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Falling in Love with Middleburg, One Tree at a Time By Sophie Scheps For Middleburg Life
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enis Pachas and his wife Lindsay married at the Red Fox Inn on Washington Street in 2009. After celebrating one of life’s most special moments, both knew they would return to raise their family in Middleburg. “We love the dog-friendly nature of the town and the small independent businesses,” Denis Pachas said. “Its funny, while driving through town I actually saw a woman come out of her front door wearing an apron carrying a pie and walk next door to her neighbors and left the pie on her doorstep. It was like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting.” Denis, originally from Fairfax, and Lindsay, from the Potomac area, recently decided to make the move from Maryland with their horse-crazy 4-yearold daughter Luciana and brought their family business along with them. Pachas has operated Georgetown Fine Pruning and Tree Care for over 15 years and has over 20 years of experience in the field. Previously serving the Washington D.C. area, He now also services Loudon and surrounding counties in northern Virginia. After graduating from high school, he was looking for a flexible career to help him work his way through school. “I’m the only one in my family in the business,” he said. “I managed to put my-self through Northern Virginia Community College and George Mason University while climbing and working for about a dozen tree companies big and small. After graduating in 2001 I decided to keep climbing and became a licensed arborist with the International Society of Arboriculture and a Maryland Tree Expert.” Georgetown Fine Pruning and Tree Care is a full-service, family-owned tree company providing licensed and insured services to residential and commercial clients. Along with his crew, Pachas offers a variety of services including trimming, stump grind-
ing, planting, disease control and even cat removal. About once a month he is called out to help poor felines that have become stuck high in the air. He’s never lost one yet. Pachas has cared for trees at several notable properties and gardens in the D.C. area including the Washington National Cathedral, Dunbarton Oaks, Oak Hill Cemetery, and Evermay. Pruning is the most common task he’s asked to provide. While this can help neglected trees become healthy and safe again, what’s most important to his clients is appearance. He must work like a fine artist or hair stylist to achieve the desired look. He takes the wood from pruning and removals to make mulch and firewood to give away. While the spring and summer are his busiest seasons, tree care is a year-round task. “Tree care is different in the winter,” he said. “It’s important to prune many species while they are dormant for their health. I often delay large removals for many of my clients because it’s easier and less expensive when the leaves are gone.” Tree care also can be a challenging business. Each day is different and there are few hard-fast rules. Research on pesticides, fertilizers and various practices changes regularly and it’s always recommended to get several opinions from certified arborists. Pachas said he also loves the adrenaline rush that comes from climbing. “I tried surfing last year and when I finally stood up for that split second I got the same feeling I get when swinging around in a tree,” he said. “I’m glad that I’m able to have found work where I can get that feeling every day.” His passion for trees and nature has been passed down to his daughter, Luciana. She loves the outdoors and would quickly give up preschool to come to work with him if given the choice. Lindsay Pachas is a licensed psychologist and also will be opening up an office in Middleburg, the better to be closer to home. n
Photo by Sophie Scheps
Denis and Luciana Pachas
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May 2015
Middleburg 540-687-6321 | Purcellville 540-338-7770 | Leesburg 703-777-1170
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