GARDEN DESIGNS

From the beginning, we should have known this wasn't going to be a good experience. After agreeing to a fee of $5,000. (half to be paid immediately, half upon completion) we expected the work to begin, with the completion coming in approx. 3 years time. Our first hint of how inept the landscaper, Frances Weng, was going to be was when, within months of signing the contract, he called and told us he had LOST the list of wildflowers we had agreed upon. He (and my husband) tried to recreate the list from memory. Then...one delay after another (to be fair, some were weather-related) until, after ONE YEAR, the lawn had been killed, the land tilled and nothing but scrub & weeds appeared. After the SECOND YEAR, with nothing more than little blossoms and lots more weeds appearing, we emailed him (MANY emails, actually) to tell him we were "deeply disappointed & utterly embarrassed" by what our front acreage now looked like. His answer? (paraphrased) "Think good thoughts at the flowers". WHAT??!! He finally admitted that he had planted the wrong mixture and would try again. After 3 years and $2,500. we have what we and most of our friends & family call "the weed patch", one acre of frontage filled with tall grasses, weeds and some perennials. It looks so bad that -- this summer -- a stranger knocked on our front door to ask if our land and home were actually "ABANDONED"!!! Recently, we sent a letter to Mr. Weng and told him that we did not, in any way, consider the job to be complete, had no faith in his ability to complete it and, therefore, we wished to sever ALL relations & further contact with him. We now have to figure out what to do with the mess that's left.

Having a professional with a degree in horticulture was unmatchable. There are many 'landscapers' who are basically 2 men and a pick up. Francis was creative and produces designs that are totally unique and provide that AWESOME response. The services were timely and the results were more than I could have ever hoped for. If you want to be unique, have plants and a design suited just for you, this is the designer to go to. He has an extensive pond background as well so water features are something this company can design and build as well. I cannot express how pleased I am with the overall job!