There’s a real good chance that guys like this Landscape Contractor are happy today because he’s making some real money. He’s making a lot of money if he’s getting paid by the push instead of by a yearly snowfall average. These guys have been working this snowfall round the clock to get it done.
While at the same time I have been alternating staring out the window, watching the 2 neighbors plow, feeding birds, and shoveling my small patio. but again-I have digressed. I do have a point(s) here somewhere, and some cool images.
On the other hand guys who are pushing snow in this truck are not getting paid by the push but by the hour, though I’m
sure there’s some overtime here for the State, County, and City guys. Still . . . to spend long hours at a stretch pushing snow can’t be a whole lot of fun.
So why do I bring this up? Well a lot of Contractors supplement their income pushing snow up North. For some this is a pivotal part of their business. This income is needed.
For Designers this is also a major issue, especially those in snow belt areas . . . especially snow belt areas, all that snow has to wind up somewhere. We have to leave space for the plowed snow, the movement of equipment, and the design of some paving hardscape(s)+(materials)-so the paving will not be an issue with plow blades. While at the same time leaving a will-designed space with interest and just not a ribbon of lawn to push the snow on to.
When I came back to Ohio after several years in the South 
I had to be constantly reminded to allow for snow piles/plowing around driveway and parking.
In the South I could design great beds right up to the edge of pavement. Not now, not here anyway. After a few years back I still catch myself thinking wow, wouldn’t it be great to bring that bed right up to the edge, or “if I could just mass some Canna’s along that edge”, but then I realize I cannot
There’s even a Association specifically for this crowd SIMA; Snow and Ice Management Association. SIMA puts out a magazine(quarterly) and a stat I remember seeing is that SIMA members spend over $130 million on equipment/peripherals to make their business run.
So while we are buried in Ohio and try to get through the day, I know one thing for sure. There’s not much thought on landscaping, landscape design, patio’s, cool gardens, or designed spaces . . . so you would think I’m not happy. Well you’d be wrong, we are safe, and dry, and warm as are our families . . . and after all . . . what could be more important.
I doubt we need this any time soon in Ohio, from adamlyon(dot)com. Below left is a garden train which is pretty cool and below right is a image from ghostdepot.
The Whispering Crane Institute 