You may want to contact APLD for a member list. Word of mouth referals come from talking to people in your area who have recently had landscapes built that you like on homes similar in style and value to yours. You mentioned that you are in a rural area which would make one assume that there is not a lot of properties that would fit the description above. That really cuts down on the opportunity for word of mouth referal. Because of that limitation, I think you have the choice of trying to complicate the process, or to just dive in and speak directly with people offering these services in order to try to find one that you are comfortable with and is interested in your project. You will wind up doing that no matter how you determine who you will call. I'm suggesting that it might take less time and effort to start there given that most rural areas do not have a huge long list of LAs and LDs in the yellow pages. I would not discount those that do not advertise heavily. This is a business that requires a lot of time invested in a project before you actually get a signed contract to work - driving out to meet client, spending time discussing project, walk through the project, show portfolio and self promote, define the scope of work, and write up a proposal. Advertising heavily draws lots of dead leads which burn up a lot of time. Consequently, busier people tend to advertise less in order to avoid that wasted time. Word of mouth referals are much better to the designer because they tend to match the profile of the people who he already has done work for therefore having a much higher liklihood of getting the work. There are several things working against you that is going to limit the response to you. I'm not trying to rain on the parade, but only to point out how it is viewed from the other end of the phone line. 1. You are in a rural area - Often landscaping is a keep up with the Jonses thing. If the Jonses don't have much, the Smith's are not usually looking for much either. It also means more time invested in trying to get the work due to the distance. 2. You are going to implement the job over a longer period of time. That will deflate any design/build company because they translate that to mean that you don't want to spend any money on having them build it or you want to do some of it yourself. 3. A small budget to start with. - This combined with the above is going to make a prospective LD/LA think twice about taking the time to pursue the job. This is because they know they have to make their income on the design alone since there will be little opportunity to manage the project or sell materials. Designers learn very early on that when the budget is low people don't tend to spend a grand or two on a design. While it is not always true, it is not a productive segment of the market, so it is usually avoided. What a potential client sees to be an opportunity for a designer can also be seen as a high potential of a lot of time and effort invested in a low paying job with a very slim chance of getting it. What do you expect to pay for a Master Plan?

you might ask the nursery you order you plants from. You being in TN, may I suggest some friends of mine. I dont know if they do designwork, but I am sure they could help you find some one local. Hidden Springs Nursery 170 Hidden Springs lane Cookevile, TN 38501 Here is a link that might be useful: Hidden Spring nursery

I would recommend planting things that are appropriate for your zone(9) and won't be lost in any freezes. You don't want to spend all that money only to have to replant due to that. Anything tender should go in a pot that way you can replace it easily--much moreso than if you have 20 of them in a border. How long have you been in Florida? If you're new to it I would recommend you go visit botanical gardens, hook up with a local garden club, and go to small, independent garden centers often to garner ideas--they actually really care there. I especially recommend the places that sell things appropriate for the seasons--not the ones that sell petunias and snapdragons in the summer because even March is waaaaay too late for those. Read books on Florida gardening and abandon all those books you had up North--it's time to embrace the Sunshine State and forget about hostas, lily of the valley, and lilac. Now you can have gingers, palms, plumbago, bromeliads and orchids. I recommend Pamela Crawford's Florida Gardening series--including the Stormscaping because...GUESS WHAT...you will experience hurricanes and learn a lot through them. I learned to garden based on those and my garden got even better! Also read The Florida Gardener's Book of Lists and books on the native plants as well. You will want to see what actually grows. Anything by Monica Brandies is like gold as well! Read her shade gardening book...it opened my eyes! A landscape designer, in my opinion is very valuable because unlike the salespeople at the garden centers (who--and I have 7 years of experience at them--have to run between the hundreds of people who want plants everyday) they can spend oodles of time with you...because hey...you're paying for the consult! And they can go see your home too! I always felt that people who come into a garden center and bring in their plans, drawings, doodles cheat the system...arrrrg, but don't get me going...LOL Drive by a home whose garden you love and ask who helped them! It's not bad to pay maybe $50 to have someone consult your garden and introduce you to things...point out the plants they know will work! And a really good landscape designer knows how to filter all that you say and deliver! Too bad I'm in New York now or I'd help you, but I have much of my heart in Florida still! Whatever you do don't plant much now or try to handle more than one bed at a time...start with one area that you want to improve and give it your all. Plant SHADE trees. Don't stick a Queen Palm in your yard and then complain about your air conditioning bill. Plant weeping Yaupon Holly, Crape Myrtle (loses its leaves in the winter but is to die for when spring and summer come!), White Gieger, Southern Magnolia, Bottlebrush...and more! You will actually appreciate stepping out into the shade and not baking right away! Your yard will love it too because most plants appreciate the shade come summer! And once you have those planted...and I'd plant the biggest you can afford...plant shrubs and groudcovers. You will find plumbago, indian hawthorn, arboricola, and viburnum to be extremely hardy. Learn that if you want flowers you will have to change your attitude towards them--perennials do exist in Florida, but not like your northern green thumb will remember them. I tried many and they failed--so I turned to amaryllis, bulbine, bromeliads, and colorful shrubs. I especially love thryallis and duranta! You will find that container gardens will give you room to experiment and change out as needed. One of my favorites for sunny areas is Dipladenia. Crown of thorns, agaves and succulents are superb for their ability to be virtually ignored, but give back so much more! You will find hoya and succulents of all kinds are AWESOME for how little they need...and they're great and very long lasting in hanging baskets. I tried doing petunias and such things but they only lasted maybe 5 months if planted in October. Once I planted succulent hanging baskets I did not turn back because they LIVED. As you see...I can go on and on...

If you are near Harrisburg, there are a few very good garden centers. Highland Gardens usually has unusual plant material - Trees, shrubs, conifers, perennials. They have a particularly good selection of shade perennials and many kinds of annuals. This staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. Ashcombe's Farm near Dillsburg has a very good selection of trees, shrubs, perennials and again the staff is very helpfu as well as knowledgeable. They also have a homey restaurant and interior decor items which makes a whole day for me! Country Market is very near Ashcombe's and has in the past had a wonderful selection of unusual annuals. They were bought last year by Stauffer's of Kissel Hill so their stock may be different this year. Hope you find what you are looking for. Pat