My Approach.. Gardening from my perspective
“The hum of bees is the voice of the garden.” Elizabeth Lawrence
The pandemic years have provided amazing opportunities to hear speakers on gardening topics from all over the world via Zoom. These scientifically-based presentations have nearly all focused on the environmental problems we face, and what we can individually do to help. I now understand better how complex is the “web of life” and what specific goals are feasible. I hope that my clients share my aims or are open to considering how these might feature in their planning. For example, I like to use a lot of native plants, create habitat for beneficial wildlife, and refrain from using practices and products harmful to the environment. We CAN have it all – beauty and ecological benefits at the same time.
A gardener is always seeing the garden as it will be in the future, and planning for next season. My experiences in many gardens can help you to make the best choices for the long term, based on your preferences. The first step is to establish what you need/want in an outdoor space, and then to assess the site and gardening conditions with these goals in mind. I can show you how to choose plants to suit your design tastes, space, and budget, and how to plant and maintain them as your garden matures. I also love working with stone, which can display and create a good home for many plants.
A gardener is always seeing the garden as it will be in the future, and planning for next season. My experiences in many gardens can help you to make the best choices for the long term, based on your preferences. The first step is to establish what you need/want in an outdoor space, and then to assess the site and gardening conditions with these goals in mind. I can show you how to choose plants to suit your design tastes, space, and budget, and how to plant and maintain them as your garden matures. I also love working with stone, which can display and create a good home for many plants.
The Process I Follow
Initial consultation:
I spend one to two hours usually walking the property with the client, examining the existing flora and discussing any problem areas, learning what the client is looking for and what they like. I take photos, measurements if needed, and make notes. Ideally, the client also makes notes.
Follow-up:
I email notes, customized plant lists, suggested solutions to problems, maybe sketches, and relevant files with more information and resources.
Fee: $175
Initial consultation:
I spend one to two hours usually walking the property with the client, examining the existing flora and discussing any problem areas, learning what the client is looking for and what they like. I take photos, measurements if needed, and make notes. Ideally, the client also makes notes.
Follow-up:
I email notes, customized plant lists, suggested solutions to problems, maybe sketches, and relevant files with more information and resources.
Fee: $175
Further Consultation and Coaching
Further consultation and coaching could involve sourcing plants and showing how to lay out and plant the perennials, shrubs, and trees. This hands-on help with finding good plants, and planting/renovation of gardens is an option that depends on circumstances at the time.
The first step is doing the hard landscape, checking drainage, and preparing the soil, clearing out invasive plants and adding amendments as needed. The next one is to obtain and plant the focal points that are woody plants (trees, shrubs and vines). Then the larger perennials go into the beds, and finally smaller perennials and ground covers to fill in holes.
I can simply get you started on the process or see it through as far as you wish to go. Rather than overplanting, I think it makes more sense and is more fun to leave a few spaces you can fill in later when you see a tempting plant! I usually come back the next year to check on the garden after winter and possibly add more plants as well.
Hourly Rate: $40
This rate is basically for onsite work, but many other things happen that are combined at a considerably lower rate on the total invoice: research, travelling time & fuel cost, shopping, loading & unloading plants, caring for them until ready to install.
Further consultation and coaching could involve sourcing plants and showing how to lay out and plant the perennials, shrubs, and trees. This hands-on help with finding good plants, and planting/renovation of gardens is an option that depends on circumstances at the time.
The first step is doing the hard landscape, checking drainage, and preparing the soil, clearing out invasive plants and adding amendments as needed. The next one is to obtain and plant the focal points that are woody plants (trees, shrubs and vines). Then the larger perennials go into the beds, and finally smaller perennials and ground covers to fill in holes.
I can simply get you started on the process or see it through as far as you wish to go. Rather than overplanting, I think it makes more sense and is more fun to leave a few spaces you can fill in later when you see a tempting plant! I usually come back the next year to check on the garden after winter and possibly add more plants as well.
Hourly Rate: $40
This rate is basically for onsite work, but many other things happen that are combined at a considerably lower rate on the total invoice: research, travelling time & fuel cost, shopping, loading & unloading plants, caring for them until ready to install.
You won’t find my business on FB, or other social media. I don’t have much time generally for social media and prefer to manage this without them. New clients come from word of mouth recommendations, or find their way to this website.
Garden glory from spring to fall
