House in South Berwick, Maine, to Portsmouth’s Strawbery Banke, to the Barrett House in Ipswich, Massachusetts. His work on these properties has largely focused on pruning original trees that have become overgrown to provide more sunlight to the perennial gardens and, in some cases, to repair storm damage due to harsh weather. Hopkins has also had the opportunity to prune very large, overgrown trees that have stood on the property of Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. since its inception in 1864.

“Everything we do as human beings can be undone by Mother Nature,” said Hopkins. “So working with nature is in the best interest of mankind.” At a time when being green and eco-friendly is in some respects trendy, being truly environmentally conscious is a much greater commitment. For Ed Hopkins, it is also a way of life.

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Dover’s Historic Washington Street Mills Comes Alive

A Diverse Gathering of Businesses Under One Roof

Written by Crystal Ward Kent

In the 1800s, the Washington Street Mills harnessed the power of the Cocheco River in Dover, New Hampshire to make textiles. From the mighty mill machinery flowed a river of cloth that was sold around the world. By the 1900s, however, competition from southern cotton mills slowed northern production. Two disastrous fires and the Great Depression sealed the mills’ fate, and the machinery fell silent. By the 1980s, the buildings were falling into ruin.

In 1984, developers Joseph Sawtelle and Tim Pearson purchased the mills and began to restore them. After Sawtelle’s death in 2000, Eric Chinburg bought the mills and continued to renovate. Today, the Washington Street Mills Business and Cultural Center is alive again with the sound of commerce—not the textile industry, but a unique and diverse organization of businesses. Coming together under one roof are manufacturers, retail stores, service providers, eateries, nonprofit groups and artists.

Funky Rock Designs
603 842-2389, FunkyRockDesigns.com
Deep in the mills’ basement, Jeff Henderson turns rocks into art using water. Here he transforms raw stones into vases, candlesticks, clocks, lamps, drawer pulls, bowls and household goods such as sponge, napkin and toothbrush holders. A former lobsterman, Henderson did masonry work in the winter. The texture and color variations of stone intrigued him, and he began creating vases for his family. They encouraged him to sell his work, and his success led him to pursue sculpting full time. Today, his creations are featured in all of the Simon Pierce galleries, as well as in more than eighty other venues nationwide.

“The rock tells me how it wants to be used,” Jeff said. “I enjoy the creative process, and showing off the best of Mother Nature. She’s the artist—I just make the holes.” Henderson uses diamond bits and water for all of his grinding, drilling and polishing. “It’s a wet, noisy process,” he smiled. “Sometimes I wish for a warmer line of work, but then I see the next batch of rocks, and I can’t wait to see where the stone will take me.”

Colorful Creations
603 978-9698, ColorfulCreationshome.com
Colorful Creations epitomizes beauty with beads. Designer Annemarie Lemoyne creates one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces, beaded bookmarks and eyeglass chains, as well as decorative glass vases, antique bottles, candlesticks and other home décor items embellished with beads. New this year are Chakra balancing anklets. Lemoyne has a background as a floral and greeting card designer, but once she began beading, she was hooked.

“I’m addicted,” she said. “The combinations and options are endless. I’m filled with ideas all the time.” Annemarie’s work features Swarovski crystals, necklaces with pendants made by New England glass artisans, and locally made lamp work beads. She is the featured designer at the Mount Washington Hotel & Spa, thanks to her quality work and distinctive designs.

Eye Feast Art
603 740-2900, eyefeastart.com
On the fifth floor of the mills, Caroline Parent’s studio is flooded with light, and she is ecstatic. “For a glass artist, it’s always about the light,” she said. “The beauty of glass is how changing light evokes different colors and moods. On any given day, the same piece of art may look completely different.”

Caroline works with fused glass; she first creates a pencil sketch on paper and then assembles the design concept, working with pieces of transparent, colored, dichroic, streaky or opaque glass. During this process, she makes slight decisions that may alter the finished work. The final effort features layers of glass, with clear or iridescent pieces over the colored foundation, so the actual look isn’t apparent until after the glass is fired. “Years of experience have given me an idea of what layers create what looks,” she explained. “I keep the glass properties in my head as I design.”

Caroline loves the Asian aesthetic, and her designs have an elegant simplicity that convey a range of impressions. Her art is sought after by corporations, hospitals and private collectors, and is also used by interior designers, as she produces household items such as mirrors and kitchen backsplashes. “Glass speaks to people in a different way than other art forms,” she said. “As the light changes the art is transformed, and that is endlessly compelling.”

Lion’s Tooth Herbals
603 969-4603, lionstoothherbals.com
It is fitting that Amanda Komisarek’s small studio looks over the river and woodlands, because her business is all about nature’s bounty. A naturalist, Amanda knows the healing power of myriad plants and herbs. She produces teas, extracts, essences and seasonally inspired body care products, and offers classes, lectures and personal consultations. Her products feature herbs that are hand-picked from wild local plants; they are fully organic and without synthetic ingredients. “It’s amazing what herbs can do,” she said. “The same herb can have hundreds of uses. We are just scratching the surface of our knowledge in this field.”

Lion's Tooth Herbals

“Lion’s Tooth is another name for dandelion,” Amanda laughed. “It has always been my favorite flower, even as a child. All parts of the dandelion are edible. The roots are good for the liver. The leaves help the kidneys and lower blood pressure without leeching potassium from the body. They also aid the skin, and relieve aches and pains. The flower is good pickled or stir-fried. It’s an amazing plant!”

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