Gardener : Gardens I have created

I work with my clients as much as I work for them, guiding them through the process of creating or understanding their gardens. My role reflects their needs, whether that be a particular project, trouble-shooting in existing gardens or overall planning. The process might involve a few consultations or work days, or a collaboration that lasts for years.

Illustrated stories

Some of my most extensive garden design projects have turned into good stories as well.

Gravel pit in Ipswich MA
My first home sat in a gravel pit on five acres of land that was mostly swamp. Turning that property into a showpiece was an eleven-year crash course in garden design. In the process I met some wonderful people whose expertise and institutional connections provided a school without walls.
Perennial garden in Chatham NY [story coming soon]
One of my areas of expertise is to design gardens, on site, with existing plant material. This job had several twists. Plants had to be moved from an existing garden to a new garden. Site preparation delays forced the move into a two day time slot in October. In addition to placing the plants being moved, hundreds of bulbs were planted. Spacing and placement had to take into consideration new perennial plants to be added in the spring, as well as masses of annuals and canna tubers.
Rock garden in Canaan NY [story coming soon]
When this rock garden is finished, it may well be the largest private rock garden in the US. Eleven years ago the goal was to turn an eyesore, a rock ledge peeking out of the woods at the edge of the lawn, into an asset. I did too good a job. The goal now is to make the entire ledge--front, back and top--into garden. Since the ledge is approximately a quarter mile long and fifty feet high, this is a lifetime's work. The ledge also surfaces, with a much smaller profile, next to a perennial border, where the transformation from ugly duckling to swan is complete.
My garden in Conway MA [story coming soon]
When I moved to Conway in 1994, the terrace at the back of the house contained some broken rhododendrons, a Japanese maple, and lots of vinca, pachysandra and daylilies. I had to move a huge plant collection in a hurry: perennials, rock garden plants, dwarf trees, shrubs, conifers, and many yearling trees. One never gets it right in a hurry, in one fell swoop. After twelve years it’s beginning to look like something planned. In all truthfulness, if I'd had time to plan from the start, it would probably have gone through some of the same transitions. As one accumulates experience and knowledge, one's tastes and visions change. I'll probably say the same thing twelve years from now.

Garden tours

I offer tours of my own garden in Conway MA on request. Following are some of the organizations that have toured my garden:

Franklin Land Trust Farm & Garden Tour
Garden Club of Amherst
NA Rock Garden Society
Tilton Library Garden Tour