We have been looking for a recommendation for someone who can help with the design and actual work for our front yard in the WEST END OF TORONTO.
We are not looking for the Buckingham Placae budget, but it seems everyone we contact is too busy for a residental project like ours.
We are looking at going "grassless", incorporating some natural stones and some uniqueness. Alas, we seem to have had little luck exciting any local gardening centres about our project.
Any recommendations and why?
thanks ... Charlie
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I'm wondering about some of the colleges where they might teach landscape design - George Brown maybe? Or Seneca? Maybe you could advertise there? I'm fortunate - I have a husband who is very interested in gardening. We got rid of all of the grass in our garden years ago. The front is minuscule - one of those postage sized gardens in the inner city here in Toronto. The back is longer and skinny, but it looks fabulous now.
I'm only sorry myself and my associates cannot help. I'm amazed that your local garden centers aren't excited about EVERY project their customers come to them with.
The best solution is to simply move out here to the Left Coast. [I was born in Trenton and rarely look back over my shoulder, except to say "Come on Down!!"] Practically everyone is a gardener here.
The grassless landscape you speak of is very popular. One friend "planted" her front garden with rocks, gravel ,driftwood and found items. Looks great - no maintenance. Another is experimenting with a slow-growing grass that rarely needs mowing. Roman Chamomile works well also.
Myself, I built a dry creek and have my sons' old Tonkas digging on the "shore". I've got rocks everywhere - they look so natural that visitors sometimes express their sympathy at my rocky soil - I'm actually blessed with the most gorgeous ancient lake-bottom silt on old farmland.
Best of luck and maybe we'll see you out here some day.