GROUNDS FOR GROWTH ~ SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE DESIGN

"STANDING ON THE REAR DECK AS THE SOIL PREPARATION TOOK PLACE I REALIZED THAT WHERE I HAD SITED THE VEGETABLE GARDEN WAS NOT THE SPOT TO RECEIVE OPTIMUM SUN. AND THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING. IT WAS THE MEMBER'S CALM SUPPORT FOR THE RE-DESIGN THAT MADE IT AN ADVENTURE IN CREATIVE "FLYING BY THE SEAT OF MY PANTS." IN THE END I WAS PLEASED, THE CREW WAS PLEASED - AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SHE WAS PLEASED. FOR THE FRONT AREA OF THIS BEAUTIFUL OLD BROWNSTONE I DEVISED A PRAIRIE STYLE DESIGN THAT INCLUDED VERTICAL NATIVE GRASSES AND FLOWERING SHRUBS AND PLANTS. THAT GIVES THE GARDEN BOTH THE FEEL OF ILLINOIS HISTORY AND YET A MODERN ELEMENT AS PRAIRIE PLANTS BECOME MORE POPULAR IN DESIGN AND FOR THEIR USE IN WATER CONSERVATION."

"SHE AND HER TWO FLAT COMPADRES WERE NOTHING BUT FUN TO WORK WITH. SHE WAS THE ORGANIZER OF THEIR PROJECT AND SHE WAS AN ENTHUSIASTIC CUSTOMER. I AM VERY SENSITIVE TO THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT THAT A CLIENT WANTS TO HAVE AND DO MY BEST TO SUPPORT IT. MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WANT TO PUT THEIR MARK ON THEIR NEW LANDSCAPES AND GARDENS. THEY MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO PULL IT ALL OFF. THEY MAY NOT HAVE THE TIME TO LEARN AND DESIGN AND DO ALL THE PIECES THAT GO INTO A NEW GARDEN. BUT THEY WANT TO BE IN THE DIRT AND KNOW THEY WERE PART OF CREATING THEIR GARDEN. SO, IN THESE INSTANCES I SEE MYSELF AS MUCH AS A FACILITATOR AND TEACHER IN THE ASPECTS THE CLIENT DOES WANT TO BE PART OF, AS I AM THE DESIGNER AND PROJECT MANAGER. IT'S VERY SATISFYING FOR ME. AFTER ALL, I WENT INTO THE BUSINESS BECAUSE I LOVE IT, AND I LOVE THE PLEASURE THAT CREATING AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY GARDEN AND LANDSCAPE GIVES OTHERS."

"I'M CHARMED THAT SHE CHOSE TO ADD ME TO ANGIE'S LIST! I HAD A GREAT TIME WORKING WITH HER & HER HUSBAND. THEY EASILY SHARED THEIR WISHES AND NEEDS, VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME SO THAT I COULD INTEGRATE THEIR DESIRES WITH THE NEEDS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND LIMITATIONS OF THEIR LAND AND AVAILABLE SPACE. BOTH THE TIDY FRONT LANDSCAPE, AND THE MORE LUSH, BACKYARD COMBINE FAMILIAR AND UNFAMILIAR PLANTS THAT WILL BE BLOOMING FROM SPRING THROUGH FALL, AND SHOW OFF ALL WINTER. THE BACKYARD IS THE SPACE FOR BAR-B-QUES WITH FRIENDS AND TO LOSE ONESELF FROM THE CITY STREETS. THEIR PATIO IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A COOKING AREA, A SOCIAL DINING AREA, AND A MORE INTIMATE SPACE WHEN DESIRED. THOUGH THIS IS A TYPICAL CHICAGO SIZE LOT, THE PATIO WILL BE HUGGED ON THREE SIDES BY PARTIAL SHADE AND SHADE LOVING SHRUBS, GRASSES, AND PERENNIALS, MANY OF WHICH NO ONE WILL BE FAMILIAR WITH. IT WILL HAVE A SENSE OF WOODSINESS WITH SURPRISES TO ENJOY."