Page 34 - MNLGA Free State Spring 2025_WEB

FEATURED MEMBER

Fine Earth

Landscape, Inc.

ine Earth Landscape Inc., based started Fine Earth. Mihm is now
in Poolesville, Maryland, has a licensed Landscape Architect
Fwon more than 150 awards in Maryland, D.C. and Virginia, an
in the past 40 years, including four Internationally Certified Arborist and
National Grand Awards. They must be a Certified Professional Horticulturist.
doing something right! His award-winning work has been

Fine Earth performs high-end featured in Time Life Books and
design-build work and maintenance various magazines. “I like working
for the residential market in the with clients,” Mihm continued. “That’s
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, been fun. I liked all of it. Every day
primarily in Montgomery County, is a little bit different. In lots of jobs,
northwest Washington and the you stay in the same place all day
Virginia suburbs. Their work also long. This business is always changing
spans to West Virginia, Pennsylvania, — new plants, pests, construction
Delaware and Massachusetts. Fine methods, materials, different clients.
Earth specializes in custom pools It’s still exciting.”
and water features, decks, patios and Mihm has served several terms as an
pergolas, hardscaping, structural and officer of the Landscape Contractors
decorative walls, outdoor kitchens Association, where he helped
and outdoor lighting — and, of develop the current regional LCA
course, the finest plants available. landscape specifications and was

Bernie Mihm Jr. founded Fine Earth in honored with a Lifetime Achievement
1977. “I went into landscaping in 1973, Award. He designed and supervised
right after 10 grade, working for a the installation of the Vice Presidents’
th
contractor who had the maintenance Family Heritage Garden at the U.S
contract on Parkside Apartments in Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.
what is now North Bethesda,” Mihm Joel Hafner Sr. is President and
said. “I only had one other job in Managing Partner of Fine Earth
my life, a year working for a moving Landscape. Mihm said, “Joel has
company. I love plants, working impressed me his whole life. I’ve
outside and the construction part worked with him for 35 years.”
of it.” Four years later, while studying Together they have grown the
horticulture and landscape design business to an almost $20 million
at the University of Maryland, he
(continued on page 36)

34 SPRING 2025 • Free State News