Services

We seek to refine and enhance the garden experience. The garden is a special place to reengage with nature and ourselves. Rettig LLC seeks to foster gardens over time to express an essence of timelessness, place, and ephemerality. Our aesthetic sensitivities with years of experience put us in a position to harmonize landscape with sculpture, creation of place, and ease people into the gardens through line, balance, scale, and form. We apply artistic principles, a forward vision, and an eye towards nature and tradition to the world of horticulture and gardens.

Aesthetic Pruning

A strong background in horticultural science serves as the foundation for our pruning practices. Launching from a foundation in science, we move into artistry developed by studies in landscape paintings, artistic principles, studying under masters domestic and abroad, classical readings, nature, and over 20,000 hours of experience. We have witnessed first hand how plants and gardens respond to aesthetic pruning through years of observation and practice. We offer services to private clients, public institutions, botanic gardens, businesses, and subcontract. Our scope ranges from single specimen trees to entire gardens, from naturalistic landscapes to formal gardens.

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Japanese Style Gardens and Garden Refinements

Japanese Gardens are known for their tranquility, respite from daily life, and timelessness with their reverence for nature and age old techniques. They are inherently positioned to tap into the human psyche through use of age, ephemerality, and wonder. Two main themes crop up in Japanese Gardens: the garden of stone and the garden of flowers. The garden of stone provides a space for humility and a grounding within the universe. The garden of flowers provides comfort with the cyclical nature of blooms and that we will see the Cherry Blossoms again.

We have studied under Japanese Garden building masters, studied in Japan, studied in the International Japanese Garden Training Center, and have years of experience creating Japanese Garden Style spaces.

The principles and practices of Japanese Style Gardens can be used in any number of garden styles. Beyond Japanese Style Gardens we offer Garden Refinements using traditional and innovative techniques which incorporate planting styles, stone setting, and bamboo work informed by centuries of practice. We seek to pay attention to the details that offer pause, a single iris blooming next to a boulder that can distill the mind and offer a passive interaction.

“No matter how hard we try, we cannot achieve natures beauty. But if we understand the depth of nature, we can weave in a human essence - and create a beautiful garden.” - Tomoki Kato

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Lectures/Workshops

David Rettig has lectured and led workshops on topics including: Wellness in the Garden, Shinrin-yoku (Forest Bathing), Introductory and Advanced Aesthetic Pruning, Harmonizing Traditional and Native Gardens, Introduction to Japanese Gardens, amongst others.

Groups that David has presented for include: Medical Professionals, Garden Clubs, Industry Groups, Home and Garden Shows, and Universities.

Please inquire for additional information and topics based on the unique interests and needs of your group.

Consultations

We provide consultations for private clients, botanic gardens, public institutions, and businesses.

Please inquire for additional information based on the needs of your institution and/or garden.

“He who distinguishes between the garden and practice cannot be said to have found the way.” - Muso Soseki (1275-1351)