landscape garden construction..?
Stephen Stonewell
mailman I see lots of front yards. The yards with even a simple trellis
are so much more elegant and enticing, offering a definitive transition
between indoors and out, that a front porch just does not address.
Just a few sticks of wood, a plan on some paper, sweat, and wa-la your
front yard is magically transformed to an eden on earth? It must be
either cost, or home-owners just aren't aware of the magic quality of
landscape construction.
Jerry Jorgenson
design! All there seem to be (in the phone books) are contractors that
just want $20K for a one shot job with a cookie-cutter plan. No long term
thinking with these people, and no originality either.
On the web the only presence are the giant architectural firms that want
to do public buildings for places with big budgets or mansion type
residences. I've been looking for two years now and haven't found any
willing to tackle a small home project. I don't want them to do the work
(that's what contractors are for), just come up with a master plan that
can be implemented over a period of years (as I can afford it). I would
also like someone familiar with the area that knows local plants and
conditions.
I even put pictures and a site survey up on my website
http://www.j3iss.com/jerry/house/ but so far, no takers.
Jerry
Stephen Stonewell wrote:
--
Jerry Jorgenson
je...@j3iss.com
http://www.j3iss.com/
arg
is usually a "keep up with the Jones" thing. If they don't put a great
effort in it the Smiths won't either.
Nowadays most homes have both husband and wife out in the work force
and barely have time for themselves, their children, and their other
responsibilities. Many find it a burden to have to deal with a good
landscape whether it is through their own efforts or hiring a contractor to
maintain it.
It is not as easy as calling up any maintenance contractor and finding
that all is taken care of. Some are mow and go while others may do a great
job, but the bill adds up because these things cost money.
Here on Cape Cod there are literally hundreds of landscape maintenance
companies. Many are started by young men with pick up trucks with no
education and no experience, but fill a demand. The job market is not being
filled because who in their right mind would work a physically demanding,
low paying, seasonal job with no benefits. Now the best companies are
having problems keeping the best level of service because a lot of the help
just does not care. The result is that it takes a good deal of money to
have professional results in landscape maintenance or you have to do it
yourself. Having said that, Cape Cod is full of very well landscaped and
maintained properties...but pay they do!
As far as landscape architects vs. landscape contractors goes I (a
licensed landscape architect) find it ridiculous to criticize all landscape
contractors to be cookie cutter hacks with no creativity. These people have
had the hands on experience of building all kinds of landscapes, seeing how
they grow, insects, disease, plant & material costs, labor costs, how
things stand up over time, etc...
Most landscape architects have little hands on experience, stick to the
plant materials they learned in school, and feel a need to meet
expectations by making very elaborate landscapes. This is good if the
budget to build it and maintain it is there.
I would recommend that someone that owns a home under $200k find a good
designing contractor rather than an LA. He will design what he is capable
of building within your given budget and contract it at that price. To find
a good one look for landscapes that appeal to you in your area and talk to
the homeowners. That will tell you more than any advertisement.
Landscape architects that specialize in residential are worth it it you
have the money to spend on design, bid construction, cost overages, and
finally maintenance. Here too you must find what you like and talk to the
homeowner. It takes a good deal of work to "whip up a site plan". LA's
charge a lot per hour, but you get a good design with the right one.
Kirk Johnson
<5BAFE17935E30529.E4FA21B5...@lp.airnews.net>, Jerry
Jorgenson <je...@j3iss.com> wrote:
> Because they can't find any landscape architects to help them with a
> design! All there seem to be (in the phone books) are contractors that
> just want $20K for a one shot job with a cookie-cutter plan. No long term
> thinking with these people, and no originality either.
>
> On the web the only presence are the giant architectural firms that want
> to do public buildings for places with big budgets or mansion type
> residences. I've been looking for two years now and haven't found any
> willing to tackle a small home project. I don't want them to do the work
> (that's what contractors are for), just come up with a master plan that
> can be implemented over a period of years (as I can afford it). I would
> also like someone familiar with the area that knows local plants and
> conditions.
>
> I even put pictures and a site survey up on my website
> http://www.j3iss.com/jerry/house/ but so far, no takers.
>
> Jerry
>
>
> Stephen Stonewell wrote:
>
> > Why aren't more home-owners into landscape garden construction? As a
> > mailman I see lots of front yards. The yards with even a simple trellis
> > are so much more elegant and enticing, offering a definitive transition
> > between indoors and out, that a front porch just does not address.
> > Just a few sticks of wood, a plan on some paper, sweat, and wa-la your
> > front yard is magically transformed to an eden on earth? It must be
> > either cost, or home-owners just aren't aware of the magic quality of
> > landscape construction.
>
> --
> Jerry Jorgenson
> je...@j3iss.com
> http://www.j3iss.com/
You probably don't need a landscape architect unless there are major
drainage problems or you need to construct terraces, that sort of thing.
Have you asked at local nurseries about local people who are good garden
designers, maybe just people with beautiful gardens? Landscape architects
are like architects, they are educated in horticulture and design, but
their degree is an engineering degree. They are qualified to do major
construction projects. You probably don't need someone with all of their
qualifications.
--
Kirk Johnson
Contributing Editor - Garden Design - Suite 101
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/garden_design
Thomas G. Baker
Your question gives me hope. A philosopher walking the streets. I think
many folk are not focused on the real world. There is not the tradition in
the U. S. that one might find in England for working in the garden. Before
I decided to be self employed, the office conversation of a morning
centered on television shows.
When I moved to Charleston, South Carolina in the early '70's, there were
still a few small cottages with yards of swept or raked sand and an
occasional bottle bush (small dead tree hung with odd bottles). Now those
areas have been gentrified and the rich folk who live there get in their
SUVs and rush off to the office, leaving the yards unnoticed.
How about an occasional post describing a particularly good or bad yard?
TB
Kirk Johnson
<tgb...@mindspring.com> wrote:
For the past three years Suite 101 has had a tacky yard art celebration
and contest. The URL for last years event page is
http://www.suite101.com/event.cfm/77
You may find the contest submissions amusing. There are photographs of
some really bad front yards.