Now, more than 40 years later, there is lots of competition, but DeVries Landscaping and Maintenance Inc. continues to operate and is celebrating 50 years in business.

The Beamsville-based company celebrated with a reunion and open house, with former employees and owners, earlier this month.

Founded by Arie DeVries in 1958 in the Hamilton area, the business moved to Beamsville in 1967, the same year his sons Dick and George took over the business.

"We were serving this area and Hamilton as well," recalls Harry, who took over the business in about 1969. "For some time there were only two landscaping business in the area."

The focus during the early years was on grounds maintenance, with an occasional construction job on the side.

Harry, who worked with his brother-in-law Gerry Schuller for a couple of years, eventually grew the business, even though landscaping during the time didn't involve what it entails today. Grounds keeping was strictly that, he said, maintaining the grounds.

The business even shut down during the winter months, as snow removal wasn't part of the business either.

"We were able to grow with the growth of people in the community," said Harry. "We met the needs and I think customer satisfaction and quality workmanship really helped our reputation."

By 1993, Harry's son Allard began to work for the business full time.

Allard, the current owner, was part of a change in the industry, as they saw snow removal become the focus of winter months and growth in terms of manpower for the maintenance crew and full-time construction crew.

"It was very satisfying to realize there was some growth and a future in the business," said Harry. "It became a year-round business, something that it is today."

The customer base grew, he said, as people changed lifestyles.

Now the business offers everything in the line of landscaping, from ground maintenance to snow removal to residential and commercial work.

"People are starting to spend a lot more money on their landscaping today," said Allard, who became an official shareholder in the business when it incorporated in 1999, before taking over the helm in 2004.

Allard says he is proud to see the business reach its 50th anniversary as a family business.

"That really speaks volumes," he said of the milestone. "There aren't a lot of companies around for that long."

The family says it thanks the "heavenly Father who has maintained and sustained the business through these past 50 years".

They also acknowledge the gratitude of the different employees that have come and gone over the years, saying "a business is only as strong as its people."

"They have helped shape the company to what it is today," said Allard.

Looking down the road, Allard said future plans could include expansion, but also seeing his own children take over the helm at some time.

"If I could be around to see a 75th or 100th anniversary, that would be just fabulous," he said.