BOBBIE'S GREEN THUMB

Description of Work: I would like to redesign a portion of my backyard due to water collection, particularly during heavy rain. Bobbie arrived, on time, and we discussed options for this area. My back yard is very shady, in addition to being wet. Bobbie suggested various options with plant material as well as developing a plan for making this area into a patio. Bobbie is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to a variety of specific landscape needs. Whether it's shady, sunny, wet or dry, Bobbie has a solution. Whether you're looking for low maintenance or a landscape you can tinker with, Bobbie has a solution. Bobbie can provide ideas for color and variety for ALL seasons. From spring bulbs to winter interest, Bobbie is the lady who has the answers for your landscape.

Description of Work: Because I am not an informed consumer of landscape services, I was vulnerable toprofessionals for whom my relatively small job was not a priority. I trusted Bobbie’s Green Thumb and her subcontractor H.A.M. landscaping to adhere to standards of excellence. Bobbie Schwartz’ superlative knowledge of plants undoubtedly will become more apparent as the garden develops over the next few years. However, my main complaint focuses on the sloppy building techniques employed by H.A.M. landscaping. The end result of this extraordinarily expensive home improvement project has been gravel paths that cannot be walked on, beds which drain mud onto the newly built patio, and a patio which turns into a lake after a rain. I now understand that the expertise and focus of Bobbie’s Green Thumb is horticultural. Bobbie has encyclopedic knowledge of plants, their deer-resistance and water requirements. This expertise is the cornerstone of her approach, arguably the most important component of a garden. However Bobbie does not have a firm graspon aspects of garden construction. She admitted that she had never before used gravel paths in one of her designs. Only with hindsight was I aware that Bobbie’s primary plan contained beautiful sweeping lines, but no clear dimensions to guide quality construction, and many blank areas on the page, where the paths where nothing in particular was specified. The end result is that the entire infrastructure of the new garden (all of the paths and many of the beds) will need to be reconstructed. This time construction will be made more difficult by the need to avoid disturbing the plantings. I trusted both Bobbie and her subcontractor to understand how to construct gravel paths. But I blame the subcontractor H.A.M. (Herrick A Mann) landscaping, for failing to identify and rectify the construction problems—before, during and now after. Could this outcome have been avoided? I observed that Bobbie provided little supervision to the subcontractor H.A.M. (Herrick A Mann) landscaping, during construction. Herrick Mann, in turn, found himself in the unenviable position of communicating through an intermediary. This taciturn business owner claimed to have visited the work site each day that a crew was present. Though I was available each day that the work was being performed, I did not see Herrick, and at no time did he ring my doorbell, call my phone, or make an attempt to talk to me. Perhaps if we had discussed on-site difficulties as they were encountered, we could have worked together to solve issues. Instead Herrick responded to my concerns with arrogance and condescension (see below), leaving me with no hope that he will rectify his shoddy workmanship. And in fact as of this posting (4 monthsafter job completion) he has made not attempt to contact me or rectify the work.

Description of Work: Most recently Bobbie's Green Thumb planted all new flower bulbs in the garden that she designed in 1989. Tat year Bobbie’s Green Thumb was hired to design a new perennial garden for our home. Bobbie met with me to get my input on what I wanted to see in the garden. She showed me pictures of perennials and reviewed the blooming time of each plant. She designed the garden and presented me with blueprint of the area. The blueprint has been a great resource when planning each year. Upon approval Bobbie and her staff dug out the old garden and planted the new.

Description of Work: Landscape consultation - reviewed entire property and garden areas for suggestions on what to plant, what to take out or cut down, ideas for trouble spots and deer.

Description of Work: LANDSCAPE DESIGN