Verne Pershing, The Art of Gardening

We hired Verne to create a beautiful, usable space in our backyard where we could gather around a fire pit, enjoy a hot tub while still feeling like we were in a forest. (we're located in Goldridge Forest). He came up with a plan that was better than we could imagine. He and his hard working crew carved out the space and built an amazing river rock retaining wall around it with so many beautiful native plants. After the project was over, Verne came by on his own several times to check on the irrigation system to make sure everything looked good. He also replaced some plants after the rough winter we had. I highly recommend him and his team.

We didn't know what we wanted to do with our back yard once we tore down our large deck. After a long search and talking to multiple contractors we found Verne on this website. We really liked his natural landscaping approach. After a walk through and discussion we hired Verne and his crew to do the work. They did a great job and everytime we go out to our backyard we are very pleased with the attention to detail and work that was completed. It feels like we have a park in our backyard! There were some extra material but it was used in other parts of the yard and was not wasted. The whole plan was thought out and done to extemeley well. We will need more work to be done on our backyard in the future and will definitely be calling Verne back.

When working with any contractor, I feel it is important to have someone who listens to me-- then offers education and ideas. This person was Verne. We had a tight space to work with, HOA rules/ guidelines to follow, a small job and rainy weather. Linda, my neighbor, and I saw Verne's photos and we had already thought this style of pathway might work. As a part of the project, several plants and irrigation lines needed to be moved. When finished each part of the project was crafted expertly and project site immaculate-we and the neighbors were wowed. One side of this project in our senior community was that this walkway would be easier than a steep set of stairs and could be used by some one with a walker, thus senior friendly.

Verne and his talented, hard-working crew helped create a much more useable parking space along my narrow driveway. I required a few more parking and storage spaces for my wood chipper and splitter and utility trailer which I use in my business. This involved placing a retaining wall and compacted backfill with drainage, followed by road base topping. I always aim to hire local talent and I had seen many of Verne's landscaping installations. Verne had a short response time and was very fair with me. I have worked with many crews and I observe how well people work together and their degree of effectiveness. His guys were incredible in their coordination, professionalism, and honest hard work, not mention friendly demeanor. Their attention to detail and leaving a well completed and very clean site was very much appreciated

I love Verne Pershing. His crew is skilled and fast. Verne himself is a great designer. They built us a wonderful patio on a significantly sloped hill. He did it on time and on budget. We are thrilled with the final product and plan to have Verne Pershing and his crew back in 2019 to add a waterfall feature. Can't wait for that! I highly recommend Verne Pershing, The Art of Gardening.

The photo behind Verne is from our garden when it looked great at the beginning! Verne's crew did a good job on resurfacing the walkways and building the mossy rocks. But it should have been a clue to us when he couldn't supply a plant plan, but knew "someone who could for a fee". As spring and summer came on we were losing plants because of ill-placed sprinklers and plants that blocked others. He said he would come out for a "paid service call" and could not provide an irrigation manual. we got one from the manufacturer. We have had to replace many plants and remove invasive plants. A plant and irrigation plan would have prevented these problems. I have gardened many years in the foothills, yet Verne dismissed my knowledge and was very opinionated. I should have known better. Buyer Beware! Get written agreements and quotes, including timelines and work guarantees. And Verne...take down our photos, they are being used without permission

Verne and his team are top notch! They do beautiful work and went above and beyond to make sure our project was exactly what you wanted. Verne is truly an artist and is full of great ideas. We had a very unattractive and illegal retaining wall that the county insisted on removing when we purchased the property. Verne made our vision of a stairway come true keeping it consistent with the rural landscape. He and his team were a pleasure to work with and we can't wait for our next project!!

We had our thirsty large lawn replace with a native meadow grass landscape and we could not be happier. Just one year later our yard is filled with butterflies, bees and birds. Verne has an incredible knowledge of plants and his attention to detail is amazing. His entire crew was amazing to work with. They were complete professionals. I finally have the yard I've always wanted and would absolutely recommend Verne and his team to transform your outdoor space.

Verne and his crew installed pathways to our pool shed and in our back and side yards. Verne's crew did an excellent job with the installation work. Verne is extremely knowledgeable and very experienced and has the gift of converting plain yards into beautiful spaces. We had a difficult time getting him to commit to a start day, but once he started he and his crew were here daily.

Our Koi must think they went to heaven! Actually, they are in a Verne Pershing Pond Creation. Before the work ever began, Verne and his creative collaborator Cary Friar, sat, stood, & meandered around our backyard for days – at different times of the day – before ever moving any earth, as their minds formed this creation. Then they shared their plans with us, which my non-visionary mind could not encompass. Luckily my wife’s could, and the unearthing began. Many of the granite rocks showed up on site marked with yellow string, designating a hand-selected rock with a specific placement in mind. It was amazing to watch the movement and dry setting of the rock, as Verne found the perfect spot for their final placement. Like a magician; a little abracadabra of the pond liner, and within days our pond was born. All right, maybe a little more work than that; as his team worked for endless hours placing those rocks, moving the earth and finalizing our own unbelievable Verne Pershing Pond Creation. The California Native Habitat landscape capped off the design, most of the plants for which were propagated by Verne. After having the pond for a week, we have had the opportunity to look closely at the detail. The rocks fit so naturally into the scene; even the hand-selected rocks for the waterfalls appear to have been eroded by the streaming water over countless years, yet really only in place for a week. We highly recommend a Pond Creation from Verne Pershing, The Art of Gardening. Kathy and Phil Pollard, Rescue, CA November 2017

Verne designed and implemented a fantastic landscape for us in Pollock Pines. His crew worked from sun up to sundown. Such diligent and great workers. We wanted drainage for our front yard and a path with steps to our mailbox. Also lots of rocks and plants. Verne delivered in spectacular fashion. We intend to have him do other landscaping in the future. He has an awesome eye for landscape design. Everything he and his crew did looks completely natural and blend in with our forested property.

After 22 years of having a backyard with grass and a cinder block retaining wall holding back a hillside of blackberries and brush, Vern Pershing and his crew transformed our yard into a beautiful mountain-like setting. By incorporating large boulders and rocks, acquired from a local quarry, Vern and his team, created a beautiful waterfall that cascade into a pond. The pond design included sitting rocks for dunking your feet and a shallow area for the grandkids. To solve our flooding issues with the heavy rains, a dry creek bed was created following the natural drainage of our hill. The overall landscape included native trees, plants and grasses. Our experience with Vern and his crew was very positive. They were extremely knowledgeable on waterfall and pond construction and were always professional, dependable, and trustworthy. Our yard now has a look and feel of the mountains which reminds us of backpacking in the Sierras. We would highly recommend Vern Pershing for anyone looking for a beautiful landscape that incorporates water features and a natural looking setting.