Genus Loci Ecological Landscapes Inc.

Significant (front/back/side of a 1/3 acre lot) design & build landscape project just completed with Genus-Loci. We have been delighted with the quality of their work and professionalism of their staff from start to finish.

Initial contact/meeting was with Jean-Marc who then got Simon involved in preparing the design plan after meetings with us. The detailed design plans were prepared on time and with regular communication throughout to ensure that the plan reflected all of our needs and wants. We appreciated the many creative suggestions and solutions Simon came up with throughout the process - no question in our minds that he put a lot of time into it.

The build part was split in 3 phases (front, back side), with the same foreman (Howie) in charge for all. Howie worked incredibly hard and made sure his crews did too - the work is first rate and end result demonstrates it. Kudos to Genus-Loci for some really great suggestions "on the fly" - we made a bunch of minor changes to the design during the build based on thier suggestions and all have contributed to a great end result.

We still have some planting, lighting and other work to be completed in 2012 and will be working with Genus-Loci to complete those items, based on our positive experience with them this year.

I can't say enough about happy we are. And our friends and neighbors have also gushed - about the quality of the design and the workmanship.

Lastly, re: cost - we price tested various elements of the project and Genus-Loci's pricing was fair. In hindsight, there may be some who would have done the job for less, but I am not sure how the workmanship would have been. On the other hand, there are many landscapers who would have done the same job for much more. There were some unexpected issues that came up during the build that resulted in some cost overruns, but Genus-Loci handled them extremely fairly.

All around, no complaints - we would not hesitate to recommend them (and already have to friends and neighbours).

In under two weeks Genus Loci transformed a very plain garden into a magical oasis. The focal point is a a majestic 25ft x 8ft pond with a waterfall. Each stone was painstakingly placed and there is a rock on which each member of our family can sit. The majority of the shrubs and plants used are native so the maintenance is very low. The Genus Loci team were courteous, professional and hard working. The project was completed on time and on budget.

We researched for quite some time to find the right firm to design and build our natural swimming pond on our farm property. Genus Loci appeared to have the experience, processes and approach we were looking for.

The project started on schedule, finished on schedule and stayed within the budget we had established with them at the onset. The Genus Loci team were knowledgable, professional and very hard working.

Our family is thrilled with the outcome, and we would certainly use them again and recommend them to anyone thinking of doing a project such as this one.

Though we were worried that it wouldn't be "kid friendly", our backyard has been transformed into a nurturing and entertaining haven for all. Through a collaborative effort, guided by a qualified team of professionals in their respective fields, we watched our dream backyard become a timely reality that exceeded our vision and stayed true to our budget! Our backyard "sings" - from the custom built sunk-in fire pit (think smores) and surrounding stone seating wall, to the pergolla and built-in BBQ counter, and all the jems in between (lights and music for the kids in the hottub). Our once modest backyard is now a seemingly larger space with functional outdoor "rooms", a sublime sense of privacy, and unique views along all sightlines. It truly captures our vision of an outdoor Zen "staycation". Thank you Genus Locus for a job well done! The Drudge Family

May 25, 2010
Genus Loci did a beautiful job building our pond and waterfall. They made it look as if Nature herself had put it there! It has given our property a special energy that is, in turn, energizing us. We can't compliment them enough on their organization, skill, and artistry.

From start to finish Genus Loci was an absolute pleasure to work with. Their attention to detail, and ability to listen and understand their clients' needs and wants was impressive. They truly succeeded in transforming a small backyard into a charming courtyard…an oasis only a few steps from our home. Genus Loci went above and beyond to ensure that the entire experience was fun, and personal. The value of their expertise was priceless. We would highly recommend their services.
Hired September 2009

Here is my thank you letter to Simon and Jean-Marc:

Dear Jean-Marc and Simon,

Vivien and I found our home quite unexpectedly. An unfortunate circumstance provided us the opportunity to visit real-estate properties. From the time we set our feet upon the earth around our place we felt a call — an invitation to explore further. We felt it at that time, but didn’t understand. It was just a piece of land with a house on it. How could there be anything spiritual or soulful drawing us in?

We decided to acquire the property and although the convolutions of life ebbs and flows one’s spirits, we have always felt anchored and at peace here. We felt something else though. It is impossible to express with one or two words what the energy was that we felt around us. There was a sense of harmony between us and the environment, but on the other hand there was a feel of burgeoning unsettlement. We felt a need from around us for something — but what?

I felt that construction of our home in this conservation area destroyed significant habitat and had left a very unstable landscape. Many mature trees were in slow decline, we noticed fewer fauna around the property, and neighbours were constructing on their properties with even less regard for these issues.

Somewhat by coincidence we found your company. We liked your ideas of landscaping with minimal ecologic impact. Your expertise in this area gave us confidence in your ideas. We hired you to design and build a landscape around our house that would restore some of what was destroyed. It was the least we could do, we thought, and yet the work would likely not restore the ecology to the nature of what had been here.

This project turned into a massive undertaking fraught with obstacles of every type. But I have found this to be true of anything worthwhile in life. The value of a thing is only understood by the difficulty to achieve it.

And now it is done.

The professionalism of you and your crew helped to carry us through one event after another and in more ways than one you facilitated a successful completion of the project. You carried our stresses on your shoulders so that we wouldn’t have to.

Although the project demanded more of you and your resources than any of us expected, I know that your creations here will forever contain some of your spirit. Vivien and I will do everything within our power as long as we live here to keep that spirit resonating.

From the natural pool that you created, frogs sing. From the Birches in the back that replace those wise ones lost, I hear the wind sigh happily. From the Sumacs and Dogwoods in the front, and the ferns in between, sits a single turtle looking out to the road. He is at peace. So are we all. We are home again and it is far beyond any home our dreams could have conjured.

Thank you for recapturing the spirit of our place.

Right from their first visit to our property, we got the impression that Genus Loci would be good people to deal with. An honest and co-operative approach was particularly important because of the nature of our pond project, where a significant portion of the total expenditure had to be based on time and material. We were not dissappointed, as we indeed found that both management and staff fully met our expectations. We were, at all times, kept informed and involved and with the good cost tracking we landed very close to the initial budget. Our revitalized pond and surrounding landscaping looks wonderful and has enhanced our property very significantly. We couldn't be happier.
John and Mary Harbom

I worked with them one summer while doing my graduate studies in urban planning. I knew when I hired them later on for my own property that I would be receiving service with integrity, knowledge and enthusiasm. I was not disappointed. I recommend Genus Loci for anyone who cares about the environment and their garden.