Endorsements & Reviews

"Many thanks for all your guidance throughout the year at our beautiful meadow." 

Leslie J. Mehrhoff Award for Management of Invasive Plants and Communications

"Kathy has been described as a great asset in the movement to replace invasive plants with native plants . . . she balances pragmatism with hope and leaves volunteers feeling confident and enthusiastic . . . "

“Your presentation was wide-ranging and brought in some focus areas that haven’t been touched upon before. You gave us some excellent new material to expand our thinking about some community projects!”

“Your lecture surpassed my expectations and those of the audience. You were able to get your points across using relevant examples that were familiar to all of us. The scope of the presentation was just right – design, science, and plants!” 

"We have been lucky to twice host Kathy for presentations of her intensive program, Grow a Meadow, Large or Small. This workshop is comprehensive and insightful about the complex but incredibly rewarding process of building an ecologically vibrant meadow. Kathy is skilled at breaking down challenging processes into practical steps, giving us the tools to go from concept to action when creating or tending a meadow landscape. Thank you Kathy!!"

"Thank you for taking the time to speak at our meeting last night. We all learned a lot and at the same time, it was funny! You are really passionate about gardening and it came across. Thanks again from the Colchester Garden Club."

“Thank you so much for all the work and collaboration.  It was a true pleasure working with you and I look forward to working on more of your designs in the future.” Matt Gregory, Landscape Manager, Torrison Stone & Garden, Durham, CT. 

"It was a lovely and unforgettable day."

“Great comments from residents around Bolton Lakes regarding your site visits. Very informative. Several are going forward to implement your suggestions. Thanks again.” 

“Thank you for the terrific program last night on creating a Deer Resistant Landscape. I learned a lot. When a few garden club members came over today, they were still buzzing about it and complimenting you on your style, ease and depth/breath of the useful information shared.” 

On the renovation of eroded guardrail area: 

“Brilliant.  The choice of plantings, the coir logs, the rocks. DESIGN!”

“Kathy helped us create a comprehensive plan for our property, including a very challenging riverfront site. Kathy is well versed in native plants and made several good recommendations for other professionals that we needed to complete a major landscape project.  We’re looking forward to the next steps.”

"Kathy helped me plan the meadow I've wanted to install for several years. She worked on seed selection and helped me find a company to do the installation. We planted on June 11. By early August, flowers were in bloom and grasses were getting established. Now, in September, we're enjoying lots of colors."

Ms. Hanson adds, "It will take several years for the meadow to become self-sustaining, but I feel as though we are finally on our way."

“Your presentation was terrific!  Thanks so much.  I look forward to working with you again.”

Kathy Connolly is a terrific asset to the Times newspapers. Her bimonthly column, Green & Growing, is a favorite of readers. A hands-in-the-dirt landscape and garden designer, she happily shares her ideas, tips and expertise. Anyone with an interest in the earth should regularly read Connolly’s columns.
 

With Kathy's guidance and expertise, the all-native buffer garden at Lake Hayward is an example of how features used for water quality improvements and erosion control can be attractive as well as functional. Kathy's design exceeded the expectations of the Watershed Committee, and more importantly the Lake Residents.

Kathy gave me both the design advice and horticultural information I needed to reclaim an area that had gone entirely to weeds. The result is a joy to see every day, but I am also glad to know that most of the plants are native and support local nature. I wouldn’t have attempted it without someone of her insights to guide the process. This was a fall and spring process of clearing, prepping, re-locating, and planting new specimens. Kathy continues to follow up with me taking interest in how the design is working, the plant material is maturing, and how the vista is changing.

Thank you so much for your excellent presentation!  What a wealth of common sense knowledge you brought to us. 

Your presentation at the recent Board of Selectmen meeting held on September 2, 2010, was an exceptional demonstration of the efforts your Committee has made to find the best plan for bicycle and pedestrian-friendly practices.

Just finished reading THE Plan. Wow, I love it! So easy to read and so very many issues covered. So many new things learned as well as many earlier convictions reinforced. The graphics are great, well placed, and very helpful too.

As a fellow contractor on a large, complex, lengthy project, it was a pleasure to work with Kathy.

Kathy's presentations are lively and well prepared. She answers the kinds of practical questions that help the home gardener go home with new information they can put to work right away. She has presented at our library a number of times.

Thank you so much for doing such a wonderful presentation in East Haven.