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Rain Garden Rill
Working Rain Garden Rill
My Blue Jay Song
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Bumble Bee on Agastache
Invasive Preying Mantis feeding on Monarch Butterfly
Pollinators on Agastache
A Quiet Moment
Monarch Caterpillar Feeding
On top of the mountain during a slowdown in the snow storm
My feeding friend
Blizzard in the Notch with a bit of wind
On the top during a snowstorm
Emerging Mason Bee
Pollinators on Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum)
Monarch Butterfly
Great Ant Battle
Monarch Feediing on Verbena bonariensis
Emma, Queen Chipmunk
BIO CONTACT
HOME SERVICES
PROJECTS
PORTFOLIO
MEDITERRANEAN WATER MANAGEMENT GARDEN
WATER MANAGEMENT RAIN GARDEN
BUTTERFLY GARDEN AND PATIO PROJECT 'KZ'
HABITAT RAIN GARDEN PLANT RESTORATION PROJECT
DESIGNS
HABITAT GARDEN & PATIO PROJECT
POLLINATOR HABITAT GARDENS PROJECT
EDUCATIONAL BUTTERFLY GARDEN PROJECT
POLLINATOR HABITAT GARDEN & HARDSCAPE PROJECT
BUTTERFLY HABITAT RAIN GARDEN PROJECT
POLLINATOR HABITAT GARDEN/POND PROJECT
BUTTERFLY GARDEN & PATIO PROJECT
SMALL PROJECTS
PLANTERS
POLLINATORS & NATIVE BEES
THE HOLLOW IN WINTER
QUANTUM CHAOS - A BOOK BY STEPHEN COAN
ADVENTURE PROJECTS
HABITAT GARDENS
PERKINS CENTER OF THE ARTS HABITAT RAIN GARDEN
THE MONTESSORI LABYRINTH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT PROJECT
COLLINGSWOOD, NJ COMMUNITY HABITAT PROJECT
FERRET HOLLOW GARDENS
THE FAUNA OF FERRET HOLLOW
FERRET HOLLOW GARDEN TOURS
RESOURCES
PLANT RESOURCES
PUBLIC GARDENS AND ARBORETUMS
NATIVE PLANT INFORMATION
INVASIVE PLANT INFORMATION
PLANT AND ANIMAL ID RESOURCES
WILDLIFE RESCUE CENTERS
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
ECOLOGY
AMARYLLIS CARE
GARDEN BLOG
STEPHEN COAN - ARTIST
VIDEOS
Rain Garden Rill
Working Rain Garden Rill
My Blue Jay Song
Restored Rain Garden Plantings
Bumble Bee on Agastache
Invasive Preying Mantis feeding on Monarch Butterfly
Pollinators on Agastache
A Quiet Moment
Monarch Caterpillar Feeding
On top of the mountain during a slowdown in the snow storm
My feeding friend
Blizzard in the Notch with a bit of wind
On the top during a snowstorm
Emerging Mason Bee
Pollinators on Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum muticum)
Monarch Butterfly
Great Ant Battle
Monarch Feediing on Verbena bonariensis
Emma, Queen Chipmunk
BIO CONTACT

PROCESS - (scroll down)

Design & Installation Process: 

To the left is an illustration representing the consulting, design, & installation process in the order of the many steps involved in the process of creating a nature inspired garden and landscape.

Stephen Coan's design process starts with an in-depth consultation at the project site to review and discuss the clients' project. After they agree to work together an agreement is signed with the client then receiving a copy of his book that is full of garden and plant information and describes the entire process in detail.  They also receive a copy of his comprehensive written questionnaire to fill out that enables him to get a full understanding and direction of the project to create his bespoke, ecologically guided, & nature inspired fine gardens and designed landscapes for each unique client.

The process begins with the base drawing as a foundation for all further designs after a site analysis of the existing landscape that may include, site conditions, soil, compaction, drainage, elevations, sun and shade positions, wind flow, and surrounding landscape, with many photos taken, and sometimes satellite or drone images done for reference.

Next comes the preliminary concept plan for the project that is reviewed with the Client prior to completing the final master plan that is the overall guide for the entire garden and landscape project.  With the completed master plan the project can be broken down into different installation phases that can be installed over time if needed.

The next step is the installation instruction drawing(s) and documents with details of the different items to install or to be used by the construction contractors.  Then, if needed for permitting, unique conceptual construction drawings are created for the style, shape, and materials of any non-permeable surface or architectural features that may be included in the project. These drawings would be used as a design reference for a landscape architect to perform the technical drawings for the permitting process and ADA compliance. (Americans with Disabilities Act.)  Although Stephen is not a landscape architect, he will consult and collaborate with licensed landscape architects on some projects.

After the master plan and the construction documents have been approved the design is then marked out (painted) on the ground and any adjustments are made to the layout followed by a consult with the client and then final measurements are made for any materials that may be needed to be ordered for the set-up and installation of the hardscapes, architectural features, and new planting beds.

Finally the unique planting plans are created with either a formal planting design or more frequently an on-site plant layout design hybrid that allows him the freedom of an artist ‘painting’ with the plants in direct response to the garden location and surrounding environment. He then consults with the client and construction contractors during the construction and garden planting bed prep work phases. Once construction and bed prep work is completed, he will then lay out and install the beautiful lush plantings.

The comprehensive design, prep, and installation process frequently takes several months to design, consult, plan, acquire the estimates, plants, and materials, any needed permits, schedule any construction, construction, construction consulting, planting bed prepping, installation of the plants, followed by the garden maintenance consulting.  These steps must follow what Mother Nature, weather, and timing dictates.

His unique garden solutions are one of a kind and site appropriate, reflecting the needs of each unique client and location.

The basic order of the Design/Install Process: Initial consultation > agreement > site plan > meetings > questionnaire > discovery > information gathering > site inspections & studies > concepting > design > preliminary concept plan > meetings with client > master plan > search for materials > installation instruction plans > conceptual construction plan(s) technical construction drawings by licensed professionals > search for installation contractors > estimate requests sent out to contractors > construction contracts > permits > scheduling > design layout on ground and adjusting > architectural feature and hardscape construction > construction consulting > planting plan(s) > plant specifying selection plans > planting bed prep > on-site plant layout design > plant installation > garden maintenance consulting.

Meetings and conversations with the Client continue throughout the entire process. 

Projects progress through this process depending upon what is needed for each project in the general order listed with some tasks overlapping or sometimes skipped.

The timing of a new planting bed project installation is entirely dependent upon existing plant growth, Mother Nature, her weather, and her seasons; the demands of preparing the site especially with treating invasive or unwanted species; and Stephen's extensive experience with garden installation timing.  After the entire design process is completed, Unfortunately, sometimes a garden just can't be installed at the timing desires of a client. Preparation of new garden beds only begin after: invasive species are treated and/or removed; (for spring planting) all of the cool and warm season plants (early and late season flowering plants) have mostly emerged usually in mid to late May; and for when Mother Nature gives her seal of approval as to when to start the garden prep in the spring or end the plantings for the season. 

New Bed Preparations in the Spring usually start in mid-late spring (Mid-May) and especially after the last frost dated to allow all existing plants, weeds, and invasive species, both cool and warm season (early and late season blooming plants) to mostly emerge from the ground so that they may be identified, transplanted, removed, or chemically treated to eliminate them in order to start with fresh planting beds which will then evolve over time into beautiful, multi-layered, sustainable, naturalistic matrix gardens that attract and support butterflies, birds, and other pollinators.  New bed installations generally continue up to mid-Fall, sometimes later or earlier, weather dependent, followed by the Spring bulb layer planting season when temperatures start to drop in late fall.

To schedule an appointment please call 267.251.5855.

By Appointment Only.

Stephen Coan

Stephen Coan Garden Design

Nature Inspired Gardens

Garden & Landscape Design, Consulting, & Installation

131 Lawnside Avenue

Collingswood, NJ  08108

267.251.5855  

 NJHIC# 13VH08688500

  Stephen Coan in Collingswood, NJ on Houzz  Stephen Coan in Collingswood, NJ on Houzz  Stephen Coan in Collingswood, NJ on Houzz

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