We have a very large koi pond in Manhattn Bch,ca. Before you let a regular landscape contractor put in a koi pond, I would checkwith a koi farm. (try phone book) groups have tours of gardens with koi ponds; the ponds are trickier than they seem, herons are nasty predators and its hot where you are. You have to weave all that into the design. Asahi koi in Gardena, ca. has info about the koi society. Our koi are huge and some are 30 years old.

I agree with Marcinde and Gardengal.....I have been an independent designer for 20 yrs. Worked for years with a contractor like the one described. Made him lots of money but he never saw the value of what I brought to the table. No more. I now work with several wonderful, top-notch contractors who realize they are not designers (and don't want to be) and are glad to refer me to their potential clients. (and I to them!) I charge an initial 1 hour "consultation fee" to meet with the client, give my best advice and suggestions, and discuss how to best proceed. (Sometimes the contractor pays this....usually the client does.) If more time and further design fees are needed....the client pays. If the client then signs a contract with the landscaper to do the work, I receive a commission on the total project. This covers my additional time involved in the project....hand selecting plants with the client, spacing plants on site,making decisions about changes from the plan, looking for containers, holding clients hands etc. without my having to "nickel and dime" them every time I visit the job site or look for a special plant or pot. We work as a team.....designer, contractor and client. It has been a win-win for all of us. I LOVE my job!

I don't have a KD recommendation, but I was very pleased with my contractor, David Dunshee of Double D Construction, 443-324-4486. He lives in Frederick, which is just up 270 from Potomac/Rockville. He's reasonable, flexible, communication is excellent, and the carpentry and attention to detail is first class. He pays attention to the schedule and gets in his subs like clockwork; stuff happened every day and I was done (except for a couple of minor items) in 7 weeks, including time to get the floors refinished on the entire ground floor. I would not hesitate to use his firm again.

Looking for recommendations for landscape deisgners north of Boston area. I'm not looking for someone who charges thousands just for a design though. But someone who can design and implement some additions to my backyard including hardscape. Thinking of adding a paver walkway to connect patio to pool deck and shed, and some other ways to incorporate a cohesive backyard design.