What We Do

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Plantings
When it all filters down, it doesn’t matter how well constructed your stone wall is, or how nice the patio is; the main thing your friends and family will notice are the beautiful plants. Because, in all likelihood, the plants are why you decided to landscape in the first place.
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Stonework
Stone is timeless.  We create well-designed spaces that include beautiful long-lasting materials, installed with the utmost of care and structural integrity.  Our patio and walkway designs focus on how you will use the space and move through the garden. Our retaining walls will last a lifetime.
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Landscape Lighting

Let’s face it: we live in a part of the world where it’s dark much of the time.  This is the reason we love landscape lighting; it extends the time you can enjoy your gardens.

We are well-versed in all aspects of low-voltage landscape lighting and use only the best quality fixtures and transformers. From LED to astronomical timers to the latest in smartphone controls, we can create a magical look for your new or existing landscape.

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Carpentry
Sometimes the only thing that will work is wood. A deck to barbecue on. A screened porch to get away from the mosquitoes. A custom-built fence to screen the house next door. A pergola to rest under.  We have vast experience with all materials: pressure-treated, products such as Azek (made largely from recycled materials) and FSC-certified sustainable hardwoods.
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Pools & Water Features
Water features speak for themselves, with running creeks, splashing waterfalls, relaxing pools. We design all types of water features, from simple bubbling boulders to gorgeous ceramic urns overflowing their rims to large-scale ponds and waterfalls. We work with a select group of installers to create the water feature of your dreams.
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Stone Walls

Retaining walls are used for one reason: to hold something back. Whether you need to terrace down to a lower yard, hold up a house, or level an area for a tennis court, a wall will be necessary if you do not have the room to grade the areas gradually.

We have vast experience in the proper engineering and installation of retaining walls, and in fact, have rebuilt many walls built by others that did not hold up. You only want to build them once!

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Glass
Glass is everywhere. Your home, your car, your office. It lets light in, lets us see out, and keeps the elements at bay. We, humans, take glass for granted; it’s always there for us while not intruding on our aesthetics. For us at ZA, glass is another beautiful element to be used in our design. It lives alongside our stone, our plants, and our lighting as an extension of our work as art. From Sharon’s instinctually unique style of mosaic-like glass-setting to our love of Arts-and-Crafts details, and everywhere in between, we truly create one-of-a-kind works of art.
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Healing Gardens
The culmination of six years of meetings, phone calls, prodding, and not a little bit of begging, this garden has more than just plants, walls, and lighting: it is infused with our hearts and souls. The Woodward Healing Garden is a gift from the Woodward family to the patients, their families, and the staff of Rochester General Hospital. This garden is an oasis in the middle of a hectic hospital setting. It’s a place where patients can immerse themselves in nature and heal faster; a place for their families to discuss treatments, to cry, or to just be; a place for staff to shed the stress of their demanding jobs and to recharge for the challenges ahead. Words can’t describe the feeling we have every time we visit this garden. We were grateful for the opportunity to design and install this garden.
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Outdoor Kitchens
No longer just an extravagant addition for those who have everything, outdoor kitchens have become must-have amenities for those clients who can’t bear to go indoors during nice weather (or any weather). From simple grills built into a cabinet to complete kitchens that include sinks, rotisseries and even refrigerators, outdoor kitchens are a great way to get you and your family outside, enjoying an open-air meal. And remember, we like our steaks medium!
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