The full Riverside picture - process, portfolio, before-and-afters, the materials we work in, the plants we lean on, and a year-round view of how a designed landscape lives.
Every project moves through five phases. Timelines vary by scope, but this is the rhythm most of our coastal estate projects follow.
Site walk, scope conversation, and initial fit call. Free and no obligation.
Site survey, master plan, planting scheme, 3D renderings, and cost estimates.
Final scope, budget, schedule. Permits where needed. Then we go to order.
Hardscape, grading, planting, and finish work - executed by our in-house crew.
Seasonal care plan to keep the landscape true to its original design intent.
Full master plan, hardscape, planting design, and construction. 6-12 month engagement.
Drag any slider to see the transformation
A directional range only. Real numbers come after a site visit and design conversation.
Range based on typical Maine coastal projects. Final budget shaped by site, materials, and scope. Talk to us →
Split-face and thermal finishes. Walls, terraces, steps. Ages with the lichen.
Thermal-finish patios and pool surrounds. Cool to the touch in August sun.
Weathers to soft silver. Pergolas, fences, raised beds.
Drought-tolerant fine fescues. Mow once a month, not once a week.
Shaded paths and stepping stones. Walks like velvet, holds the soil.
Planters, fountains, water blades. Patinas to verdigris over a few seasons.
A working subset. Final plant lists are tuned to your site's soil, light, exposure, and intent.
Salt-tolerant evergreen. Holds dunes, hosts nesting birds.
Crimson fall. Edible berries. State plant of Maine.
Deep-rooted, drought-proof. Holds form through winter wind.
Lavender plumes July-August. Hummingbirds and bumblebees.
Edible. Spectacular fall color. Backbone of mixed borders.
Steel-blue summer, copper winter. Erosion control on slopes.
Maine's signature. Soft needles, sculpted in salt wind.
Yellow ribbon flowers in November - the last bloomer.
Design boards, plant orders, contract reviews.
Local approvals, soil samples, scope locks.
Site walks, equipment service, crew onboarding.
Bed cleanup, edge re-cuts, early plantings.
Hardscape and major install kicks off.
Perennials in. Stone walls and steps wrap.
Pruning, deadheading, irrigation tuning.
Mid-season walk-throughs and adjustments.
Bulbs, cool-season divisions, seeding.
Trees and shrubs go in. Best time of year.
Cut back, mulch, irrigation blowouts.
Walk-through, season debrief, next year planning.
We work across Mount Desert Island and the broader Down East and Midcoast regions of Maine. Most projects sit within a 45-mile arc of our Mount Desert headquarters.
For projects beyond this region, we're selective about fit. Get in touch and we'll tell you honestly whether we're the right team.
The structural elements - stonework, evergreens, seed heads - that carry a coastal garden through four feet of snow.
Read article →The case for building Maine gardens around the species that already know how to thrive here.
Read article →How we reversed 40 years of lawn-first decisions and returned a Blue Hill farmhouse to its original plan.
Read article →Every project begins with a deep understanding of the site, its ecology, and how people will inhabit it. Riverside reads a property better than anyone we've worked with.
Tell us about your property and what you're envisioning. We'll reply within two business days.
