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"The work started during one of the rainiest spring seasons in recent history. In spite of that, every person who worked on the job was competent, well mannered, good-natured, and hard working."

A Newton client


After struggling for 30 years to maintain a sparse front lawn that was overshadowed by large trees, we decided to make a radical change to a woodland garden.

This would substantially reduce chemical and mechanical maintenance and would provide an opportunity to grow shade loving native plants. We wanted to keep the existing mature plantings but to eliminate all the grass. We also wanted to include a feature element. Because wood driveway retaining walls needed to be replaced we had to find a company that could handle extensive stonework as well as landscaping.

Even though we had a big picture concept of what we wanted the woodland garden to look like, we needed someone to provide a structure and to "guide us in its evolution." Our previous experiences with Byggmeister gave us confidence that they would do a good job and make the experience as pleasant as possible. After discussing the project with Paul Eldrenkamp and Rick McGann we felt comfortable giving Byggmeister the job.

The work started during one of the rainiest spring seasons in recent history. In spite of that, every person who worked on the job was competent, well mannered, good-natured, and hard working. Rick and the crew were flexible in the implementation of the design as it evolved. New granite steps, an intermediate terrace, and planting beds enhance access to the front and rear of the house along existing brick walkways. The fieldstone retaining walls not only match the 100-year-old house foundation in style and material, but also look like they are of the same age.

The flat lawn area was graded to a natural rolling terrain with small hills and large rocks. A dry creek bed was created to direct the view from the street through the garden. An existing 8-foot tall rhododendron was relocated to the top of the creek bed to provide balance and a focal point. Inspired by a woodland setting in Maine, Rick suggested dogwoods and birches to complement the existing crab apple tree, rhododendrons, and hostas. Among those we dug in approximately 200 woodland plants including Trillium, Astilbe, Hellebore, Jack-in-the-pulpit, Anemone, Mayapple, Epimedium, Maidenhair Fern, Solomon's Seal, Meadow Rue, and Violas. In addition, 400 minor bulbs were planted to provide continuous bloom from mid-March to the end of June (Snow Drops, Species Crocus, Scilla, Species Daffodil, Wood Anemone, Grape Hyacinth, and Wood Sorrel).

We are absolutely thrilled with the result. Rick had the forethought to include plantings with red twig and birch bark interest for winter, spring flowering trees and shrubs, summer bloom and variations of green, and stunning fall colors. We are looking forward to seeing the new woodland garden through the four seasons. In addition our neighbors have thanked us for improving their view and passers-by often stop to enjoy the scene.



Other Client Stories

"Amazingly, if you want something done, and the guys at Byggmeister don't think you should do it, they'll tell you. The other day, I said I wanted to replace windows in the living room, and they said I didn't need to. What contractors do that?"
"Even though we had a big picture concept of what we wanted the woodland garden to look like, we needed someone to provide a structure and to 'guide us in its evolution'...."
"We live in an 1870 Victorian with a lot of quirky details and odd spaces. The house presented some very tricky elements that required great cleverness. They responded beautifully...."
"I don't know the first thing about contruction. So when we decided to renovate the kitchen, the most important thing to me was finding someone we could really trust..."
"We can laugh about it now, but it started as the construction project from hell. Three months with no shower, three weeks with no toilet..."
 		  
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"We listen to the client. Open dialog about the style, stones, plant materials, and suggesting to the client they see it first hand reinforces the conceptual design and keeps the project on track.
Working closely together with a homeowner throughout the entire project is the difference between a good masonry landscape job and an exceptional one."
- Masonry Manager





"What I liked best about this project was going back to do a third or fourth project — I forget how many at this point — for some of our favorite clients."
- Owner, Paul Eldrenkamp