Autumn Skies Landscapes Company Profile

hen Rodney Rose of Autumn Skies Landscapes in St. Helena, California approaches landscapes, he sees them very differently than most of us do. He sees landscapes from the ground up, certainly, but he also sees them from the ground down and over the span of the seasons and years to come. In his many years as a professional gardener for large estates and country clubs, Rodney wasn't just putting in one landscape and moving on to another job; he cared for and nurtured the same landscapes over many seasons and many years. As such, Rodney's expertise is not just in landscape design and installation; he's also an expert in soil amendments and mulching, in plant selection, care and placement, and in creating landscapes, hardscapes, walkways, architectural features, irrigation systems and lighting systems that will stand the test of time.

Landscaping From the Ground Up
In late 1995, after ten years' work as private landscaper, Rodney knew that he wanted to create his own business and work on a larger variety of projects. One fall evening as he was leaving work, Rodney paused to admire three trees silhouetted against the setting sun. It was a view that he never tired of, and he felt that the vista was a perfect image for his new venture. Autumn Skies Landscapes was born in 1995 and since then, Rodney Rose has gone from strength to strength.

One of the things that sets the work of Autumn Skies far above others is the attention Rodney gives to what's underneath his landscapes. Rodney likes to build landscapes from the ground up, which means that he pays special attention to soil quality and environmental suitability, but he also goes many steps further than that. As many of us have discovered unhappily, landscapers tend to dig shallow trenches for irrigation piping, lighting wiring, and light poles, which makes them very susceptible to damage and failure. Rodney Rose approaches irrigation, lighting, and wiring as a building contractor would: He digs deep trenches and sets all of the wire into conduit, so that no one can inadvertently cut through it with a misplaced shovel. Rodney also sets all the light boxes, spigots, and stand pipes in concrete so that everything stays protected and level (which means you won't have to straighten your water spigots or pathway lights every time the dog jostles them). Rodney also photographs each phase of the installation for reference later on—so you won't have to play a futile game of "find the wiring" ten years down the line. As Rodney points out, "It really helps to know how a garden or landscape works when you start building it, because you'll come up with a much better end result. Sure, I'm a self-professed ‘plant nut,' but I'm also a very serious-minded contractor."

Beautifying the World One Property at a Time
Autumn Skies Landscapes has produced many stunning gardens and Rodney Rose is thrilled to have done so much rewarding work that he and his clients love. However, he's also achieved a measure of fame as the landscape designer for Ladera Winery in Angwin, California. Sunset Magazine published a story on Rodney's work at Ladera in September of 2004, and then revisited his landscape again for another story on Ladera in March of 2006. Autumn Skies has also created gardens for the Mayacamas Ranch and Retreat in Calistoga, and Rodney is kept busy through referrals from clients and architects who appreciate his exacting and careful groundwork.

Rodney's focus is on giving his clients exactly what they want, because creating a landscape is such a personal thing, and he knows that the clients will be living with the landscape for years to come, "We're very service oriented, and we'll go the extra mile to make sure everything is exactly right. We always say that we don't mind moving the tree two inches, two meters, or two miles, and we'll make sure the tree is healthy and happy wherever it ends up."

Rodney Rose of Autumn Skies Landscapes in St. Helena is known for his serious, exacting work and expertise, but he's also a regular guy who completely loves his work. "I get to play in the mud, build all day, play with big toys, and make beautiful gardens that last and make people happy. I probably have the best gig in the world."


---Genevieve Albers
Staff Writer
The Prime Buyer's Report