gardens + landscapes
Design consultations
Get the ball rolling. I (Annika) will do a site visit or a virtual walk through on any size project, and set you up to make informed decisions about layout, materials, installation and plantings. My collaborative approach engages your imagination, teasing out viable options that suit your style, budget and time frame. I also help navigate smoothly through the design/build process and provide assistance in communicating with contractors. Consultations are available by the hour or as an “Initial Consultation Package,” and make wonderful housewarming gifts. You receive summary notes, useful links and resources, and rough drawings to illustrate the design suggestions. The consultation process usually proceeds to include a larger conversation with idea boards and phased implementation plans.
Garden coaching
Grow your confidence. Equally well-suited for novice or seasoned gardeners, my coaching sessions offer practical, hands-on guidance that builds your confidence as a gardener. Whether you are starting a kitchen garden or overhauling a neglected space, I’ll break it all down into achievable to-do lists and provide support throughout the growing season as needed.
I lay a foundation for a bullet-proof planting scheme based on the unique conditions of your site: light, drainage, soil types, pest pressures (deer!!), and the life happening in your garden (kids! lounging! pollinators! dinner parties!), keeping an eye to your budget, time frame and maintenance bandwidth.
Venue garden design
Develop a memorable event space. This is my newest design niche and I’m so excited to blend my knowledge of landscape design, cutting gardens, and wedding floral design! If you are a venue owner or simply plan to use your private property to host parties, I will help transform your space with beautiful in-ground or container plantings that work for the short- and the long-term. I can also advise on establishing a cutting garden so that you can design your own fresh flower arrangements.
Investing in the long view can mean bringing in new trees, benches, and permanent structures such as arches and walkways. We can coordinate with contractors or property owners for installation and maintenance. Then you can enjoy your garden oasis for years into the future!
Photographs by @heathersaundersphoto (above center and above right), all others (above and below) by @hazeldesignscapes
Why hire a landscape designer?
From an initial consultation through the design process and installation, we will nurture and develop your vision to bring your space to its full potential. Beautiful, efficient gardens/landscapes rely on a range of elements to achieve integrity and longevity. There is a craft to the design process that includes:
Documentation of existing conditions
As a former dancer I think of how we move through space as a kind of dance, and the ways in which a design can affect our movement and experience as the choreography. That includes paths, forms, views and activities. So we start by figuring out what works and what doesn’t, based on real experiences, before composing anything new.
Directing flow and circulation
Both visually and physically, people, light, water, and sight lines all have a flow, or circulation. We walk the garden with you and stage it with string to feel out the best pathways, resting spots and views. I often assign “homework” so that clients can document their actual (or desired) use of a space, using their bodies to measure how the space could feel in real life, off paper!
Planning for seasonal changes
A thorough design will consider light, precipitation and foliage displays to ensure beauty and productivity throughout the year. Each project has different objectives that change with the seasons, directed by the site itself and the intentions of the homeowner. What are yours?
Balancing maintenance concerns
We take a realistic look at time and resources to keep your garden looking its best in the short- and long-term. This should be a major consideration early on in the design of a landscape, to minimize stress and maximize enjoyment!
Improving soil vitality
This is ultimately where it all begins! We can help you test your soil and steer it towards optimal health with natural amendments and planting methods, as well as a mulching and maintenance schedule.
Seeing the garden as a piece of a whole
Context matters so much to a beautiful design! Everything is part of a larger system, so we look upstream to understand site conditions and inputs, and then create a design for you and everyone downstream. We advocate for responsible practices and products, and work with reputable businesses whose values align with ours.