– by Barry Mathias –
This is part of a rotating series of articles on members of Sidney Meet Up Women’s Networking Group, featuring women in business on the Saanich Peninsula.
“My passion is beauty,” says Katie Kroeker, who, with her husband and business partner Merle Kroeker, established Pacific Ridge Landscapes in Sidney just a year ago. “We do one contract at a time, and are booked up in advance for 4 to5 jobs. It’s very exciting.”
Katie and Merle have 10 years’ experience of landscaping in and around Edmonton. Merle had a background in graphic design, but discovered he had a flair for landscaping, while Katie had a design background, and they discovered they excelled as a working couple. “I have an eye for beauty,” Katie says, “and we approach each landscape design with no preconceived ideas.”
They are landscape designers and landscape architects, and can take their customers through the full gamut of first meeting, discussing the design, arranging the contractors, and completing the construction. “We also do consulting,” says Katie, “which for some customers, is all they need.”
Pacific Ridge Landscapes undertake projects that may last weeks or months. “We like variety and aim for seamless transition from the agreed design to completion.” Katie explains that she and her husband have independent ideas that they discuss until a final picture of the end result is achieved. “The best idea wins,” Katie says. “It does not matter whose it is.”
Many of their customers have definite ideas, which may be exactly right in all respects, or may, through discussion be refined and improved. “Some clients have only the vaguest ideas of what they want,” Katie explains. “It is our job to explore the possibilities, and achieve a consensus.” Sometimes their customers will say that they want a water garden, and leave the details to Merle and Katie to design. “We love creating complex water gardens,” Katie says.
If you want to see the impressive range of this company’s creations, visit their web page: www.pacificridgelandscapes.com to view tphotographs of their work. “We strive to positively impact the world around us.”
Pacific Ridge Landscapes has, in the last few days, launched a web-based design service. This allows people to go online and devise and agree a plan with Katie and Merle that is both individual and achievable. “We discuss the project with the client, and they go away and do the work. They measure their plot and agree the materials,” Katie says. “They are doing the time-consuming on-site work and saving themselves a lot of money.” This innovative idea has just been launched, but is expected to create a lot of enthusiasm with garden lovers.
“Summer is the time for implementation, but winter is the time to plan.” Why not invigorate your garden with a new design by contacting Pacific Ridge Landscapes?
