Bill DeRosa
Sandra DeRosa
Sandra DeRosa
I have been a professional landscape designer and installer since the summer of 1987, working at various companies in the summers while I attended LIU for horticulture and landscape design before switching to marketing. Over the following years, I had my own landscape businesses during the summers between semesters. After college, I star
I have been a professional landscape designer and installer since the summer of 1987, working at various companies in the summers while I attended LIU for horticulture and landscape design before switching to marketing. Over the following years, I had my own landscape businesses during the summers between semesters. After college, I started my very first landscape design company, Unique Designs Landscaping, out of Southampton NY. We worked on properties from Southampton to Dix Hills NY. I sold this highly successful business in 1999 to pursue a career in marketing in Connecticut, however I never stopped designing gardens for friends, family and the random client that came from referrals, as well as my own homes.
I have returned to my roots (pun?)
Sandra DeRosa
Sandra DeRosa
Sandra DeRosa
A UCONN Master Gardener graduate, Sandra is an artist, ecologist and proponent of native and sustainable gardening., Sandra has been actively working on gardens for over fifteen years. She continually attends educational webinars and focuses on encouraging wildlife through native and ecological designs.
Her artistic eye gives her the uni
A UCONN Master Gardener graduate, Sandra is an artist, ecologist and proponent of native and sustainable gardening., Sandra has been actively working on gardens for over fifteen years. She continually attends educational webinars and focuses on encouraging wildlife through native and ecological designs.
Her artistic eye gives her the unique ability to integrate landscapes with structures, statues, and other pieces that create an overall look and feel.
Her insight is a valuable, harmonious addition to Bill's professional landscape design background.
About Bill DeRosa
My First Landscape Company, 1988
The above image is the start of my first landscaping company. I had just completed my first year of college at Long Island University where I was studying horticulture, landscape architecture and marketing. The summer of 1988, a friend and I decided to start a landscaping company called Unique Designs Landscaping. We had met working for a landscape company the year before.
With my Suzuki Samurai pulling a small 4x6 trailer, we focused mostly on landscape deign and installations, including brick work, planting, RR tie walls, ponds and much more, and as well offered lawn cutting and the usual services. Every summer for the next three years we operated in the Derby, Orange and Milford Connecticut area and it grew to be a 4 man operation.
After college, I stayed on Long Island and built one of the premier landscape design and installation/maintenance companies in the Dix Hills and Huntington areas. I had this business for nearly 10 years before I sold it and moved back to Connecticut to pursue a career in marketing.
However, I never stopped designing and installing gardens for friends, family and referrals from friends.
First Business Card
I kept a few of my first cards from that time.
First Sign on a Project
One of our first projects, with our sign out front while we work.
1989, brick patio before and after
This was a brick job we did summer of 1989. My buddy and I had both worked for other companies where we learned to lay brick by some great teachers, this was the first one on our own. It came out really good! Orange, CT
1988, our first commercial planting project
This was a deli on North Street, Milford CT across from Eisenhower Park. We had to clear out a lot of old dying shrubs, and installed a colorful and structural garden. I tried looking for more pics of before and after, however this is all I could find in my boxes of storage.
1992, follow up on RR tie and planting project
We built this RR Tie retaining wall sometime in 1989. We happened to be working nearby on another project, and decided to run over to take some pics. The junipers and plants we installed all grew so beautifully. After just a couple of years, it looked as though it was always there.
1994, Southampton NY Japanese Garden
Out of all of my projects, this is the one that saddens me the most for not having before pictures. This was a client I had while I was attending college. I planted this with the help of a few college friends who were also taking horticulture classes. I had put an ad out in the local paper for "landscape architect students looking for a project" and got this call. This was in 1989.
After graduating, I got a call from the client to come back and prune and generally go through the garden for some much needed cleaning and feeding. So I was able to take these pics. I am at least happy these pics from 1994, five year after we planted it, survived.
1995, Front of home planting project
This home had some basics, but they were out of control, old and randomly planted azaleas.
One of my workers posing while the other one is planting in the background.
Finished project!
1995, Sod and playset project
The lawn was basically weeds before we decided the best course of action would be to just rip it all out and lay down sod. We removed the entire 1/rd acre of grass and laid down sod.
1995, Friendly's Restaurant project
Planting project for Friendly's restaurant. I do not remember the town it was in. Another project I wish I would have revisited years later for pics. I do remember passing by it a year or two later and remarking how good it looked, but this was still pre-phone cameras.
You can tell my workers like to pose for pics!
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