San Carlos GardenWorks

After contacting and meeting with several different people and companies, it was an easy decision to go with Karen because of her friendly demeanor and ability to really listen. I completely had no idea of what I was looking for in regard to a design so when Karen agreed to take on my project she had her work cut out for her. After a few meetings and sending back and forth pictures from the internet we came up with a simple design that blossomed into a water-​conscious front yard that includes a new sectional poured concrete pathway, paver driveway and matching pavers on the front porch worthy of being in Sunset Magazine. Her choice of plants compliment and contrast each other beautifully. I kept telling her, «I trust you» on paver choices, plants and such and she didn’t let me down one bit. She was there all the way to the end making sure the plants were installed in the right places and properly. By the time it was over I felt like Karen was more of a friend than someone I hired. Every time I come home it brings a huge smile to my face! If I’m outside, everyone that walks by comments on how amazing it looks. I HIGHLY recommend contacting her.

After an initial consultation that included our sharing magazine photos and a wish list, owner Karen Hunt pitched to me a detailed and very inclusive proposal for landscape design. It included a preliminary landscape plan and follow up review meeting, a final landscape plan, and help with sourcing the plants and overseeing installation. There were FAQ’s that answered my questions: What if I change the design before the install? What if some of my plants die?
The preliminary design (full color!) caught most of our wish list; we tweaked things like the fencing, focal points and water feature locations. The master plan was attached to suggestions for hiring hardscape bids and irrigation install, and local and internet nurseries and garden centers for plants and water features.
Karen also prepared a plant legend and CD listing all of the trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, grasses and ferns that made up our design. We either picked specimens out together or she ordered them for a wholesaler who delivered them to our yard. She worked with the electrician and landscape installer so that that soil prep, wiring for vines, and fence arch, etc. were done according to plan.
Don’t know if Karen uses our yard in her portfolio, but I hope she does! Meanwhile, she may be back soon to assist with taming our more mature landscaping.
Highly recommended!

Karen Hunt helped me figure out what to do with my terraced back yard to make it functional and beautiful. I had a few ideas of what I wanted, but she helped me solidify it into a workable plan. She had me look at landscaping photos and tell her the kinds of things I liked to help her design a garden I would love. My random ideas of wanting an herb garden and fruit trees interspersed in my easy-​care rock garden were put together in ways I hadn’t considered. Karen is very easy to work with and you can tell she likes what she does. I highly recommend her and her landscaping service.

Several months ago I took the long ride down to visit some dear friends in San Carlos who I hadn’t seen since the holidays. When I pulled up to the their house and parked I thought I was at the wrong place; it had been completely transferred — colorful trees, a water fountain, new slate, new steps, different ground covering, up lighting (which is why I didn’t recognize the place), it was unbelievably beautiful. I asked who did it and they said a neighbor. Shortly thereafter I called their neighbor Karen and begged her to drive to Marin, which she agreed to do. I told her I wanted the same thing as I saw at my friends, and frankly, she delivered big time. She came back a second time with architectural plans on what she was going to do, very complex looking drawings, at a certain point I just said «go with it» — it took a couple weeks for the total install to happen, she re-​plumbed the whole irrigation system, dug up some driveway cement and put major bamboo in to ad extra privacy, lots of up lighting between the bamboo and so many plants I never heard of, including lots of ferns and native grasses.
Seriously, Karen knows what she’s doing. I’m happy to talk to anyone who has questions about how she works. Awesome job, Karen, and thanks!