A Designer’s Dream Tool

Terrell Owen (right) and son Taylor use their Bobcat loader for many projects, including digging out trees.

Most landscape architects use computers or drawing instruments, paper and drafting tables to design landscapes. Terrell Owen uses a Bobcat® skid-steer loader and eight Bobcat attachments.

“Sitting in my loader at a site before I start a job is almost like viewing a blank movie screen,” he says. “Looking out over the site I use my imagination to set the scene, then I combine my mental blueprint with the capabilities of my Bobcat loader and it’s ‘showtime.’ If an unexpected problem occurs in the execution of the plan I can solve it on site much quicker than an architect sitting in an office. That saves a lot of time and money for my customers.”

In addition to his landscaping work, Owen owns Jade Tree Nursery, Danielsville, Ga., which specializes in cacti and other succulent plants. “I’ve loved cacti ever since I was in grade school. I’d use my weekly allowance of 25 cents to buy them at 10 cents a plant,” he says.

Over the years, Owen has collected cacti in areas ranging from west Texas to Arizona and New Mexico. “From this collection I’ve developed more than 100 outdoor varieties that are adaptable to Georgia’s soils and climate.”

His projects include small residential jobs, where he may plant a single tree, to much larger jobs like selectively clearing land, relocating trees and large specimen shrubs, digging boulders and building waterfalls and other rock features. Sons Will and Taylor, two of his four children, work with him on many of the projects. One recent job is an 11-acre botanical garden used to display plants which have been adapted to this area.

Up until two years ago, Owen’s main work tools were a small tractor, a wheelbarrow and a shovel. However, working with them had become increasingly difficult due to the progressive nature of a long-time disability. Thirty-one years ago, shortly after graduating with honors from the University of Georgia and nearly completing a master’s degree program, Owen was in a motorcycle accident. As a result of the accident Owen’s arms, legs and feet were partially paralyzed.

“That accident completely turned my life around,” he says, “and my Bobcat equipment has turned it around again. It’s like having 1,000 wheelbarrows and 2,000 shovels and allows me to do projects I didn’t think I could do. It’s a dream come true.”

Prior to purchasing his 873 loader from Jones-Calhoun, Piedmont, SC, Owen had never even sat in the operator’s seat of a Bobcat skid-steer loader. Due to his disability he knew he wouldn’t be able to use standard foot controls to operate the lift arm and bucket tilt functions of a loader. But then he learned about the Bobcat Advanced Control system. The smooth, comfortable and precise controls allow Owen to use his hands to control the lift and tilt functions of his loader by pivoting the handles.

“My Bobcat equipment has done more than save me time and work,” says Owen. “It’s allowed me to continue my business.

“The performance of my Bobcat loader has exceeded my expectations,” he says. “I wish I’d had it 30 years ago. There’s no way to put into words the pleasure it’s given me.”