Mary Dresser, RLA ALSA

Mary Hatch Dresser is a Registered Landscape Architect with a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia School of Environmental Design. Mary has designed landscapes for 32 years and joined ETW exclusively in 2009. Mary is a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA); and also serves on the Shade Tree Committee in Strasburg Borough where she resides. Mary prides herself in carefully listening to her clients to professionally meld their ideas and personal criteria with sound, experienced design practice.

Recent Posts

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8 Low Maintenance Landscaping Ideas for Your Home in Lancaster, Hershey, and Reading, PA

If you’re someone that likes to throw a lot of backyard parties and enjoy a lot of time in your gorgeous outdoor living space, then chances are, you’re looking for a low maintenance landscaping. After all, you want to be able to enjoy your yard and truly relax when you’re out there, not spend time working on it. You may travel frequently for work (or for fun) and when you’re home, you don’t want to have to invest time in managing your landscape. You just want to enjoy it. But even if you’re having a company professionally maintain your landscape, it’s in your best financial interest to have a low maintenance property that can be easily kept looking its best.

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Shining the Light on 12 Classic Landscape Lighting Mistakes

Imagine your home being beautifully lit with strategic uplighting on trees and architectural features. The right lighting can make your front entrance look both stunning from the road and welcoming to those who come to visit.

In the backyard, professional lighting can illuminate your outdoor living area, making it not only more usable, but more attractive, too. After all, your space can take on a whole new look in the evening hours, assuming the lighting is installed properly.

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Fish Pond vs. Pondless Waterfall vs. Fountain: Landscape Design Options to Consider

Imagine stepping into your backyard and hearing the sound of trickling or flowing water. There’s something automatically calming about it. It sets the scene for enjoying a peaceful meal outside or even just relaxing in a lounge chair on your patio, watching and listening to the running water.

When it comes to incorporating the sights and sound of water in your backyard, there are several ways to achieve it.

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Case Study: New Holland, PA Landscaping Project with Patio, Pavilion, Outdoor Fireplace and More

When it comes to constructing a complete outdoor living space, it often happens that not everyone in the household agrees on exactly what they want. Of course, considering the fact that an outdoor living area is a big investment, it’s important to make everyone as happy as possible.

That was what happened with this New Holland, PA landscaping project. While one decision maker of the household loved straight lines, the other loved curvilinear designs. These two conflicting requests might have seemed impossible to accommodate but actually posed an excellent opportunity to create a truly unique pool design.

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Stamped Concrete vs. Pavers vs. Natural Stone: What's Best for My Lancaster, PA Backyard?

When it comes to choosing the best material for your patio, there are a lot of considerations to keep in mind as you explore your options.

Of course, you want to be sure that you don’t overspend but you also may be worried that taking a shortcut with materials could lead to wasted money or aggravation.

You likely want to make the best possible choice in order to be able to get a good return on your investment—and a lot of enjoyment out of the finished product.

In order to help simplify “what’s out there,” we’ll take a look at some of your options and what points to keep in mind. Whether you’re looking at pavers vs. a concrete patio, pavers vs. natural stone, or stamped concrete vs. natural stone, we can help guide you in deciding what’s right for you.

 

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4 Common Landscape Design Pricing Options in Lancaster, PA

The cost of a landscape design plan may seem confusing. That’s because there are a lot of different ways that landscape companies charge for their design services. These options can vary dramatically based on everything from their level of experience to how time-involved your project may be.

While you might be certain that you want to hire a landscape design company, you might have no clue what pricing option is best for your project. No matter what, you want to be able to get a unique design and if you pay for one, you want it to be well worth the expense.

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Lititz, PA Landscaping Case Study: A Panoramic Experience

Lancaster County is known for its unique blend of residential areas and rural countryside.

The picturesque views of sprawling farmland are part of what makes the region so charming. Small towns throughout the county each have their own specific personality. It’s no surprise that one such community in Lititz, PA was voted the “Coolest Town in America” in 2013.

Lititz homes are highly sought after. In fact, it’s quite desirable to find a home that has one of the stunning views that overlooks the countryside. For this reason, when you find that perfect setting, you want to ensure your Lititz, PA landscaping goes a long way in enhancing that view.

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