Designing a beautiful garden for me is a hands on process. I generally start with a paid consultation, visiting the site and assessing it’s potential. At the same time I interview the clients to learn about their lifestyle and what kind of relationship they want to have with their garden. It can be a bit overwhelming at first, as there are usually so many things to consider. Key elements are the style of the house, the condition of the garden, the grade of the land, existing features, the types of plants growing there, light and shade, views and exposures, privacy, soil type, drainage, access, levels of maintenance, and of course budget. We then discuss the future. I like to suggest working in phases, focusing on things that need to happen first and then later to make the process realistic. Sometimes this means making a list of things to look into and do along with simple sketches. I suggest gardens and nurseries to visit to see what other people have done with similar situations. I bring portfolios of my work to give you an idea of what I have done for others in the past, and sometimes books of relevant interest. If necessary, I can then be hired to draw a set of plans. I like to do schematic plans to address problems and show various options that might solve them. What needs to be removed or changed? How can we maximize on the potential of certain areas? How will they be used? What kind of feel should a space have? What kind of materials should be used and where do you get them. Who does the work? If it is decided that I will work on the garden I like to design on site, rather than in the office, often making paper plans unnecessary. This tailors the development of the space so that decisions can be made in a real sense. I can bring samples of materials to see how they look in context to the surroundings, and create mock ups of garden structure. I am known for high quality stone work, and for my pebble mosaics, which can be incorporated if appropriate. I am frequently commissioned to build pebble mosaics in existing gardens as an artistic element. Soil amendment, planting, construction of fences, garden structures, patios, walls steps, paths, lighting and irrigation are part of the services I can provide or arrange, as well as maintenance of the garden once it is complete. The goal is to create a beautiful garden that looks like it was meant to be there, and is a delight to be in, something you will use and enjoy for years to come.