Melissa Merrix
Ms. Merrix has always taken great pride in her lawn and gardens, finding joy in tending her flowers and maintaining a healthy, welcoming yard. In February 2025, a devastating flood washed nearly 3,000 tons of gravel from a nearby storage site into her property, damaging her home and burying her lawn and garden beds.
With the generous help of friends and neighbors, Ms. Merrix has made meaningful progress restoring her yard, but she has been unable to reestablish a healthy lawn or safely mow what little grass remains. Seeking further help for Ms.Merrix, a coworker nominated her for the Yard Angels program, describing her as dedicated, hardworking, and always friendly to those around her.
Our crews came in to remove as much gravel as they could from her yard, add topsoil and compost, then seed and straw to give her a great start toward reestablishing her lawn.
Bill and Linda Hopkins
Bill and Linda Hopkins have enjoyed their home alongside the New River in Blacksburg for 20 years. When Hurricane Helene swept through the area, the river rose an astonishing 32 feet, sending six to seven feet of water into their single-story ranch home and devastating their landscape.
While insurance and FEMA assistance will eventually help to rebuild the interior of their home—now stripped down to the studs—none of the damage outside is covered. Undeterred, Bill and Linda have worked tirelessly to clear debris from planting beds, remove damaged outbuildings and their contents, and tackle fallen trees. Still, the scope of work remained overwhelming.
Through our Yard Angels efforts, we were able to assist with some of the most challenging tasks, including removing massive logs from a tree that came down in the storm and were stacked. Those trunks were transported to a local mill, so that Bill can use the lumber for future projects. Clearing this material will also allow construction crews safe access to begin rebuilding the home. Additional work included removing brush and damaged shrubs, as well as power washing the patio and walkway.
Riner Fire Department
The Riner Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary envisioned a memory garden at the fire department to honor firefighters who have passed away, as well as the auxiliary members who faithfully supported the department throughout the years. Their goal was to create a meaningful space that recognizes decades of service and dedication to the Riner community.
Central to the design is a patio featuring engraved bricks bearing the names of firefighters who have passed away, offering a lasting tribute to their service and sacrifice. The memorial also incorporates a piece of one of the towers that fell on September 11, along with a bench purchased in honor of a beloved auxiliary member who has passed away. Together, these elements create a place for reflection, remembrance, and gratitude.
The Auxiliary reached out to Back to Nature for assistance in bringing this vision to life. While the project was larger and more complex than those typically completed through our charitable program, our crews were eager to help. We worked closely with the Auxiliary and Fire Department to develop a thoughtful design, finalize the scope of work, and present the plan to our teams for approval. With the budget in place and strong crew support, the project moved forward.
We are especially grateful to Chaney Enterprises for their generous donation of brick, which helped make this memorial possible. Our crews completed excavation and bed preparation on Wednesday, installed the base and monument on Thursday, and laid the pavers on Friday. Throughout the project, members of the Ladies Auxiliary kindly provided lunches and remained on-site to support the crew.
We are honored to have played a role in creating a space that recognizes those who serve and protect their neighbors every day. We hope this memory garden stands as a lasting tribute and a meaningful gathering place for the entire community.
Kathy Grouber
Kathy Grouber was one of James Ulmer’s earliest clients. She still remembers when James worked on her property as a Virginia Tech student, earning money to support his studies. As he began dreaming of starting his own landscape company, he shared his ideas with Kathy—including the name Back to Nature and early thoughts about the logo. Over the years, she has watched James grow from a student to a small business owner and, ultimately, to leading a thriving company.
During that same time, Kathy experienced significant life changes. She lost her husband and later developed health challenges that now require her to use a wheelchair, making it difficult to care for the beautiful country property she loves.
Our crews were honored to help restore her landscape by cutting back ornamental grasses, trimming trees and shrubs, edging and mulching beds, and installing a simple fence to create a safe outdoor space for her sweet dog, Polly. The fenced area allows Polly to go outside when needed while staying close to home.
We are grateful to continue the meaningful relationship James began with Mrs. Grouber many years ago and to play a small part in making her property beautiful and manageable once again.
