Fidalgo Magazine -- Wednesday, February 26, 1997.

ART SCENE by Mary Leone
"Landscape design

is sculpture

of the earth."

John Childs

 Is your yard a work of art? Do strangers stop to marvel at your lush plantings, winding walkways, unusual decks, or fencing? Perhaps there is a stone sculpture or a secluded pond with a bench to contemplate your peaceful island life.

If your answer is yes, chances are your landscaping was designed by landscape contractor/designer John Childs and executed by Simply Yards Landscape and Design.

Each specially designed landscape by Childs is a work of art created to his clients' wishes and lifestyle. Some like to work in the garden, others like to entertain outdoors. Some like a lot of bright colors, or want to maintain their view, or cut out street noises.
"What if they want bougainvillaea? "

"I suggest a greenhouse," he says.

The elements of landscape design are the same as those of fine art; style of unifying force and line, shape, value, texture, color, perspective. However, the size of Child's projects rival most environmental artists. He has yet to beat Christo, of course, who once built a 28-mile winding fence, of sorts. The 40 foot trees, 16,000 tulip bulbs, and 12 foot basalt fountain columns Childs put in one large yard would impress even Christo.

"I feel like an orchestra conductor," said Childs, as he pushed a lock of sandy hair off a tanned forehead. There is a bit of devil in his flashing brown eyes. And when he talks about landscape and design, he virtually effervesces. In his hands, an ordinary house turns into a living sculpture; a place of pride and beauty.
The Marine Heights development is one of his current projects, and also one of his most challenging.

"I want to recreate the feel of the forest," he said. "There will be winding walkways, tall trees, vista points, and a nature trail." A rounded concrete wall with gold letters now graces the entrance and trees are already going up. The large detention pond, which he has fenced, never reached capacity, with all the recent rain and melting snow.
The big picture has always been the thrust of Child's vision. He has never been satisfied with typical fare. So when he started his own catering business in California, he studied culinary arts at Ma Cuisine with such greats as Julia Child and Wolfgang Puck.

Soon he was catering for movie stars and designing large props for their parties. For Bette Davis at the completion of "The Whales of August," he built an 8 ft. by 11 ft. ice sculpture fountain with serving vessels projecting from the feet. His company was the official caterer for the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.

By the late 80s, Childs wearied of the hectic pace, sold the business and returned to Anacortes to be with his family - his mother, Felicia Childs; father, Victor Childs and his three brothers. He was through with catering. Although he had studied interior design at Woodbury College, he was not interested in doing interiors either.

When a friend asked him to help design a landscape for her yard, he jumped in with relish. Soon he was off with his own landscaping company, Simply Yards. "I can be creative on a large scale and work within the client's parameters. The design should have a flow and reflect the tastes of the client" he said.
He likes creating different levels, changing directions, framing, creating depth and contrasting textures.

"Landscape design is sculpture of the earth. Here the forest is naturally blanketed with shade trees, the ground covered with mulch. I like to bring the natural look of the north west environment into people's yards," he added.

Most landscaping jobs begin with a problem. The client needs to cover up something unsightly, such as a shed or a propane tank. The house sits above a steep bank or at the foot of one. Sometimes the grounds have become overgrown or require much more gardening time than the client is willing or able to give.

After discussions with the client and analysis of the micro environment at the site, he draws up preliminary plans. The amount of sun, wind, sand and other soil conditions help him determine what will prosper in each client's yard.

Irrigation manager Javair Chavez goes out to the site to determine the irrigation needs, lighting feasibility and supervises construction of the landscaping, i.e., decks, fences, and walls.
The first part of the job is to clean up what is already there; obstacles, dead trees and plants which have grown too large for their surroundings. Builders often leave concrete slabs and other debris behind. Some is visible, some is not. Next the soil is treated, because plants need good soil to flourish. This usually means taking a back hoe and digging out a couple of feet of sandy rock and weed-ridden ground and replacing it with fresh soil and nutrients before any planting is done. One time they found an old sewer line that even the City didn't know about!

Height is added by raising the level of the ground and the addition of tall structures such as arbors, tall trees or fountains. He drops the level with sunken patios. In one small space height was achieved with a narrow garden arch.

John Childs has been enhancing homes on Fidalgo and other areas for almost eleven years. Simply Yards now has a staff of 22. He loves to run into clients in the grocery store and there have been about 3000 since 1990. He calls them clients rather than former clients, because he takes personal interest in their yards long after the job is complete.

"We stand by our work, because we are in it for the long run" he said

There are many who are destroying the natural beauty of our area, but John Childs is putting it back, making the island even more beautiful.