Martin Ray is a landscapist, a term usually used for painters. The way he establishes perspective in his designs, mixes plant colors, draws in textures and forms, as well as adds stone and mosaic reveal his artistry. Over the past decade I have had Martin design, plant, and maintain many landscapes for me as I have given him control of more and more of my gardens in two homes. There is nothing more enjoyable than walking through a Martin Ray garden at the end of a day sipping some wine as you catch up on how it has changed since you last were there.

I always see a hardy garden because Martin has a botanist's precision about what grows best He is always learning not only on the job but also by studying gardens in other countries. He has common sense about what will work and what represents good value even when suggesting exceptional touches.

Some examples:

Left: At my windy seaside home surrounded closely by neighbors, Martin introduced a large patch of tamarix which grows 8 ft. tall and sways gracefully with a beautiful purple flower.

Right: In contouring my land I was left with a section of ledge I could not practically cover. Martin's solution was to mount a long granite stone next to it creating a fascinating natural sculpture.

Left: In a horseshoe corner of my swimming pool terrace, Martin relieved the monotony of blue stone with a whimsical sailboat he crafted from multicolored granite and slate.

Below and below right: When I built a greenhouse, Martin personalized it with a pebble mosaic of a flower at its entrance.

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