Local Landscape Designer (Birmingham, Auburn: credit card, home, wedding)

[Southlander]

Godwin Barnett Landscaping in Decatur - Sam Barnett. He did a landscaping plan that I bought through a charity auction. Pretty good plan - he was just starting out - except his plan called for WAY too many plants. I reduced the number of plans and it was quite workable. Some elements didn't work out, but I think he's probably learned a lot in the intervening 15 years since he came up with the plan.

Many years ago I had a Huntsville lady do a plan for our house in the historic area. It was really good - she thought of things I wouldn't have, like a patio with a low wall that guests could also sit on. We never developed the entire plan - we were on a shoestring budget - but I used many elements, including a curving walkway around one side of the house that was lined with hosta, perwinkle along the existing sidewalk on the other side, shrubbery on one side of the yard as a barrier and screen....her name was Harvilee Harbarger. I don't know if she's still practicing or even still alive. That was 30-plus years ago.

[Coogan]

Originally Posted by Badin

I don't have a landscape architect recommendation, but will suggest that you see if your neighborhood has a Facebook site. The Nextdoor site in our neighborhood is quite active, too. Both have been good sources of referrals for our current home.

If you haven't already chosen a fence company, I've read good reviews on Traditions fence company which I think is based in Hartselle.

One suggestion for your backyard landscaping ideas is to spend a few hours combing through the Southern Living website and/or reading their gardening books. They were very helpful when we built a previous house. That neighborhood required a plan from a landscape architect and their preferred one just coincidentally was on the ARC. His initial recommendations to me included plants that deer love to devour as well as plants that don't do well in poorly draining clay. I ended up sending him a list of plants culled from the Southern Living resources which he used to create the plan that the ARC passed.

Wait, the ARC’s preferred landscape architect was a member of the ARC? That sounds like a tremendous conflict of interest.

[r x f]

I didn't catch that. HOAs gonna HOA, I guess. haha.

[Preston3124]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Godwin Barnett Landscaping in Decatur - Sam Barnett. He did a landscaping plan that I bought through a charity auction. Pretty good plan - he was just starting out - except his plan called for WAY too many plants. I reduced the number of plans and it was quite workable. Some elements didn't work out, but I think he's probably learned a lot in the intervening 15 years since he came up with the plan.

Many years ago I had a Huntsville lady do a plan for our house in the historic area. It was really good - she thought of things I wouldn't have, like a patio with a low wall that guests could also sit on. We never developed the entire plan - we were on a shoestring budget - but I used many elements, including a curving walkway around one side of the house that was lined with hosta, perwinkle along the existing sidewalk on the other side, shrubbery on one side of the yard as a barrier and screen....her name was Harvilee Harbarger. I don't know if she's still practicing or even still alive. That was 30-plus years ago.

https://www.manta.com/c/mmntmrw/harb...ape-design-inc

[writerwife]

Originally Posted by Southlander

Godwin Barnett Landscaping in Decatur - Sam Barnett. He did a landscaping plan that I bought through a charity auction. Pretty good plan - he was just starting out - except his plan called for WAY too many plants. I reduced the number of plans and it was quite workable. Some elements didn't work out, but I think he's probably learned a lot in the intervening 15 years since he came up with the plan.

Many years ago I had a Huntsville lady do a plan for our house in the historic area. It was really good - she thought of things I wouldn't have, like a patio with a low wall that guests could also sit on. We never developed the entire plan - we were on a shoestring budget - but I used many elements, including a curving walkway around one side of the house that was lined with hosta, perwinkle along the existing sidewalk on the other side, shrubbery on one side of the yard as a barrier and screen....her name was Harvilee Harbarger. I don't know if she's still practicing or even still alive. That was 30-plus years ago.

Thanks! It won't let me rep ya... gotta spread it around. Funny, when I was in the Decatur area most recommendations for stuff came from Hsv. Now that I"m in Hsv, I've gotten many from Decatur area, lol. I will look him up if can and see if he's still around and in the business.
30+ yrs ago on the woman is probably a long shot but she sounds like what I'm looking for.

[writerwife]

Originally Posted by Preston3124

https://www.manta.com/c/mmntmrw/harb...ape-design-inc

Is that a recommendation?

[Preston3124]

Originally Posted by writerwife

Is that a recommendation?

No just a link to the Harbarger company that was mentioned by Southlander. The company is still around and I believe Harvilee is still alive, but I think her daughter Julie is probably the main person now.

[writerwife]

Originally Posted by Preston3124

No just a link to the Harbarger company that was mentioned by Southlander. The company is still around and I believe Harvilee is still alive, but I think her daughter Julie is probably the main person now.

Ok, thanks!

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by writerwife

Thanks! It won't let me rep ya... gotta spread it around. Funny, when I was in the Decatur area most recommendations for stuff came from Hsv. Now that I"m in Hsv, I've gotten many from Decatur area, lol. I will look him up if can and see if he's still around and in the business.
30+ yrs ago on the woman is probably a long shot but she sounds like what I'm looking for.

It's the old thing about a prophet and his hometown!
Got an interior designer you can recommend?

[writerwife]

Turns out that Harvilee was also the one that designed one of my neighbors yard and it is just lovely!