Edward Cook calls himself "the gardener." He maintains 40 properties throughout northern Connecticut with a dedication that borders on obsession. In his words, that's because he likes what he does and he plans on doing it for the rest of his life.

"I need to make a profit, but I don't need to get any bigger." Sound familiar? It should. That's a tune many small and medium-size contractors play over and over again as they work to keep the lid on both growth and the jar that holds the profit.

Not every city in the country can lay claim to being plumb in the geographic center of the country. Belle Fourche, South Dakota, can. Not every city can look at its public grounds and know they're being maintained with the same vigor and expertise as a proud homeowner would give his or her lawn. Again, Belle Fourche can.

Cemeteries are not often thought of as a place to test mowing equipment, unless you happen to be a member of the grounds crew that is responsible for its maintenance.

That’s a question Burdette Mills asked himself 15 years ago when he started his landscaping company, Top Notch Services in Granville, Illinois. He wanted a niche. He wanted to provide the best service possible to select customers.

Mike Barbero, owner of Real Estate Maintenance Co. in Boise, Idaho, was introduced to his first Walker 12 years ago. He purchased two at that time and has since purchased another. Identical in configuration, the three are powered by 16-hp Kohler engines and have 42-inch GHS decks. They all have one other thing in common: They're still going strong.