Interview

Serene Green Spaces

Written by Martha Coffey

Photos courtesy of East Coast Landscaping

With more than 27 years of experience, Mark Simpson, owner of East Coast Landscape Inc., knows what it takes to help clients create peaceful outdoor spaces.

WH&G: Why do people call you?

Simpson: Often it’s the dream of creating an outdoor oasis of calm. People may have seen pictures of beautifully landscaped homes, or perhaps they are simply inspired by friends or neighbors whose lawns are lusher and greener than theirs, and they think: “I want to improve my own landscape.”

WH&G: How do you begin to develop a landscape design for new clients?

Simpson: I start by asking lots of questions. I ask what sort of outdoor space they envision. Do they picture their family sitting out on a patio overlooking a flower garden, vegetable garden, pond, or just listening to the birdcalls? Do they want to incorporate a water feature so that they hear the sounds of flowing water? I also ask about the clients’ project budget so we can work within that. The answers to these questions provide a starting point.

WH&G: What do you do about what they already have in their yard?

Simpson: We’re often asked to incorporate existing elements into a new design. Working with a Japanese maple from Aunt Gertrude, a fish pond or pool makes a job more interesting.

WH&G: After you have established a plan, what’s the next step?

Simpson: We always start with the hardscapes. These are the walkways, patios, and retaining walls‹the largest elements of the design. Today there are many choices of natural and man-made materials. We show clients the different looks that can be achieved with the various colors, shapes, and patterns of the pavers available today.

WH&G: Does the client ever do all the work?

Simpson: While we plant most of the trees, shrubs, and perennials such as black-eyed Susans, purple cone flowers and coreopsis, sometimes we’ll leave the planting of annuals to the clients. We find that most people enjoy doing part of the gardening themselves.

WH&G: Why are curved lines so popular?

Simpson: Curves mimic nature. There are very few perfectly straight lines in nature. Curves improve the flow of a design. Any time we work on a new landscape design for a client, our goal is to create an outdoor environment that will delight the senses and impart serenity to balance the noisiness and business of life.