"I see every job as a privilege and a responsibility. I'm there to make something special happen that's more than what clients could do alone or with a less experienced gardener. My mission is to lure people into a love affair with their gardens, to enable them to surrender to Nature as an artistic partner.

I love it when a new client says they don't know a thing about gardening. Then nine months later, I get the call: they're thrilled over the latest flowering of Brugmansia — calling the plant by its botanical name and talking about its surprising night perfume. That's when I know they're hooked.

It's equally exciting to partner with a client who's spent serious time with their hands in the dirt, but are stumped by the complexities of trying to landscape a large space or fixing a difficult problem in their garden. In Southern California that could mean stabilizing a difficult hillside, planting a canyon location without much tight, or hiding an unattractive building visible from the garden.

We start by walking together, drawing pictures, and talking about color and scent.

And later, when we're done building and planting, my greatest satisfaction is dropping by and finding that same client quietly sitting in the garden — privately enjoying the peace and ease of the space."

Michael Baer
Landscape Designer & Master Gardener
CEO, GreenTree Landscaping