Testimonials

Our backyard is fairly small and shady. When we bought our house, the yard consisted of a crab grass infested lawn and a small set of stairs leading up to the back door. We were looking for a design that would allow us to entertain, have lots of different plants, but would be easy to maintain. Susan struck us right away with her friendly and relaxed attitude; she had great ideas for our space right at the first consult. Susan took a long time to listen to our ideas and thoughts about the space and came up with a great master plan that managed to incorporate most of the different elements we were looking for (deck, patio, stone path, shade garden, fragrant flowers and trees, etc.). We really enjoyed working with Susan. We never felt rushed or pushed into a direction we did not want to go, and she was very patient in dealing with our many questions and requests. We could not be happier with the final result! The space seems so much larger now, but with an intimate backyard oasis feel. It looks like something out of the garden design books we pored over. There is even enough space to have a dozen people over without feeling too crowded! And imagine our surprise when we were told that the garden should only require minimal watering throughout the year.”

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Michael & Amna, Needham
We love the work that Susan and her team did for us. After several years of considering to redo our backyard and meeting with several landscape designers, Susan really stood out and gave us the confidence that she understood our goals and was more than capable of managing the entire project from starting design to installation. It has been over 5 years since they installed the new landscape and it is something we eagerly await each spring. We now have a fabulous outdoor living space which we enjoy year round Last summer they redid our front yard and we have received many compliments since from neighbors strolling up the street. Susan and her team were very professional, patient, and down to earth with us.”

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Christina L., Lexington
We had difficulties for years trying to grow perennials and vegetables in our shady back yard. Susan developed an excellent design after we discussed our needs. She was a pleasure to work with during the entire process, from our first meeting, to more detailed discussions of the plans, to overseeing the installation of the design by the landscape contractor. We felt that she listened to us closely and came up with a design that met all our needs and made great suggestions for an interesting, relaxing and workable space. We are delighted with the new garden in every way!”

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Jeannie H. & Lorna G., Jamaica Plain
When we bought our home four years ago, we were drawn to it because of the lot size. Unfortunately, the landscaping was overgrown, outdated, unattractive, and unimaginative. My husband and I didn’t know exactly what we wanted, but we knew we didn’t want the same old boring, generic landscaping we see everywhere. We hired Susan Opton and Terrascapes because Susan approached landscaping from a fresh perspective and presented options to us that were unique and attractive. She took into consideration how plants would look “out of season” as well as in season, which means that in the winter, our landscape looks just as attractive as in the spring and summer months. Because our property is on the larger side, Susan put together a master plan that will allow us to evolve our landscape with our budget over time. The other piece that Susan brought to us was the ability to design “hard scapes.” Susan designed and oversaw the building of two sets of stone stairs, a small courtyard, and a large 1,000 square foot terrace. These structures have enhanced the look of our home tremendously and we get compliments on this work all the time. Susan was great to work with and really listened to us. She was patient and willing to make changes along the way when it seemed like the right thing to do. I would highly recommend working with her and would be happy to answer any questions you have.

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Michael & Jeannine, Needham
I can’t say enough good things about Terrascapes after having worked with them for over five years. Susan designed a total transformation our large and challenging yard/garden in 2015, with an emphasis on creating ‘spaces’, not just putting in plants. Her gardening team have worked closely with us on maintenance ever since. The garden is magnificent and brings my whole family joy every day.”

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Carolyn T., Brookline
Susan has transformed our backyard! Before it was just a rectangle of grass with one large tree and a deck that required constant maintenance. Now, it is full of beautiful plants and trees and my favorite thing-a stone patio with a sitting wall. Susan was so helpful and knowledgeable abut all aspects of our project. Choosing the right plants, the fence and the patio. It is fun to work with her. She is so patient and easy to talk to. I really enjoyed working with her and consider her a friend now. One of the qualities of Susan’s work that I appreciated the most is her follow through and tenacity to get everything just right. She was always quick to fix any problem we had during installation. I love the variety of beautiful plants and trees she chose and her attention to detail and design. Our backyard is so beautiful now and I always give all the credit to Susan when people compliment it.”

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Lynn B., Needham
Terrascapes was a real pleasure to work with from concept and design right through to the preparation and installation. We could not have been more thrilled with the results. Susan listened carefully to our descriptions of what we wanted, asked lots of good questions, and made excellent suggestions. She came up with many ideas that we liked and a few that did not suit our tastes, but she never seemed annoyed when we told her that something just didn’t excite us. Her knowledge of plants and landscaping opened up possibilities of which we had never even thought. We could tell that she took great pride in her work and that she truly wanted to see us be happy with the end result. Since the installation took place fairly late this past summer, this next spring and summer should be a very special time when the full beauty of the landscaping becomes apparent.”

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Richard, Needham