Grounded Living

Paver patio, stone fire pit, stone steps, and wooden pergola by BTS Landscaping

THE CHALLENGE

The homeowners of this property had just completed a major building renovation and were ready to turn their attention outside. What started as a request to redo the rear yard and possibly add a deck quickly grew into something bigger. They needed a partner who could take a fragmented outdoor space, front and back, and turn it into a cohesive, functional landscape, all while working around a hard deadline: a grandchildren's birthday party already on the calendar.

Wooden pergola, stone retaining wall, and mulch garden by BTS Landscaping

OUR APPROACH

Working closely with the homeowners to understand their vision for the space, BTS Landscaping built the project around:

Stone & Paver Terrace – Created a defined outdoor gathering space with a durable, natural-stone surface built for everyday use.

Modular Retaining Walls – Addressed the property's grade changes, giving the landscape structure and a sense of permanence.

Intensive Planting Design – Layered perennials and shrubs throughout the front and back yards for color, texture, and year-round interest.

Fire Pit with Pea Gravel Surround – Positioned as an evening gathering spot, extending the usability of the yard into the cooler hours.

Vegetable Garden – A fenced, raised-bed garden space that brings a working, garden-to-table element to the property.

Front Yard Landscaping – Refreshed foundation plantings and hardscape transitions to give the home's exterior a finished, welcoming look after the renovation.

Pergola – Design led by BTS to complement the new outdoor living space, bringing shade and structure to the layout. (Built by others.)

Pergola, stone retaining walls, garden beds, fire pit patio by BTS Landscaping

THE RESULTS

What began as a simple backyard refresh became a full property transformation. The rear yard now offers defined spaces for gathering, cooking, and relaxing, tied together by a planting design that layers texture and color. Out front, the property has a real sense of arrival, with structured plantings and hardscape that finally match the quality of the home itself. Despite a tight deadline and a difficult weather season, the project was completed on time, in time for the family's celebration.

KEY FEATURES

✔ Hardscape: Stone and paver terrace, modular retaining walls
✔ Gardens: Layered perennial and shrub plantings throughout
✔ Outdoor Living: Fire pit with pea gravel surround
✔ Vegetable Garden: Fenced, raised-bed garden space
✔ Curb Appeal: Refreshed front yard plantings and hardscape transitions
✔ Structures: Pergola (design led by BTS)

Landscaped backyard with pergola, stone terrace, layered garden beds, and lawn surrounding a renovated home

Outdoor fire pit patio with Adirondack chairs, pea gravel, stone retaining wall, and landscaped garden beds

Perennial garden beds, ornamental grasses, evergreen tree, and stone walkway

Stone walkway connecting landscaped garden areas with raised vegetable garden beds and outdoor seating

Side yard landscaping with layered foundation plantings, stone walkway, lawn, and mature trees

Backyard fire pit patio surrounded by pea gravel, Adirondack chairs, stone pathways, and layered garden beds

Fenced vegetable garden with raised beds and colorful decorative glass accents overlooking a wooded backyard

Stone walkway through layered perennial gardens connecting the home to an outdoor pergola and seating area

Backyard with pergola, stone retaining walls, garden beds, fire pit patio, and outdoor seating

Garage entrance with stone walkway, foundation plantings, mulch beds, and decorative gravel driveway

Front landscape with mature trees, natural stone edging, layered plantings, and a curved garden bed

Garage walkway with stacked firewood, landscaped garden beds, ornamental grasses, and stone paver path

Backyard landscape with evergreen tree, perennial garden beds, stone patio, and pergola beside the home

Layered garden bed with ornamental grasses, shrubs, natural stone accents, and paver walkway beside outdoor steps

Backyard fire pit patio with Adirondack chairs, pea gravel, paver borders, and landscaped garden beds

Backyard landscape with wooden pergola, stone patio, layered perennial gardens, and lawn surrounding the home

Landscaped patio with evergreen tree, ornamental grasses, perennial beds, stone walkway, and outdoor living area

Backyard landscape with stone walkway, fire pit patio, layered garden beds, and outdoor seating surrounded by trees

Stone paver walkway bordered by layered garden beds, ornamental grasses, and shrubs leading to a backyard pergola

Side yard with stone paver walkway, curved garden bed, ornamental plantings, and stacked firewood

Walkway with layered perennial gardens, stone patio, pergola, fire pit, and Adirondack seating area

What Homeowners Are Saying

TESTIMONIAL

“We chose BTS Landscaping after receiving a recommendation from our contractor. My wife and I met with Tom Pannorfi to discuss the type of plants and colors we preferred. After our initial meeting, Tom presented us with a detailed proposal for our project. We reviewed the proposal and discussed the next steps.

Tom’s presentation was professionally done and included a comprehensive plan of all the plantings, as well as a PowerPoint presentation that described each plant we were considering. We were impressed with the quality of his work and decided to move forward with the project.

We had a big party planned for our grandchildren’s birthday, and Tom and his team worked tirelessly to complete the job by the deadline. Despite the challenging weather conditions of that year, they managed to finish the project on time.

We followed every recommendation Tom gave us to ensure that our project turned out exactly as we had envisioned. We have continued to use BTS Landscaping for other small projects and would highly recommend their services to anyone in need of landscaping services.”

— Tom and Donna Ficcio