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GJL has acted as the land steward for this property for over ten years! Jay Archer led the ecological restoration of the estate. A decade ago, this property was mostly traditional lawn (read: chemically-supported). Today, it has gradually been restored ecologically to a more natural state delivering many ecosystem services.

This series is part of our 2020 Countdown of GJLs Best Landscape Design Projects of the Year! This is #6: Shangri-la

Restoring Ecology, Inspired by Natural Landscapes

View of the native wet meadow, with mowed stroll paths to take in all its beauty.

This riparian buffer around the freshwater pond is both an extension of the wet meadow habitat and an effective barrier between lawn and water.

Instead of pure lawn monoculture, GJL converted one lawn area to an ecologically diverse, organic wet meadow. First, we simply stopped mowing the area. Then, we let the native seed bank do its thing — the plants most suited to the naturally wet environment revealed themselves — and the area began to convert back to a native wet meadow.

The completed dam maintains a certain water level while allowing any overflow to connect with the ecosystem behind it: a rare forested wetland.

Pond & Wetland Restoration

The freshwater pond had been draining and declining into a swamp.The plan was to restore a consistent pond water level by constructing a dam at the outflow. Native riverbank plantings were also designed to help naturally filter pollutants (especially from the upper lawn areas) and maintain water quality. Not in the least, these native plantings are performing ecological restoration by providing essential critical habitat for pollinators and birds.

Native Black-eyed Susans blooming in the riparian buffer that surrounds the pond.

GJL partnered with JMC (who completed the engineering plans for the dam) and J-R-One Contractor Group (who helped construct the dam and foot bridge). Green Jay Landscape Design designed the native wetland plantings, installed the site protection and acted as a general contractor.

Completed wooden footbridge and dam (poured concrete with stone veneer).

Now, the new dam maintains the water level for a functioning freshwater pond ecosystem, while also allowing for overflow into the forested wetland behind when precipitation and the water table are high.

The footbridge critically connects the land in the perimeter of the pond, making for a very pleasant walk through the property.

View from the footbridge of the forested wetland with pond overflow seamlessly integrated.

Learn more about the project on our previous blogs:

Dam Construction, Pond & Wetland Restoration | South Salem, NY

Wetland Restoration — Native Riverbank Planting — South Salem, NY

View of the estate from the footbridge, with the completed dam in the foreground. Can’t wait to see this freshwater pond ecosystem thrive and evolve!

We started 2020 off with the classics, but of course had to put our own ecological spin on it. This Westchester, NY property featured way-overgrown foundation plantings that completely overtook the house. The Irvington clients hired us to re-design their front landscaping, as well as around the driveway. The scope of work also included enclosing the backyard to make it more safe for their new child.

This series is part of our 2020 Countdown of GJLs Best Landscape Design Projects of the Year! This is #7: Coyote Woods in the Cradle of the Forest.

Catch up on the background of this project on our previous blog: Ecological Foundation Planting & Landscape Design Master Plan

Natural Stone Front Walkway

The existing walkways were awkward and confusing, and did not accentuate the fine architecture around the front door. Our master craftsman mason Aztlan crafted larger, sweeping walkways out of irregular cut bluestone. The effect is grand, slightly rustic / naturalistic, but elegant with clean lines that clearly communicate circulation paths. We also expanded the landing below the steps, which was previously awkwardly narrow.

A front entrance no one can ignore! Planting and walkway are much more to scale after the landscape design and installation.

Clean lines contrast with the rugged stone cuts, matching this naturalistic forest setting.

The new front walkway is a prominent avenue from the driveway, directing guests to the front door, while a smaller walkway connects from the driveway.

The front walkways fork elegantly, but the main walkway to the front door is clearly defined.

Front Landscaping with Native Plants

Jay also designed new garden beds to frame the front lawn and offer more texture, color and vibrance. Instead of looking at the lawn transition to asphalt, there is a vibrant garden of native shrubs, perennials and grasses that looks fabulous throughout the year. Long-blooming native perennials, like Geranium and Tickseed (pictured below) are low-maintenance plants that create habitat for innumerable local pollinators.

Since this property borders a large Irvington forest, it is extra important to extend the habitat into residential landscapes like this one. Learn more about Pollinator Pathways and Certified Wildlife Habitats.

The new foundation plantings feature a mix of classic evergreens for year-round green. We also included some native deciduous shrubs that still provide architectural elements in winter, and much ecological value in spring/summer/fall.

Driveway Planting with Boulder Accents

Front Landscaping Frames the Lawn

Curvilinear garden beds with soft and breezy ornamental grasses and artfully placed boulders visually encloses the front yard and makes the space feel more intimate and interesting.

Sedges, Clethra and Viburnum are a powerful combination for a front yard garden.

Hydrangeas are a classic Northeast foundation plant for their long bloom time and immense flowers!

View of the home from the driveway — garden beds and a grand walkway clearly define the entrance.

We’re excited to finally share photos of this completed landscape, featuring: a disappearing, naturalistic water feature (constructed by Cooper Ponds), a natural stone patio for the clients’ viewing pleasure, and pathways meandering through terraced native gardens.

Disappearing waterfall feature as viewed from the stone patio.

This series is part of our 2020 Countdown of GJLs Best Landscape Design Projects of the Year! This is #4: Harvest Hill and the Terrace of the Sun.

Designing Terraced Native Gardens

What was once a steep slope of weeds and invasive plants is now a highly productive permaculture-inspired terraced native garden with built-in erosion control measures. Learn more about the existing conditions, the landscape design and the installation and construction of this landscape on our previous project blog, Permaculture Terrace Garden with Erosion Control in Hastings, NY.

This sloped property required a series of garden terraces and pathways designed with erosion control devices to preserve soil.

Water Feature: Naturalistic Waterfall

Water features are an important element of designing Certified Wildlife Habitats. Many animals including birds benefit from water features of various depths: bathing, drinking and sometimes feeding in them.

Since this is a permaculture landscape, a major design goal was to create holistic habitat for wildlife and pollinators.

Close up of the naturalistic waterfall, installed by Cooper Ponds.

It was such a pleasure to work with Cooper Ponds on this project. Their staff was professional, timely and exhibited true craftsmanship. They really know how to produce a water feature that looks like its been in the landscape for years!

Wood chip walkway with log steps for erosion control leads to the waterfall.

GJL designed & installed natural stone staircase with river rock and boulder edging.

Natural hardscape, from wood chips to stone, pairs seamlessly with the waterfall and habitat gardens.

Looks like an amazing space to relax in! Every landscape can benefit from native gardens & water feature! Check out our Stone & Water Galleries for more examples of our natural masonry and water feature design work!

We can’t wait to see these gardens develop in spring and summer — stay tuned for more photos!!

View from the lower walkway. Waterfall yet to be installed.

Your perfectly purposeful permaculture theme landscape will be a completely functioning eco habitat designed to conserve resources and fulfill your desire to create a cosmos within a cosmos (a complex orderly self-inclusive system).This high function eco system will act as a model of a pollinator pathway landscape and a carbon net-positive planet rescue mission.

Plants staged in the sweeping, organic lines of the new front yard garden beds.

Not a minor set of design goals…but our landscapes seek to do nothing less! This Fairfield County, Connecticut property required a front landscape that met specific permaculture objectives, while also creating a functional, beautiful outdoor space that maintains front yard curb appeal. Green Jay Landscape Design was hired to create the design, construct the hardscape and install all garden beds.

New natural stone walkways enable ease of circulation and promote daily mindfulness in the garden.

Permaculture Design Plan

The natural wood fence will enclose, contain and focus your good intentions on producing fruits and flowers throughout the growing season. The landscape planting spilling out and over the fence containment area will integrate your experience to the greater outdoor space afforded by your ample front yard.

Step One: new garden beds de-thatched of turf grass on the front slope.

This front yard is situated on a slope, whose grade we manipulated to achieve terraced permaculture gardens. We employed a dry-stacked retaining wall and fence (yet to be installed) to enclose the area for the client’s chickens. Yes, this is a permaculture landscape through and through!

Step Two: De-compacting the soil before planting and amending ensures aeration — air pockets in the soil that are critical for root development.

Permaculture Plant Pallet & Landscape Installation

The final permaculture garden features a mix of native edibles and perennials, flowering shrubs, ornamental grasses, and trees for wildlife and pollinators. Although fenced in, the property is still an extension of habitat, part of the Pollinator Pathways network, helping to link larger environments with a map of habitats along otherwise developed corridors.

Step Three: incorporate organic compost with biochar, green sand and other soil amendments for the organic garden.

All garden beds will be constructed by manual removal of all turfgrass surfaces followed by mechanical decompaction of existing soil to be further amended and enriched by the addition of premium quality high-grade compost and soil amendments, including green sand and biochar.

Plants will be inoculated with myco-fungii and beneficial bacteria, organic fertilizer and yucca. Planting beds will be mulched with triple ground dark brown natural hardwood mulch.

Step Four: Native plant staging is critical! Designs are often revised in the field based on site conditions.

With organic landscapes and organic gardening, it is essential that you foster a strong foundation for your plants to thrive on. This means enriching the soil with organic matter and the accompanying soil microbes that help deliver minerals and nutrients to plants. Compacted soil can also inhibit root development and overall growth; decompaction before planting is an important step to maintain soil structure. Learn more about Cultivating Healthy, Organic Soil w. Microbes on our previous blog.

Sample plant palette presentation for the client

Permaculture Sample Plant Selections

Elderberry *
Pawpaw *
Hazelnut *
Nepeta
Geranium
Fountain Grass
Bee Balm
Yarrow *
Coneflower
Mountain Mint
Summersweet
Chokeberry
Amelanchier

*edible for human consumption

Progress on the dry stacked retaining wall that separates and defines the garden terraces.

Hardscape, Walkway Circulation

Stone was mined on-site at the property to construct the freestanding stone wall that created a level base for the fence. The fence (still to be installed) contains and frames the permaculture garden while functionally enclosing the chickens. The chickens do their part by aerating the soil via pecking and digging for worms, as well as fertilizing the soil through their excrement.

Finished dry-stacked stone retaining wall with permaculture gardens on either side.

In order to construct the fence and dry-stacked wall, we needed to elevate the grade on the right side of the house. Green Jay Landscape Design also installed a small subsurface button drain to capture stormwater. Fieldstone steps were installed to connect the upper lawn with the lower grades.

Fieldstone staircase with river rock border fits a naturalistic landscape design.

The unique combinations of pathways will provide practical access for maintenance while encouraging circulation, recreation and relaxation amongst the beneficial wildlife and abundant plant life.

Side view of the front yard permaculture garden.

We can’t wait to see this garden thrive, produce and give back. Stay tuned for more photos!

Contact us about your permaculture or ecological landscape design project – 914-560-6570. We are also available for landscape consulting – see our Eco Consulting page.

Fairfield County, Connecticut is a beautiful place for landscape design. With the natural landscape ranging from mature forests to coastal wetlands, there is much inspiration to draw from, not to mention incredible ecological value worth protecting! Jay Archer has worked as a landscape designer in Fairfield County for over thirty years .

Native Echinacea (Coneflower) is a superstar plant for pollinators, is low maintenance, and looks amazing with Daisy and Blackeyed Susan.

We’ve compiled our favorite Connecticut landscape design & construction projects. Contact us about your project: 914-560-6570.

Green Jay Landscape Design’s Top Landscape Designs in Fairfield County, CT

Naturalistic pollinator gardens soften the clean modern lines of the pool area and patio.

#1: Modern Pool Landscaping: Natural Stone Masonry, Habitat Gardens & Wetland Mitigation | Greenwich, CT

We loved designing the landscape for this newly constructed modern farmhouse style home. We chose a contemporary patio design: an array of bluestone rectangles with grass joints. The poolside garden is a magnificent pollinator perennial garden featuring northeast natives.

Read more about this landscape design project in Fairfield County on our previous blogs: Pool Landscaping & Modern Design & Build.

Rectilinear flagstone patio with grass joints for a modern hardscape design in Greenwich, CT.

GJL also planted the front entrance garden and front landscape garden that creates a frame around the organic front lawn.

The front entrance walkway makes a statement with its modern design, while perennials soften and provide much-need color and nectar.

#2 Front Yard Pollinator Garden Lawn Replacement | Stamford, CT

A symphony of color where once was a monotonous green lawn.

Bravo to another client who realized the futility of their front lawn! We had so much fun removing this front lawn and replacing it with a pollinator garden featuring native perennials, shrubs and grasses!

This front yard now creates habitat for innumerable pollinators and birds — a true Certified Wildlife Habitat.

Check out the entire project on our previous blog Front Yard Pollinator Garden in Fairfield County, and in our Portfolio Gallery!

Watch the video below — a compilation of pollinator footage filmed by our client, all in this small front yard!

Colorful native perennials create a dynamic home for pollinators.

#3 Hillside Gardens, Stream Construction & Pool Landscaping | New Canaan

Perennials help stabilize this steep slope, and provide critical habitat for butterflies, bees and birds.

This property is in its second year of phased landscape design. We were originally hired to construct a naturalistic stream leading to an existing koi pond, and to plant the hillside next to it with a pollinator habitat garden.

Naturalistic constructed stream / waterfall adds circulation and aeration to the koi pond.

Fieldstone steps add to the rustic design and integrate seamlessly with the hillside garden.

In the second year, we updated the pool-side garden to be more ecologically-friendly (it mostly consisted of annuals before). We also weeded and planted the rear steep slope with soil stabilizing natives that are a continuation of the pollinator habitat from the stream side garden.

Ferns and perennials makeup this lush poolside garden.

Rustic gardens around the pool befit this bucolic farmhouse estate in New Canaan, CT

Follow the progression at this Fairfield County, CT property on our previous blogs from year one and year two, as well as our Portfolio gallery.

#4 Rooftop Terrace Container Gardens for Pollinators | Stamford, CT

Pollinator-attracting container garden brightens up this fifth story terrace.

You don’t need a yard to have impact! We designed this terrace garden in Stamford for seasonal impact and ecological value: annuals and perennials that attract pollinators and birds even from five stories up! We typically spruce up a few containers twice a year for spring/summer and fall/winter. The others contain strong year-round architectural elements– evergreens or ornamental grasses.

Juniper and trailing Creeping Jenny add height and depth to the garden.

Ornamental grasses and birches were part of an earlier iteration of the terrace design.

Learn more about the project on our previous blog: Rooftop Landscape Design & Installation w Native Plants.

#5 Certified Wildlife Habitat Bird Sanctuary | Landscape Design in Fairfield County

Learn more about the project on our previous blogs: Designing a Bird Sanctuary Part One & Part Two.

Our passion is all aspects of landscape design in Fairfield county, from full-scale property designs to in-house construction, installation and organic maintenance.

Green Jay Landscape Design has served the community of Westchester County, New York with ecological landscape design, landscape construction, and sustainable land stewardship for ten years! Our founder and president Jay Archer has over thirty years of experience transforming outdoor spaces into natural oases that improve both our clients’ quality of life and the local environment. Read Jay’s story here. We’ve re-imagined countless outdated landscapes into functional spaces using native plants and ecosystems as our inspiration. Looking back at the last ten years, some projects are true stand outs. Below are our top ten landscape design projects in Westchester County EVER!

We would love to work with you! Please fill out a form or give us a call at 914-560-6570 to schedule a consultation.

Note: this blog has been updated! Read the archival post here.

European form meets native planting in this lakeside parterre garden.

#1 Ecological Parterre Garden

We absolutely loved the design intent here: reimagine the classic European parterre garden with ecologically valuable native plants.

Detail shot of one of four garden beds within the parterre. Designed and installed by Green Jay Landscape Design.

We designed a planting that was less rigidly symmetrical as the traditional style but used repetition to connect the individual parterre gardens. The upper terraces received new natural stone walkways and a patchwork of shade-loving ground covers.

River rock bio swale with an ecological planting on either side aids with stormwater management.

Vegetated, river rock bioswales direct stormwater intentionally through the front slope.

From the client:

“We had heard wonderful things about Green Jay, and love their respect for the environment, but didn’t know if they would want to work around our firmly held vision of an English country cottage garden. Boy did they! They took our dream and created a reality so stunning we (and our neighbors and casual walkers-by) are in heaven. Blossoming times and colors seem to have been perfectly executed so that there is interest in all seasons. Bumblebees, butterflies, and hummingbirds abound. Jay has checked in frequently to see how things are coming and responded quickly to requests for additional help elsewhere on our property. We absolutely couldn’t be happier!”

Natural stone walkway lined with native ground covers for an elegant entrance to the main garden.

Read the full project blog and portfolio case study.

A trio of garden terraces progresses from formal entryway to wild habitat as you navigate the backyard slope.

#2 Naturalistic Terrace Gardens

This property had an impressive series of existing terraces to navigate the backyard slope, but the plantings were tired, traditional, and overgrown. We incorporated native plants for pollinators and birds in a naturalistic, matrix planting to effectively soften the hardscape.

Around the pergola, we chose high-impact summer bloomers: Anabelle hydrangea, Coneflower, Russian Sage.

Perennials for pollinators and spilling ground cover softens the powerful natural stone staircase.

The stone steps leading to the pergola received a rock garden plant palette of cascading ground covers.

The sun dial is a visual focal point as well as a spatial juncture between three paths.

In the formal entrance off the backyard, we designed a symmetrical planting to guide the gaze toward the sun dial focal point.

Hedges of hydrangea make a tidy border for a more biodiverse hillside planting.

Read about the full project blog here

#3 Backyard Courtyard with Natural Stone Masonry

The inspiration for this backyard renovation was the mature trees that encircle the space, lending a sense of enclosure and intimacy. GJLD designed a courtyard garden featuring a natural stone patio off the house for dinning, entertaining, and relaxing, and several stone paths that meander through the garden. Benches are strategically placed throughout the garden for unique viewpoints of the landscape.

Naturalisitc plantings and natural stone – a natural pairing!

GJLD designed a cottage-style native planting that looks stunning year-round. From the earliest spring bulbs to the architectural red and yellow twig dogwoods in fall and winterberries in winter, this landscape provides food for wildlife and visual stimulation 365 days a year.

Garden stroll paths that lead to seating nooks – two ways to contemplate the garden.

In the words of the client:
“I am sure that my words will not do justice to the happiness that Jay and his wonderful team have brought me. They transformed a plain yard into the most glorious garden! It is peaceful, serene and my most favorite place for morning coffee. I would never hesitate to use Green Jay Landscaping, Jay really listens to what you want and then makes the dream a living reality. They are truly marvelous.”

This landscape design invites quiet strolls through the circular paths

Learn more about our natural stone masonry construction, landscape design process, and organic installation on our project blog and portfolio case study.

A prairie-style native planting for this full sun pool area in Westchester, NY.

#4 Native Pool Landscaping & Entry Courtyard

This stunning Westchester property had a decades old landscape that was overgrown and outdated. We transplanted the non-native miscanthus from the pool area, creating a new ornamental grass within the backyard lawn. The pool area got a planting redesign with an emphasis on long-blooming summer perennials.

In fall, asters, golden rod, and pink muhly grass keep the show running and the late-season pollinators fed.

We love how the warm summer perennial colors pop against the white picket fence.

Entry courtyard layout featuring lush, cottage style garden beds.

For the front entry courtyard, we added new garden beds along the walkway and fence, adding a wealth of native plants to the mostly exotic existing plant material.

Vegetable garden with pollinator-attracting perennial and grass border.

The vegetable garden received a perennial and grass border to help attract pollinators and yield more veggies and herbs.

Read all about the project on our blog and portfolio case study.

Backyard fire pit nook with native plantings and natural stone masonry. Designed and constructed by GJLD.

#5 Celestial Wild Garden with Waterscape, Lawn Removal

This landscape renovation began at the early days of Green Jay and has been a continuously edited and expanded upon over the last ten years. The original scope of work was to remove the backyard lawn entirely and design a waterscape and native woodland garden.

Constructed waterfall and stream contribute a multitude of habitat and ecosystem functions.

The waterscape features a constructed waterfall, stream, and fishpond with bog plants along its borders.

Streams provide drinking and bathing sources for wildlife, and also dragonfly habitat (a natural mosquito predator).

A series of paths from a variety of natural materials – woodchip, gravel, and natural stone – wind through the garden to various seating nooks. Kinetic garden sculptures are focal points throughout the landscape.

Gravel stroll paths culminate in a central sculpture.

Before the backyard transformation, the client rarely used the backyard because of the insufferable number of mosquitos – the property borders a 22-acre wetland. Since the native plant transformation and waterscape construction, there are far more mosquito predators (dragonflies!) and the client enjoys daily walks through the garden.

Front walkway framed by naturalistic planting navigates from front entrance to backyard.

Recently, the front lawn was completely removed and planted in a gradient of full sun to full shade. The color and curb appeal is unmeasured, and the biodiversity unparalleled.

Roadside perennial makes a statement! And delivers habitat for countless insects and birds.

Learn more about the project in our portfolio case study.

#6 Shady Hillside Planting

Sometimes design constraints produce the most innovative thinking. For this property, a small steep slope made up most of the backyard. By designing a natural stone staircase that turns into a woodchip path, the clients can enjoy more of their backyard.

Native woodland understory garden in Westchester, NY.

GJLD designed a series of shady garden terraces with adjacent gravel seating areas. The planting is composed of native woodland understory plants – shrubs, evergreens, grasses, perennials, and groundcover.

Terraced gravel seating area expands the useable space of the backyard slope.

The backyard patio was reconstructed with natural stone, to match the new staircase and overall naturalsitic aesthetic.

Natural flagstone patio elevates outdoor entertaining.

The full sun front yard received a makeover to create more pollinator habitat, more biodiversity and sequester more carbon dioxide than the lawn it replaced.

High impact pollinator garden in a high visibility area – we love to see it!

Stunning summer plant combinations for the front yard garden. Designed and installed by GJLD.

Read all about the project on our blog!

Perennial and grass border for effortless garden beauty (and habitat) all summer long.

#7 Certified Wildlife Habitat with Natural Swimming Pond; Front Lawn Removal

Another property that has evolved wonderfully over the years, gradually removing more and more lawn, leaving it only where it serves a function! We started with the backyard, removing about a third of the lawn to construct a natural swimming pond with bog garden filtration.

Bird eye view of the landscape plan for the backyard.

Constructed waterfall cascades into a Natural Swimming Pond.

To retain the backyard border planting, we reconstructed the sea wall in the channel that the backyard borders. Then, we had ample space to plant a diverse, contemporary, salt-tolerant border.

Bench framed by perennial border, with sea channel and pond focal points.

A few years later, we removed the entire front lawn, replacing it with spreading groundcovers and dwarf shrubs for a low maintenance front yard garden.

Learn more about the project in our portfolio case study.

Sitting boulders offer a whimsical gathering space to enjoy the expansive gardens.

#8 Ecological Playscape with Woodland Trail

GJLD designed this backyard with the objective of making it a family friendly escape, with plenty of nooks, trails, and play areas to entice everyone outside. We added native perennials and ornamental grasses to modernize the pool area planting and designed an expansive pollinator garden on the outside of the stone wall surrounding the pool area. The property had many mature tree and shrub plantings but lacked herbaceous diversity and continuous color!

Updated pool border features ornamental grasses and long-blooming summer perennials.

We also directed gutters from the house into a rain garden to aid with stormwater management.

This woodland stroll trail invites you to get lost in the great outdoors.

Encircling the backyard border, beneath a mature tree canopy, we designed a meandering stroll path, dubbed by the client’s daughters the fairy trail.

Learn more about the property on our blog and portfolio case study.

Central patio overlooks a series of garden terraces.

#9 Permaculture Terrace Garden

This client wanted to transform a weedy sloped front yard into a permaculture paradise. GJLD designed garden terraces navigated by woodchip paths, increasing the functionality of the space, and acting as erosion prevention. A natural stone staircase navigates the slope and connects the two pathways.

Garden terraces are interspersed with woodchip walkways on this hillside property

The pathways culminate in a natural stone patio overlooking the landscape. A recirculating waterfall completes the nature immersion transformation.

The planting is a mix of native plants and vegetables, herbs, and fruits. This was such a fun project!

Tomatoes next to perennials for a true permaculture approach to the front yard!

Read all the project details on our portfolio case study.

Pollinator perennials, ferns and shrubs for the front landscape

#10 Hillside, Front Yard Native Garden

Probably our favorite front yard transformation to date! We renovated a weedy monoculture front yard into a biodiverse native garden ranging from part shade to full sun. The plant biodiversity translates directly to insect biodiversity and the client has become an amateur etymologist!

Sneezeweed, Daisies and Coneflower are pollinator favorites.

We extended the planting to the sidewalk hell strip (with permission) – it completes the composition! Recently we added ferns and woodland perennials to the side yard along the existing stream.

After removing invasives by hand and re-planting.

Learn more about the project on our Portfolio and blog.

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Green Jay Landscape Design

Where Design Meets Ecology

914.560.6570