Gardens change through the seasons and through the years. It takes knowledge and sensitivity to plan an artful, thriving garden that accounts for soil, micro-climates, variety, growth rates, watering needs, and wildlife. Berkeley Gardens brings horticultural knowledge based on years of caring for hundreds of gardens. We bring a varied and nuanced plant palette, and a collaborative design process to create a garden especially for you.
Our designs may renovate an existing garden or plan a new one. We use sustainable principles in our garden designs, and follow a seasonal calendar for planting projects. Our consultation services advise on reducing maintenance, sustainable practices, pruning, design, or garden rejuvenation.
In designing our garden, Alya’s hands-on approach, her concern for the individual plant and for the health of the soil, were a refreshing change from what we were accustomed to. It was easy to see that she has a passion for her work , and she loves to share this with others. Asking her to take on our project was the best decision we could ever have made. …
As one season ends and some plants go dormant, there are other plants that are just starting to show their personality. We have seen more butterflies, birds and bees than we ever used to see. Each season gives us a new profile and it is always alive, changing, and welcoming. We changed from having what we used to call “the yard”, to having what we now call “Our Garden”.
In the most interesting gardens, the features of the garden change throughout the seasons and over the years, and each incarnation of a garden is enhanced by thoughtful, ongoing care. Ongoing professional maintenance of a garden allows for more interesting plant choices and the beautiful unfolding of a garden over time, tending to design considerations, health issues, and other needs as they arise.
Berkeley Gardens brings experience and professionalism to give you a garden you love. Together with you, we create a plan for your garden that addresses its long-term development according to your tastes and preferences. We tend to the details that bring you joy.
During the last year as the new plants have grown the garden has been transformed into a varied, always interesting and delightful place which gives us pleasure every day. Even during late fall and winter there is color and beauty to enjoy. We look forward to seeing Alya every month and discussing plans for the garden’s future..
We have found Alya a pleasure to work with, a great communicator, and responsive to our needs and tastes. She has been consistently reliable, professional, knowledgeable, trustworthy, creative, and always able to offer or find referrals for outside assistance with tree work, etc., as issues arise.
Many gardens would benefit from occasional expert rejuvenation, especially if they do not receive more regular professional care. Often, the excitement of the initial unfolding of a garden gets obscured as maintenance needs increase and the garden becomes untended or overgrown.
Berkeley Gardens delights in uncovering the beauty of your garden during periodic or quarterly rejuvenation visits. We focus on major pruning and aesthetic shaping of trees and shrubs, as needed. During a rejuvenation visit, overgrowth and inattention can seemingly miraculously be transformed into sculptured elegance- restoring structure and revealing a sense of space.
Schedule these visits to address seasonal irrigation adjustments; mulching and soil fertility; keeping fruit trees small and manageable; annual clearing and hauling; or tending perennial flower beds. In fall through early spring, a rejuvenation visit can also combine with our design and planting services to address plant replacement or to revitalize plant beds with thoughtful new additions.
For several years I had the good fortune of hiring Alya Davidman to care for my garden in Berkeley. Alya’s sound and extensive plant knowledge for this area and her good design sense were essential as the garden matured over the years. The garden flourished under her care.
