Gardens for the Future

I am so pleased with Eliana and her experience and creativity. I am ignorant about plants beyond loving how they look, smell, and taste. I’m a Jersey girl who has lived in San Diego 15 years and I am still adapting to the climate and flora. I knew that I wanted to save water and that I wanted to grow plants that are native to this area and wouldn’t be put off by my inexpert care.
I hired Eliana on the recommendation of another well-​trusted landscaper. She is so knowledgeable and has been so patient! She planned a gorgeous xeriscape and took me through the process step-​by-​step. I wasn’t planning on being involved in the process after the early discussions, but Eliana has taught me a great deal in spite of myself, sometimes by osmosis. I loved that she didn’t make me feel that my ignorance was anything but a starting point. I couldn’t articulate what I wanted, but we walked around the neighborhood and I could point to what I liked in other people’s yards and gardens. She sent me to websites and took me on a botanic garden tour. She adjusted the plans to accommodate my choices and rearranged the plants to make space for a hammock (a very high priority for me).
I couldn’t be happier with Eliana and her work and recommend her with my highest compliment.

Eliana has transformed my boring duplex yard into a water saving and fruit producing paradise. I’m eating exotic strawberry guavas, passion fruits, figs and apples. Although the plants have only been in about a year, the house is starting to feel different inside and I am inspired to upgrade the inside to match the outside. I’ve learned a lot from Eliana about plants and she has been very patient with my lack of timely followup, weeding or composting. Transforming my landscaping into more sustainable native plants and fruit trees has certainly saved water. She also inspired my neighbor who has now planted some complementary plants next door.

When I called Eliana, I didn’t know my green thumb from my brown one – all I knew was that I was sick of my dead grass and ugly Cyprus bushes and wanted to replace them with San Diego-​friendly (read: drought-​tolerant!) species. Eliana listened carefully, planned thoughtfully, and most importantly, included and taught me as she transformed my yard into a beautiful orchard. I’m using less water than it took to keep my grass green, and soon I will be eating organic fruits and vegetables grown in my own front yard!

Eliana has lovingly tended to the landscaping around my home for over six months, providing many creative xeriscape and environmentally-​conscious ideas. She is knowledgeable and consistently goes the extra mile to source that hard-​to-​find rose varietal, etc. She is responsible, responsive, conscious. My boyfriend commented, «Wow, she is a hard worker.» I get many, many compliments on my landscaping — I owe it to Eliana.