Gasper Landscape Design and Construction: Creating your perfect outdoor dreamscape

By Maryanna S. Phinn

On a warm summer evening, have you ever stood outside of your home, closed your eyes and imagined your perfect dream yard, pool or garden? That dream is a reality for many local homeowners thanks to the entire team at Gasper Landscape Design and Construction of Bucks County.

“Our goal is to make sure every job is done perfectly, regardless of its size or complexity,” explains Bob Gasper, owner of the award-winning landscape design and construction firm he founded in 1985. “It starts from the planning phase and the first meeting with our clients at the job site. Everything is done to perfection, from design to completion.”

Gasper Landscape Design and Construction services private homes and estates throughout the Philadelphia region. Its highly-skilled staff includes landscape designers, craftsmen, horticulturists, technicians and professional builders. “Our customers can expect exceptional customer service. Customers work directly with a specific sales designer on our team who becomes their personal contact person from start to finish,” notes Gasper. “The convenience of working with our company is that virtually all of the work is done in-house by our own staff, including landscaping, masonry, pool design and construction oversight and building of all outdoor structures.”

When a homeowner chooses to work with Gasper Landscape on any size project, the experience is always thorough and comprehensive. The initial meeting, usually held on-site, includes discussion of client goals and expectations, as well as conceptual ideas for the project. A site analysis of the property is conducted including photos of existing structures and vegetation, views and water drainage. The initial meeting is followed by a collaborative design process, most often at Gasper Landscape’s corporate office, to review ideas and materials from the firm’s extensive sample library of hardscape and building materials. Clients subsequently receive a detailed proposal and budget for the project broken into installation phases. After an agreement is reached, the work is scheduled, including a timeline for completion. Gasper’s services also include researching and securing building permits from the homeowner’s municipality.

In addition to Gasper Landscape, the company also has a fully-stocked nursery and garden gift shop, called Gasper Home and Garden Showplace. Customers work directly with horticulturists to select seasonal flowers for pool areas, water structures, walkways or along stone walls. They have the opportunity to see and select shrubbery, trees, annuals and perennials, from rare and unusual nursery stock. There is an extensive inventory of stone sculptures, pottery, statuary, water gardening products and patio furniture and accessories.

A European-style home resort in Newtown

One recent custom pool and landscape project that exemplifies the company’s commitment to craftsmanship and quality is the total transformation of the open, non-descript grassy yard of a newly constructed home in Newtown. Gasper Landscape’s designers and construction team created a backyard vacation getaway inspired by Mediterranean themes and architecture.

“The homeowners had specific ideas for their yard, including a resort-style pool,” recalls John Schweizer, the lead landscape designer on the team. The interior of the pool features hand-laid Italian glass tile. The outside decking is set with travertine natural stone. While the pool is shallow at both ends, it also includes a swim-up dining table and seating for lunch or cocktails as well as two sun shelves for children to splash and play. At the far end of the symmetrically designed pool, the focal point is a cascading waterfall originating from an antique olive oil storage vessel. An overhead pergola has its support posts integrated into both the swimming pool and the pool house. A full bath and changing room as well as a storage room are incorporated into the pool house’s design in an unobtrusive way

“In addition to the pool, we designed an open-air loggia supported by masonry columns across the back of the home,” Schweizer explains. It features a living room with a gas fireplace, a dining area, and a full-service custom bar. The design extended beyond the loggia and included an outdoor cooking station and two accessory dining patios. “Our clients and their children use the space almost year round as an extension of their house. They tell us that they feel as though they are always relaxing at a favorite vacation spot,” notes Schweizer.

No matter what the size or scope of a landscape design project, Gasper’s staff is completely committed to providing the best. “We can take an unused or unusable area and make it look totally inviting. As much thought and detail are given to developing smaller, less complex spaces as is given to the larger, total environments Gasper has become known for,” adds Schweizer.

For example, Gasper Landscape provides complete design or refurbishing of existing swimming pools of all sizes or can provide design and construction of porticos, pergolas and other shade structures. Pondless waterfalls, gazebos nestled into a garden, multi-level patios and decks, driveways with patterned inlays and detailed paver projects and stone walls are also in high demand by Gasper clientele. The firm also offers maintenance through its Executive Garden Care Service which includes routine gardening, pruning, weeding and fertilizing.

“We want our customers to be completely satisfied and we instill that goal into everyone working for us,” adds Gasper.

Gasper Landscape and Design and the Gasper Home and Garden Showplace are located on 316 Tanyard Road in Richboro. The nursery and gift shop are open year round 8 A.M. to 7 P.M. weekdays and 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on weekends. For more information or to request a complimentary DVD highlighting Gasper Landscape’s services, call (215) 396-2880 or visit www.gasper.net.

Maryanna S. Phinn is a freelance writer from Washington Crossing, PA.