Work with Barbara Simon

Barbara's interest in the natural world began in the woods of New Hampshire when as a child she became fascinated with the paperbark birch and the possibilities of its bark.

Her gardening career began when she was introduced to organic gardening in the late 1960's at U.C. Santa Cruz. At that time, stalking wild mushrooms also became a passion. These interests no doubt influenced a decision to live and absorb nature for some five years on a small island in the inland passage of British Columbia.

She moved to Portland in 1978 where she completed the Forestry Program at Mt. Hood Community College. At this time she also became a Pastry Chef at L'Auberge and subsequently Pastaworks and The Genoa.

She then completed the Landscape Design Certificate Program at Portland Community College with an exemplary score and went on to attend workshops with John Brookes and Robin Templar Williams, both renowned landscape designers.

She was the first graduate of Linda Engstrom's Garden Aesthetics Mentorship Program.

Barbara designs out of her home in Southeast Portland. She meets regularly with colleagues and is currently a member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) National and Local Chapter, Association of Northwest Landscape Designers (ANLD), Hardy Plant Society of Oregon, Friends of the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden, and Friends of Columbia Gorge.

Sunset Magazine

'Backyard in the Wild' garden/Northwest Style - October 2007

Installed by Dinsdale Landscape Contractors, Inc.

Yard Garden and Patio Show 2007

'Flotsam & Jetsam' Display Garden

Won Best of Show and Best Display Garden.

Collaborative effort between Barbara Simon Landscape Design and Dinsdale Landscape Contractors, Inc.

Found materials, salvaged from here and there were used to create this garden. An old grain bin, painted inside ala African mud hut, outfitted with old ship portholes became the garden house. Halves of an old propane tank became a firepit and a water feature.

Artists who contributed to this garden using found materials: Kate Simmons - entry arch, Brett Piper - concrete table inside bin with recycled redwood base, Gilles Arnoux - recycled wood furniture, Hiih Gallery - light inside bin, Larry Peacock - water feature

Client Questionnaire

If you fill out the Client Questionnaire (PDF download) and send it to me before our first meeting we will have a headstart on the design process. So starts the essential process of communicating our ideas to each other.

Initial Meeting

We will have an initial meeting where I gather as much information as I can about your dreams for your garden. Of utmost importance is the presence of all decision makers in your family for this meeting. We will take a walk through your property. Please share any information that will help define what you are looking for (magazine clippings, addresses of gardens you admire, my questionnaire, plot maps, architectural plans with house footprint etc.). I will present a contract that you can sign. Once I receive the signed contract and an initial payment, the design process begins in earnest.

Basemap and Site Analysis

I will measure your property in order to produce a scaled drawing of your site. I'll also observe and take note of any site issues that we will need to address. I'll take photos to 'remember' your property as I work in my office. From this data I am able to create a Basemap (the scaled drawing), and a Site Analysis (an overlay that schematically indicates the challenges we are tackling).

Concept

I will then develop a Concept. With your input, the data I've collected and the magic of the creative process, a vision starts to emerge. The Concept will show the shapes of planting beds and the placement of major trees and shrubs. These elements become the backbone of your garden.

Concept Meeting

We then schedule a 'Concept Meeting'. I will show you the Basemap, the Site Analysis and the Concept Plan. This is an important, collaborative meeting. I will want to know what you like or don't like about the concept so I can make the necessary adjustments. Sometimes a sketch will be provided to help you visualize the plan. We will also discuss your plant preferences in greater depth to prepare for the drawing of the Final Planting Plan. You will be presented with an invoice for work to this point.

Drafting of the Final Plan

Back in my office, I will hand draft a Final Planting Plan. This finer rendering of the Concept takes into account all that we've discussed. On the Plan, you can expect a sketch of some view(s) of what the garden will look like, what plants we are retaining, what plants we are relocating and all plants labeled with botanical names. I will compile a separate Plant List (which includes information on each plant; recommended size, number of, botanical and common names and any other pertinent information you or a contractor might need). Included also are Landscape Notes (a walk-through description of the proposed garden) and a Resource List (names of contractors, nurseries, etc.).

Presentation of the Planting Plan

We meet at your home for the Final Presentation. You will receive three black-line copies and one color rendering of your Planting Plan. I will present you with a packet that will include: the Plant List, the Landscape Notes, and a Resource List. During this meeting we will have an opportunity to discuss your options on how to make this garden a reality. The balance of payment is due at the completion of this meeting.

Installation Consultation

Whoever you chose to install your garden, I would hope to consult with them before and during the installation to ensure the integrity of our design. Two hours of consultation are included in our contract to begin this process. My presence as a 'facilitator' throughout the installation process is highly encouraged. Possible fee arrangements can be discussed at this time.

Consultation:
$65/hr

Full Landscape Design for an average city lot:
$1,500

(see "Design Process" for description)

Because each situation is unique, these figures may go up or down according to the difficulty of the site.

Inspirations

Reflecting Pond, Bloedel Reserve. Bainbridge Is. WA

Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright. Pennsylvania

Chinese Garden. Portland, OR

Dumbarton Oaks, Beatrix Farrand. Washington, DC

Jane Platt Garden. Portland, OR

Bishop's Close (Elk Rock). Portland, OR

Japanese Garden. Portland, OR

Mirth

Recycled Hose Gate

A close relationship of garden to architecture

Mammoth Hedge. Vancouver, BC

Gardens can be a place to express oneself

Art

Richard Serra sculpture in a private garden

Ron Wagner pear sculpture in a pear orchard

Pomegranate. Garden of Little and Lewis, Bainbridge, WA

An Aid to Understanding Your Designer

Annual

A plant that germinates (usually in the spring), grows, flowers, sets seed and dies (usually in late summer or fall) over a few months time. May self-seed or one needs to buy and replant each year.

Broadleaf evergreen

A non-needled evergreen shrub or tree i.e. an evergreen Rhododendron. An evergreen can refer to any plant that retains its leaves for more than one annual cycle of growth.

Circulation

How one moves through the garden.

Compost

Decomposed organic matter suitable for use as fertilizer, soil conditioner and mulch.

Conifer

A needled (or needle-like) shrub or tree i.e. Douglas Fir, usually evergreen, and usually bearing their seeds in cones.

Deciduous

A term used to describe a tree or shrub that drops all its leaves during the cold or dry season.

Drought tolerant plants

Once established (after the first 2-3 years) these plants are naturally able to withstand dry periods with minimal irrigation.

Espalier

A shrub or tree that has been trained to grow flat against a wall or trellis.

Hardscaping

All the pathways, decks, trellises, pergolas, patios, driveways, water features etc. involved in your landscape plan. Usually permanent features. Another way to look at "hardscaping" is anything that isn't a planting bed.

Invasive plants

Especially vigorous species, most of which originally came from other parts of the world. They grow easily and quickly, out-competing all other plants i.e. ivy.

Layering

Designing planting areas so that plants' heights are mixed i.e. groundcovers, shrubs and trees. A design element frequently employed by the skilled pastry chef.

Low maintenance

Plants that will require very little care once they are established (after the first 2-3 years).

Mulch

A layer of bark, peat moss, compost, shredded leaves, hay or straw, lawn clippings, gravel, paper, plastic or other material spread over the soil around the base of plants. Mulch can help retain moisture, moderate temperature and inhibit the growth of weeds.

Perennial/ Herbaceous perennial

A non woody plant that may last anywhere from a few years to decades. Some perennials are evergreen but some go dormant and die down to the ground for part of the year. The plants renew themselves from their rootstocks every year.

Pergola

An arbor or passageway of columns supporting an overhead of trelliswork on which climbing plants may be trained to grow.

Screening

A barrier whose function is to create more privacy whether it be planted material or hardscaping.

Trellis

A form of ornamental slat fence, metalwork etc., used primarily as a support for climbing plants or as a screen.