Michael Bates

Personal History

I was born & grew up in rural England where I was imbued with a deep love of the countryside. I took to gardening early in life under the tutelage of my mother. In the 1970's I set out to explore other landscapes, travelling extensively through all 49 continental United States before settling in Sonoma County, California in 1982. My travels gave me a powerful appreciation of the American landscape and impressed upon me the importance of relating structures to their natural surroundings. The 1890's house pictured on this site has been my home since then and the garden that surrounds it is a personal expression of my planting style. It sits upon the wooded slopes of Sonoma Mountain, above the village of Glen Ellen.

Professional Experience

I have been designing gardens, large and small, supervising their installation and advising clients on the possibilities of their land for over 25 years. I am entirely self-taught. My work has been principally in the Northern Bay Area and I have wide experience in the varied micro-climates that make up this beautiful – and often horticulturally challenging – part of the world. Recent commissions in England and the East Coast have expanded the scope of my work. I specialize in the creative possibilities of the transitional spaces between house and garden, where we like to spend much of our recreational time in this Mediterranean climate. My gardens are designed to be long-term installations and to mature over time. A balance of trees, shrubs & perennials combine to create a picture which requires minimal maintenance once established, and should be a constant source of visual satisfaction to the owner.

Design Philosophy

I believe that successful landscape design must satisfy these criteria:

• It must provide a complementary setting and framework for the house it surrounds
• It must sit comfortably within the larger landscape
• It should provide a place of retreat and restoration. It should be both visually stimulating & emotionally relaxing.
• It should reflect the passage of the seasons
• It can only succeed as a result of good communication and an understanding relationship between designer and homeowner.

Contact Information

Telephone: (707) 578 5853
Email: mjbates@att.net