Naturalistic Landscape Design and Installation Since 1984

Specializing in native plants and whole property residential gardens
Current projects in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York

big gestures

“ ‘Large spaces in the country call for a large treatment, a big gesture,’ Duncan Brine believes.
‘Nature is big…I like big plants and big flowers for big spaces.
And things in mass, because it gives them a natural feeling.’

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Also, he points out, ‘Having large plants occupy the space makes it much easier to care for than if you have a whole bunch of small stuff.’
His desire to ‘find the connection’ with a site dictates his landscapes.
‘It doesn’t make sense to do arbitrary things,’ he says.
‘The plants, the buildings, the site are all connected.’ ”

– Hudson Valley Magazine, Best of the Hudson Valley, Lynn Hazlewood

“The house is the soul of the property,” and should relate accordingly to the gardens and views.

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When planting, mix up the foreground and background in a planting, he suggests, breaking a fairly traditional gardening rule.

Traditionally, tall plants are in back. He suggests planting something large and transparent in front, like grasses…
The use of native plants is very important. Non-native plants, Brine explained, can behave in a “thuggish” way and maul both the look of the landscape and the chemistry of the soil.”

– The News Times, HomeStyle, Deb Keiser

“Horticultural Design specializes in the renovation of older estates whose new owners want a complete overhaul.”

– Taconic Press Weekend, Mark Adams

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“Brine’s landscaping style is best suited to larger gardens, although he usually designs in stages… “If you’re standing on a street looking at a house, my proposal would be to plant from the curb to the house - have the whole thing planted except the walkways. That’s my basic approach. Not that there’s never a lawn. If you need a place to play, or an open view, then there’s lawn. But it’s basically plants.”

Clients have so far happily accepted his suggestions. “Once they get a great-looking garden, they say ‘why not extend it?’” he remarks. And that’s an idea Duncan Brine can understand.”

– Hudson Valley Magazine, Best of the Hudson Valley, Lynn Hazlewood