For 30 years has designed gardens rich in biodiversity with deep plant and soil knowledge.
Secret Gardens designs and consults to create gardens rich in biodiversity and environmentally safe and friendly while reflecting each owner's uniqueness. Designs are tastefully original and craftsmanship is refined while being affordable for each particular budget and garden phase. Following are subjects addressed: architectural style, picture windows, privacy, food and herbs, attracting birds and butterflies, soil biological health, furniture and art designs and locations, garden sounds, water in the garden, irrigation design, rich planting design, native and low water plants, seasonal changes, borrowed visual landscapes, water harvesting, proper tree and shrub pruning for each space, healthy soil to reduce pesticides and fertilizers and garden maintenance, finding a garden's ecological balance, garden craftsmenship and architecture, the right maintenance people for each garden project.
Keywords: Garden Design, Environmental Health, Sustainable, Organic, Food Gardens, Soil Health, Native Plants, Ecology, Ecological Gardens, Healing Gardens, Privacy, Urban Agriculture, Biodiversity, Native Plant Gardens, Garden Butterflies, Garden Birds, Soil Biology, Soil Carbon Sequestration, IPM, Herb Gardens, Garden Architecture, landscape design, garden consultations, water harvesting
Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
Since 1979
What is your primary product or service?
Designing gardens and consulting on ecologically sustainable land use issues including water reduction, soil health, and native meadows; the Silicon Valley Water District is wrong when they say: "Brown is the New Green" and we prove it.
How did you first become interested in your line of business? (if owner) - What is your background? (If owner or store manager)
Owner: Gardened in same Silicon Valley location since 1950s; BS Biology/Ecology and Masters in Landscape Architecture. Co-founder and Professor of Urban Landscape architecture program in NYC; Consultant to Singapore to help create "Asia's Garden City"; Master Plan Design for George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch; Napa Valley Vineyard gardens; office garden is a National Wildlife Federation "Certified Wildlife Habitat"; see website for pictures of client before and after and office gardens: www.secretgardens.com
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
Unique and deep environmental background with over 40 years of experience and education on sustainable land use issues
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
One; no plans to expand
Provide detailed directions to your location
1698 Hanchett Avenue, San Jose CA 95128; near the intersection of #280 and #880 in historical Rose Garden neighborhood
What type of payments do you accept?
Checks
Which areas do you service?
Clients all over the Bay Area from St. Helena in the Napa Valley to Morgan Hill, SF to Danville; occasionally have worked on East Coast, Santa Barbara, Hawaii, Washington D.C. and Seattle areas.
Who owns your company or runs daily operations?
Owner and founder, Kathryn Mathewson
What are your hours of operation?
Open Monday through Friday but often out of office due to ongoing consulting work
What is the best compliment anyone can give you?
At a memorial the son said of his father and the garden we created for him: "My father's garden was the culmination of his life's work. He was more proud of it than anything else he did." Another Englishwoman said of the SF garden we created: "This garden is the garden of my dreams."
What is your favorite quote or Bible verse?
Ecclesiastics 3: To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven;
A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill and a time to heal; a time to break down and a time to build up;
A time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourne and a time to dance;
I know that there is no good in them but for a man to rejoice and to do good in his life.
Wherefore, I perceive that there is nothing better than that men should rejoice in his own works; for that is his portion: For who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?
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