Why is one quote higher and should you take the low bid?

by Ben Bowen

Everyone wants a deal. I get it. So you have three bids, from three landscape companies. Why is one bid higher than the others? Should you just go with the low bid?

There is often a good reason one bid is higher. And sometimes that means you would be wise to pay it. But there are projects where the low bidder probably makes sense. I will explain it all here:

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Are Portland Landscapes Getting More Modern?

by Ben Bowen

Clean, sleek, sophisticated. This not how I would describe a typical Portland landscape. Our gardens are lush and rowdy. Portland is full of gorgeous gardens- but very few modern ones.

Is that changing? Is Portland on the cusp of embracing a more modern landscape design aesthetic?

I think so, for a couple reasons:

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Portland's Lan Su Chinese Garden Admission Free For 9 Days!

by Ben Bowen

For 9 days in January you can get free admission to the excellent Lan Su Chinese Garden. 

If you have never been to the Chinese Garden you are missing out! The garden is small, but every square inch is covered with intricate beauty.

For more on the Chinese Garden's Nine Free Days check out the full post.

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Our Favorite Things: Bluestone

by Ben Bowen

Here at Ross NW Watergardens we love stone. Mica slate, river rock, Mexican pebbles, gravel, decomposed granite, basalt... and probably some other ones I am forgetting. 

Bluestone, however, has a special place in our hearts.

We don't use it the most often and it's not right for every landscape design client. But when we do utilize bluestone it's fantastic.

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Restoring A West Linn Japanese Garden

by Ben Bowen

I am sure it was a beautiful garden at one time. But over the years it had really suffered. Plants had been sheared into balls. The water feature had been taken apart and put back together badly. Random plants had sprouted in odd places. Trees had been mangled by storms.

Could this mature landscape be saved? Perhaps even be restored to something better? Check out the first batch of pictures from phase 1 of this large renovation!

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Kid Friendly Landscape Design

by Ben Bowen

"Kid friendly landscaping" is a landscape design style or attitude that your family will love.

During the summer, when Portland's weather is sublime, your kids will want to be out in the yard exploring and enjoying. A landscape can be both kid friendly and beautiful- really, it can!

What are key elements of kid friendly landscapes?

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