1. Bill attributes much of the success of more deliberate because it takes time to before. We design to look great initially,
his company to his dedicated staff that think about the plant, its location and to and improve as they grow.”
creates and maintains amazing outdoor draw it, rather than just click a button on Dear Garden designs many period
living spaces, and is just as passionate a mouse and drag a symbol around. gardens, such as English gardens,
about the clients they work with as they Good design isn’t about how fast you wildflower meadows, and woodlands.
are about the gardens they create. can draw; it’s all about the quality of the When designing a period garden or
“We are a group of individuals with final product and the details.” restoration, their designs reference the
many years of landscape experience and Dear Garden uses only local plants past, but are original with the materials
talents in various areas of horticulture, because they are more acclimated to this and final layout.
but we all are of the same mindset climate. Plants from the South and West For Bill, one of the great aspects of
regarding the quality of our work and Coast sometimes struggle in this climate gardening is the anticipation—a flower,
customer service,” he comments. “We and suffer damage in the winters. They fragrance, fall color, change of seasons.
focus on what we enjoy and where out focus on soil and plant locations and He also enjoys the problem solving
talents lie—not firewood, lawn cutting their relationships. Bill states that no aspect. “My work is never boring. There
and snowplowing. We are always trying matter how high quality a plant is at is always a new challenge like drainage,
to challenge the staff by creating original installation, if the soil isn’t right, it will screening a neighbor, deer, wetness or
designs and details for construction, such not flourish. dryness, or designing a beautiful area,”
as new stone projects and designs, new Bill adds that Dear Garden works to he notes. “What I like most is making
plants and moving bigger trees.” create a feel and environment in their people happy and hearing positive
All Dear Garden projects follow gardens, not just to add color in a bed. feedback regarding our work.”
specific guidelines to ensure customers “You need to use restraint in gardens. Bill believes a growing trend in his
are getting exactly what they had hoped Just because you can put in something, business is creating outdoor environ-
for from the beginning. “Everyone in doesn’t mean it belongs.” ments rather than just plantings for color
our group understands that customer With a focus on environmentally or along the foundation of a house.
service is paramount,” says Bill. “Client conscious practices, they recycle water “Useful areas in the garden that can be
input is essential—such as how they live for their nursery. In addition to catch- used as an outdoor room or retreat—
and their budget.” ing and reusing water, they have drip patios with fireplaces, outdoor kitchens,
The process begins with a free, on- irrigation installed to efficiently use the summerhouses and patios farther from
site meeting to review the conditions water caught. The system is calibrated to the house—seem to be of interest to our
of their property and the goals for the deliver the proper amounts of water customers,” he adds. “Vegetable gardens,
gardens. In some cases, the creation of a required by the various plants in the cutting gardens and plantings for fruit—
plan is the next step if the scope of the nursery. Dear Garden also uses natural orchards and berry bushes are becoming
work will benefit from the design stone or clay bricks because they work increasingly popular.”
process, which assists both the customer well with the feel of the gardens they Bill is a member of many organiza-
and Dear Garden when determining create. They avoid using concrete pavers tions, including the Pen nsyl vania
details and coordinating elements such or pre-cast products. Horticultural Society, the American
as driveways, pools, landscaping, “We are planting and trying various Horticultural Society and the Associa-
plantings and lighting. types of plant material to see how they tion of Professional Landscape Design-
Upon approval of the design pro- do in our region, and are also testing ers. He has guest lectured at the Henry
posal, Dear Garden will visit the how they do in different soil types and in Foundation for Botanical Research,
property to get detailed information, different amounts of light or water prior Temple University and various local
such as the topography and the location to using them in our gardens,” Bill says. gardening organizations, on the topics of
of existing structures and plants. Then, “We also have areas of the garden where Landscape Design, Plant Care, and
concepts showing potential shapes, we grow different plants together landscape project management. He is
dimensions and locations for land- looking for different combinations of also the Secretary for the Penn-Del
scaping and plantings, as well as any color and texture.” chapter of the Association of Profes-
other items to be included, are pre- He adds, “We are also able to create sional Landscape Designers.
sented. When the plan and preliminary different types of stone patios or walls to Dear Garden is a sponsor of the
pricing are approved, they create a final see how they work and for practice. We Spring Garden Galaat Bowman’s Hill
plan with proposals for installation. then gain ideas for designs and construc- Wildlife Preserve and was an exhibitor
“Our gardens are works of crafts- tion with the knowledge that we can do and corporate benefactor of the 2007
manship due to focus on details, mater- something we haven’t seen before.” Bucks Beautiful Garden Fair Exhibit.
ials and uniqueness.” Bill notes. “Our Bill notes that designs are often They also have a garden in the New
designs are innovative, but must be implemented over a number of years Hope Historical Society 15th Annual
fundamentally practical and sound or they and that gardens change. “Our designs Garden T our. Dear Garden Associates
won’t succeed and last. I also believe the are unique due to the level of detail in can be reached by calling 215-766-8110
passion of our employees is unmatched. our layouts, in addition to the materials or by visiting (www.deargarden.com). ❖
We hand draw our designs rather than we use,” he explains. “We like to design
using CAD. It is a slower process but we spaces in new ways, rather than just Leslie Feldman is a freelance writer and
feel our layouts and plant placements are follow a formula that has been done public relations specialist.
Bucks County Town & Country Living • Spring 2008