Vancouver, BC
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Robin's Story
New York City is where I discovered my love of horticulture and garden design. In 2014 I was hired at age 26 to work at a small, yet sought after, high-end gardening company, Groundworks Inc. The owners, Carmen DeVito and Alice Marcus Krieg, worked side-by-side our team of four, teaching us everything they knew about the artistic world of plant design and encouraging us to continue our horticultural education outside of the work environment. They financially supported my ongoing training at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and took our team on yearly field trips to some of NYC’s most esteemed gardens - such as Wave Hill in the Bronx and Robert Dash’s Madoo Conservancy in the Hamptons.
My experience working for this company inspired me to eventually create my own business, built on the same ethos, but specific to my particular vision and new environment.
East River Gardens takes those same high-end quality services and levels of expertise provided to the penthouses of Manhattan, and applies them to our work in the residential gardens of Vancouver.
- Robin Simurda, Founder
We love plants!​
Our Vancouver-based team is made up of plant enthusiasts, innovative artists, skilled trades people, and certified horticulturists. As professional gardeners, we are dedicated to constantly growing our skills and expanding our horticultural knowledge. If we are not hard at work in our clients' gardens, you can probably find us attending a weekend class at the botanical garden, nerding-out on a hike with our Plants of Coastal British Columbia book in hand, or fussing about in our own messy gardens (Cass Turnbull's trusty Guide to Pruning collecting more dirt at our feet).
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As of Spring 2024, we have committed to incorporating a minimum of 65% native plants into all of our garden designs.
PNW native plants have evolved to thrive in this region, making them more tolerant of drought conditions and cold snaps. They are naturally low maintenance, requiring less water, fertilizers, and pesticides than non-native species. These plants also provide essential habitats and food for beneficial insects, birds, and other animals that are vital for sustaining a healthy and balanced environment. Not only do native plants play a crucial role in supporting the local ecosystem, but they also bring fantastic colours, textures, and fragrances to our gardens all year round!​
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Looking to boost the health of our local ecosystem and bring more hummingbirds, butterflies, and wild bees to your garden? Frustrated with the same plants suffering each year because of unpredictable weather extremes? Adding more biodiversity with native plants might just be the answer! Let's create a vibrant and sustainable garden together that thrives year after year!
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Let's work together!