Fairy Yardmother

As good as it gets is not an understatement. 8 weeks from planning to planting, and we have a complete re-​design to a low-​water plan from a 1400 sq. ft turf conversion.
Not only on-​time and under-​budget, but because this is also a rental, the happiness of our occupants was a key factor in choosing the right designer.
Kathy worked with all the extra details (like using urbanite recycled concrete instead of pavers, and getting a plan that would allow flexibility, but still be significantly permanent and maintenance-​free.)
Great work, and no reservations recommending her, as well as using her on our next projects!
Plan and pictures (we just finished… the plants will grow in during the summer):

Just a fantastic experience beginning to end. First off, Kathy sounded exactly like my aunt on the phone, so I immediately felt like I was talking to a familiar and friendly family member. And once she came out to start working with my wife and I, that vibe never changed. The whole process couldn’t have been easier. She completely listened to what we were looking for, and very quickly put together a plan that took all our needs into account. Was also happy she voiced her opinion on a potentially expensive new wall idea I had set my mind on, and recommended a less construction heavy approach that ended up working even better. I had my own contractor do the actual install and construction, and Kathy was very helpful in overseeing the planting and eyeballing the placement of flagstone and other details. Super easy to work with overall and very very responsive. Hire her!

We just replaced our front yard with a drought tolerant landscape.
Planning to do the design and labor ourselves, we were just about to start digging holes and planting when I stumbled across a recommendation for Fairy Yard Mother on my Next Door app. I was feeling a little nervous about our plan, and I liked the pictures on her website, so gave her a call to see if she might be able to come over to give us a consultation.
Boy did Kathy deliver. She came over the next day and in just an hour, and for a very reasonable fee, gave us terrific feedback and ideas that took our plans from «okay, this’ll work» to what is now the most beautiful landscape on the block. (Okay, maybe I’m a little biased, haha, but I’m proud of it!)

Kathy helped us with a design plan for the front yard after we were approved for the LADWP Turf Removal Rebate. I met with Kathy for a few hours and we went over the style of landscaping that I like. Fully knowing that we were on a tight budget that was dictated by the LADWP rebate, she created a design plan that used a combination of existing and new plants, which made the whole endeavor reasonable. With Kathy’s plan, my gardener was able to execute the design. The end result is a beautiful, drought-​resistant, water-​saving, front yard that enhances the overall aesthetic of our modern house. I am very happy with Kathy’s work and will use her again for future projects.

Kathy has been so generous and resourceful in helping me with my landscaping needs. She gave excellent insight into how I could get my needs met on a budget! Thanks Fairy Yard Mother!!!

I really appreciated how Kathy made adjustments to our landscaping schedule and patiently waited for us to get our acts together for 1 year. She was always courteous and kind. very reasonable pricing. Thank you, Kathy! — K from AV

Truly our Fairy Yardmother, Kathy came to my rescue and helped to build an appealing and functioning front yard just in time for my wedding. Kathy was super easy to work with, honest, genuine, a person of her word, and dependable (and so are the contractors that she recommends).
Before I get into my review, here are some quick points that I learned from my first time at the helm of a major house project:
–Ask to see samples of plans of work recently completed.
–Do not sign contracts where disputes are to be settled by arbitration.
–Work only with designers who have established relationships with the various trades (sprinkler guy, cement guy, etc). Estimates are more likely to be truer. If issues arises from work by those trades, they are likely to be resolved with minimum effort due to their established relationship with the designer.
–Ask to speak with the trades; and for samples of their work.
–Do not pay upfront!!!
Unfortunately, I painfully learned those lessons from the first company I hired. I was really fortunate to have found Kathy to come in for the rescue. For this front yard project, I needed the existing concrete walkway and brick planter replaced, concrete steps and plants and irrigation installed. The site (at least to me) presented a nice challenge as it is sloped. On a sloped yard, you have to use the geometry you never thought that you’d use while you were in high school. The angles change dramatically depending on where you placed things. In the end, Kathy and crew work magnificently with the slope to create a pleasing and functional walk way.
Kathy came in and quickly got to work. We talked about what my taste is. She quickly came back with some ideas and with pictures. Kathy provided a clear plan, plants list, a budget guideline, and a time table. From that point forth, things progressed pretty quickly. The contractor she recommended quickly got to work to replace and install the hardscape. A separate contractor designed and installed the sprinklers as well as the plants and trees.
When it comes to plant knowledge, Kathy is well acquainted. She recommended a lot of great plants and trees; and took into account of plants that I did not like. She did not try to hard sell me on plant selections. She was also able to deliver some plants that were on my wish list.
As with any major project, there WILL be surprises. How a project manager and or contractor handles them will determine your stress levels and bank account balance. The surprises that we ran into where handled with the utmost sensitivity to the word «professional.» An example is an issue I had with the sprinklers. Kathy stood by me when I found issue with them a month later. So did her contractor (who installed them). He came out and fixed the issue.
I am ranking Fairy Yardmother ⁴⁄₅ stars; the highest ranking I think I’ll give to a major project. For someone to earn ⁵⁄₅ stars with me, they will just have to be extreme lucky to not having surprises come up.

I can’t recommend Kathy highly enough!
Kathy is a delight to work with. She is genuine, easy-​going, enthusiastic, and yet meticulous. In landscaping my large backyard, she had every obstacle: a micro-​climate that almost all plants hate, terrible soil, an ugly fence to hide, and conflicting visions from me and my husband. But she did an absolutely beautiful job. She found plants that would not only survive in our climate and soil, but were unusual and satisfied both my husband’s love of flowering plants and my love of grasses — both of which usually demand lots of water, but Kathy created an extremely low-​water version! She really knows plants, is refreshingly creative, and has great flexibility in her aesthetic.
Kathy made the process of landscaping manageable and timely, despite the pressure we felt to plant before the summer heat arrived. She never rushed us, took all our own (screwball) ideas gently into consideration, and went in whatever direction we asked. She helped us envision the end result with an excellent sketches and threw in some fun ideas for later — places for our kids to play, ways to rearrange our pool furniture — just for fun, just to lend us her artistic eye. The planting itself was as well done as could be: her crew was so efficient, careful, and conscientious that I hired them as my maintenance gardeners. Kathy was there throughout the planting to rearrange, run to the nursery, and continue to give our garden her full care and attention.
And just a note: we tried to do this ourselves before working with Kathy. It wasn’t successful, to say the least. Choosing plants that will really work in your area, arranging them artistically, and planting them in the way that each one needs — landscaping takes skill and experience. I wish we’d saved the money and worked with a designer from the start.
In the end, my backyard is transformed, my husband and I are both happy, and my bank account even has something left in it. Call Kathy, seriously!

this review is a year late but I realize that it is better testimony to Mary and her team. I had just had a retaining wall put in and was left with the aftermath– excess dirt and concrete.
Mary and her crew worked with my budget and removed the dirt and concrete and landscaped the area that the previous workers tore up. A year later I am still happy with her job. That should say something.

Yes, the Fairy Yardmother really does have magical abilities! Kathy and her crew transformed my front yard from dull and dying bits of lawn to a lovely array of perennials and colorful flora. She worked within my requested time frame and limited budget to expand the planting area, re-​purpose the walkway, and repair our sprinklers. The crew were efficient, tidy, fast, and professional throughout. And of course Kathy was sweet and kind and good as any fairy *mother should be. I would recommend the Fairy Yardmother without reservation.