"Working with Silvia is a joy. Not only is she dependable and efficient, but also- and most important of all- she seems to have an aesthetic sixth sense when it comes to garden design- a spark, an intuition about what can make a garden beautiful."  - K.M., homeowner, Burlington, VT “Silvia, the aspect of your work I most appreciate is your ability to see the potential of an empty space and to create a "finished product" - a garden whose beauty is both calming and endlessly interesting. I could never have known how to achieve that. I only know that your garden design gives me great joy each time I look out my window. I thank you many times each day.” - K.D., homeowner, Burlington, VT  "As Landscape Services Coordinator at 4 Seasons Garden Center, my primary responsibility is to provide excellent landscape designs at reasonable cost to our customers. Since 2004, I have engaged Silvia to provide design services for Gardener’s Supply’ customers and have always been thrilled with the quality and timeliness of Silvia’s work. Silvia’s mastery of design principles lend to beautiful, creative landscapes that incorporate a wide palette of wisely chosen plant and hardscape materials. Being a veteran gardener herself, Silvia produces designs that are practical in both their implementation and maintenance. I’ve worked with many landscape designers over the years, and few are able to consistently balance art and function as well as Silvia. Many of my customers have made it a point to tell me how much they’ve enjoyed working with Silvia on their garden designs. She is very attentive to my customers’ tastes and needs, and never imposes her own judgment on a project. Silvia has the rare talent of being comfortable working with a very wide range of personalities and projects, and I am always 100% confident when giving her a new assignment." - David Vachitis, former Landscape Design Coordinator, Gardener’s Supply, Williston, VT “Silvia did a wonderful design for our front yard. She listened closely to our needs and desires and came up a plan that worked and fit the budget. She also brought up things we'd never have thought about that will protect the plants for the future - like keeping them far enough away from the road so that the plow and snow piles don't affect them in winter. And she gave us handy pruning tips for existing plants and shrubs around our house. I wouldn't hesitate to refer anyone looking for landscape design to Silvia! " - Dixie OConnor, Maple Hill Construction

In 2010, I worked with Ellen Michaud, an award-winning author who lives in a cottage high in the mountains of Vermont, to redesign her garden after winter storms left her with a blank slate. During the process, she wrote a beautifully touching story about how she discovered that her garden served as a way to connect with the memory of her mother. The story is published in her book “Blessed”. Read an excerpt of “A Garden for My Mother” below: 

To read the entire short story click here or better yet purchase and gift this wonderful book: