testimonials

Judy & Dr. Robert Hendel – I am fortunate enough to live on a beautiful stretch of land north of Chicago. It has allowed me to develop a series of gardens close to my living space and within the surrounding woodland. Over the years, I’ve had assistance from a number of landscaping companies, but have rarely been truly satisfied with the experience.

As an artist and gardener, I believe the garden is an extension of one’s self. Sitting on the sidelines watching landscape teams following someone else’s vision has always felt like an intrusion to me. My garden needs to be just that: my garden. As the gardens have become quite large, full of gravel, stone and boulders—not to mention the trees, and don’t forget the man-eating Hosta—I need help with maintenance and development. I could never generate these gardens without help, but always wished I didn’t have to argue to get what I wanted from my landscapers. This approach has always seemed to go against the basic karma of gardening.

However, my most recent project proved to me that it’s all about finding the right partner in the garden. This is where in horto comes in. I have a prominent view from my house that has been reworked a number of times resulting in dead plants and muck. Tim and I discussed the area and its problems in great detail. I showed him the same sketch I had shown previous landscapers, and we came up with our master plan. This is your garden, but no short cuts. First, we have to take care of the soil.

This time it was to be different. In one week’s time, Tim and I created a paradise. It was all so simple. I showed my sketch to Tim and that’s exactly what I got; my garden. Tim is all about good soil and hard work. In one week’s time we turned that mucky clay into fluff. We dug drainage ditches, hauled gravel and stone, and transformed my mud pit into a magical Zen garden. Did I mention Tim added a water feature too?

Honestly, creating this garden was one of the best weeks in my life. We worked hard, but I got exactly what I wanted and more. My garden is absolutely gorgeous and will continue to prosper because I know the secret. I now have great soil! Tim is right: the strength of the garden lies beneath the surface. Pleased with the results is an understatement. I am one happy gardener! – Judy Hendel