www.landscapeirrigation.com June 2014 Landscape and Irrigation 17
Dear ____,
I enjoyed our phone conversation yesterday and look forward to
meeting you in Ithaca sometime soon. You have a beautiful site
and I look forward to being part of your design team.
A good design is a blend of three key factors: 1) The Site 2) The
Owner's Program for Use and 3) The Designer's Creativity.
Yesterday, we began our discussion of your "Program" ... that
is, what you intend for your new home site, such as: the type of
entry courtyard you're planning, the need for low maintenance and
simplicity in the front courtyard design, the inclusion of perennial
beds in the back yard and other factors.
When you have a chance, could you send me an email with any
other features you may want to include? Here are a few typical
considerations:
* Screening from neighbors while preserving good views — how much
screening is desirable?
* Storage on site for boats, extra cars, campers, firewood, air-dry
laundry areas etc.
* Special garden features, such as fenced vegetable gardens, water
gardens or fountains, fire pits or outdoor kitchens, swimming pools,
etc.
* Favorite (or detested) plants. Do you have some old favorites that
you'd like to include?
* Style: the front courtyard will be a formal parterre garden with
lavender and perhaps boxwood. The side and backyards might be
more naturalistic ... but what do you prefer?
* Environmental modification: windscreens for parking courtyard,
trees for shade (many homeowners in your lakeside neighborhood
are surprised how hot their houses can get in afternoons).
* Hardscape preferences: flagstone vs. brick or brick-pavers, wood
fencing vs. black-coated wire fencing, inclusion of boulders, sculp-
ture, or other features.
* Special systems: Automated irrigation systems, night lighting
systems, drainage systems.
No doubt there are other considerations too ... but this is a good
start!
Best regards,
David
The David Fernandez approach
David Fernandez is a landscape designer and owner of the
highly esteemed Cayuga Landscape in Ithaca, N.Y. (cayugaland
scape.com). "Often in my first meeting I look for ways in which
I'm similar to the client so that we can establish a rapport," he
said. "I also pay close attention to cues around their home as to
their aesthetic preferences. I show them images on my iPad of
designs and plants they may like." Below is an excerpt from an
e-mail that Fernandez sends to new clients who have requested
a master plan.
Michelle Sutton (michellejudysutton.com) is a horticulturist,
writer, and editor.
LI
