Hi, Greengardener, I am in Clarksville and I would like the answers to your questions too. I have a backyard that has tremendous possibilities, I just don't know where to start. I would love to have somebody take my vision and tell me how to accomplish what I want and in what order. I don't know where to start either. Thanks for asking this.

Cheryl

Landscape architects and landscape designers are similar professions, but usually landscape architects have a degree in landscape architecture and are licensed while landscape designers are not required to have a degree or to be licensed. A plant designer usually works with indoor plant designs or garden displays instead of entire landscapes. Sounds like you would need either a landscape architect or landscape designer depending on your budget and the scope of what you have in mind.

One thing that might help you greatly in narrowing down what you want and how you want it is to visit as many public gardens and other private gardener's landscapes as you can. Maybe someone from this forum, that lives in the Nashville area, could point you in the direction of some interesting gardens in your area. If you know any fellow gardeners in your area, ask them to point you to some of their favorite garden places or even give their input and ideas about your project.

If I lived in Nashville, I would drop by. I am currently in the process of designing and building my own 25 acre arboretum. Now I look at most yard designs as far less challenging.