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ProjectsBelow is a sampling of some of the work we have done.
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| Backyard garden design The backyard in this small village lot had been neglected and was overtaken by weeds. The clients' only stipulation was a low maintenance garden that would provide some sense of privacy. After removing all the weedy vegetation I designed a three-sided border garden using native perennials, grasses, and shrubs around the existing mature trees to create a sanctuary within a crowded neighborhood. After spring prep work the garden requires only a few hours of care every few weeks, and no supplemental watering. |
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 Garden in summer |
 Garden in fall |
 A mix of foliage textures and colors |
 Holly berries for fall and winter color |
| Bluestone patio and fire pit and surrounding gardens The old brick barn on this rural property was being renovated as a guest house/office, and the clients wanted gardens around it as well as an outdoor space to eat meals and entertain. I designed a patio with space for a table and chairs and a circular area featuring a fire pit that overlooks the pond, as well as surrounding gardens and a landing that connects the barn and patio to a nearby shed and horse barn. The garden is designed to be deer resistant and low maintenance, as well as to attract wildlife. After spring prep work, the garden requires minimal care and no supplemental watering. |
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 Barn side garden |
 Barn patio garden |
 Fire pit |
 Barn patio garden |
House gardens, garden room, herb garden, property master plan, and landscape management plan |
 Before |
 Side garden |
 Front garden and stone terraces |
 Side path to hammock |
 Front path |
| The property lies along a series of ridges, the highest of which overlooks the Catskill Mountains. An allée of trees had been planted along the ridge years before, and one had died and been taken down. In the space created by its absence, I designed a semicircular garden room surrounding a fire pit that looks out over the magnificent view. |  Basswood garden and fire pit |
| A vegetable garden with raised beds had been neglected and fallen into disrepair. We repaired the beds and planted perennial and annual herbs so the owners could enjoy an edible garden requiring much less labor than a vegetable garden. We also replaced the thin, wobbly cedar posts with thicker locust posts and build an arbor over a new gate. Future plans for the garden include reusing the cedar to create rustic woodwork between the posts, and planting more edible perennials and berry bushes along the inside and outside of the fence (more photos to come). |  Before |
 Arbor gate and fence in progress |
 After |
| The property master plan and landscape management plan include recommendations for creating diverse habitats throughout the 20-acre property of fields, woods, and a pond. Previously the extensive fields were mown from spring through fall, a practice that not only contributed to air and noise pollution and fossil fuel use, but also provided very little habitat for wildlife. Now some of the fields will not be mown at all, and the land will be allowed to revert back to forest through ecological succession. The rest of the fields will be mown once a year to remain as meadow, with mown walking paths that form trails throughout the property. We are also restoring a riparian buffer around the pond. |  Path through back fields |
| Formal garden renovation The brick-lined pea stone path through the formal garden in this village backyard was so overgrown with weeds that it was hard to even see. The garden was overgrown as well. We excavated and restored the path and cleaned up and renovated the garden so that the owners, who wanted to do their own gardening, would be able to continue more easily with the regular maintenance tasks. |
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 Path and garden before |
 Path and garden after |