Garden Coaching & Consultations
The extreme weather patterns we’ve experienced recently have left many gardeners baffled. Plants are behaving differently or sometimes giving up altogether. Oftentimes this is the result of poor plant choices and I can help. Ecological gardening is accessible and fun, it is often just a matter of access to information. I am available for consultations and garden coaching; sometimes a little education is the magic that resolves big issues.
Custom Garden Design & Installations
My vision as a garden designer is to create naturally beautiful and stress-free gardens with an ecological approach that co-operates with nature. I specialize in low maintenance gardens that extend the natural habitat surrounding the property and feature native plants. Designs I specialize in creating can be butterfly gardens, hummingbird gardens, children’s gardens, rain gardens, feng shui gardens, or zen gardens, songbird gardens, pollinator gardens (which are great for beekeepers and also to interplant in edible gardens,) shade gardens, gardens optimized for retirees (all the fun and less of the work,) petscaping and drought tolerant prairie plant beds.
Edible Gardens
Early last century everyone was planting Victory Gardens, growing vegetables, herbs and fruits at home. Today, more and more people want to grow their own organic food and eat healthier. Farmer’s markets and farm stands are everywhere, but you can not get fresher produce than in your own backyard. With rising concerns about pesticides and saving money, it makes sense to do it yourself with an edible garden. If you don’t have the time or lack information, call me and I will do it for you. We can plant right in the ground, or use a non-permanent raised bed known as a Little Acre. Organic pest control and disease reduction information and applications available as well.
For Developers & Builders
When new housing developments or commercial properties are built, landscape design is an important component of completion. Often the landscaping is an afterthought in new developments, plant choices made by conventional landscapers with limited pallets and plebian taste. There are many benefits to having me design and install native plant beds for your projects, and not just how much better looking the gardens will be. Native plant gardens are much lower maintenance than run-of-the-mill gardens, once established they require no extra fertilization and in average conditions natural rainfall satisfies their watering needs. This saves significantly on sprinkler system installations, as they are not needed. Native plants repopulate the ecosystem that was disturbed by bulldozers and new impervious surface additions. This creates new habitat for wildlife, and looks good to the DEC and various planning boards. I am available and delighted to take on projects large or small for builders and developers, I can offer properties a natural gardening style that’s sincerely unique. I’m also willing to facilitate communications in meetings with planning boards or the DEC.