​ Proprietor

Hello! My name is Suzanne Steenkist and I am the sole proprietor of Arbourscapes.  I started this business in the Winter of 2004 after finishing schooling at Mohawk College, Hamilton Ontario. I received honours certificates in Landscape Design and Horticulture/Plant Identification. I started really small the old fashioned way working from a few cusotmers up, with referrels mainly.The image at the top left is one of my first projects for a bird lover, building a decorative "seed catcher" under a bird feeder to prevent squirrels from tearing up the lawn and to keep fallen seed in a contained area. The other images are pictures of work in progress for various projects.

 Background

​ I have been working in Landscaping on and off since 1988 as a labourer then after learning the skills became a Designer and a Maintenance Manager for a medium sized company, selling landscape jobs and monitoring the Maintenance division for quality control. Much of my training was picked up by working in an actual business with management duties added as a bonus. I have since learned how to do stonework (illustrated here) and can do custom cutting for retaining walls, walkways, patios and steps.
 
  My background has always been in the arts and natural sciences. I did graphic design for extra money through highschool, making flyers, signs and brochures for local business's. I was schooled in fine and commercial arts, worked in the printing industry as an assistant  Production Co-ordinator, then decided to invest my creative energies into the Outdoor trade of Horticulture and Landscaping using native and decorative plants, creating beautiful environments for people and the creatures on this planet. My goal was to design and maintain gardens that were in balance with nature, didn't require excessive use of pesticides that kill off nutrients, beneficial insects and also were a risk to family pets and wildlife. Part of my business foundation is natural and organic low impact Garden Care. On I went to buy the tools of the trade and I haven't looked back. All of my past experiences gave me the creative skill set and management training to start Arbourscapes.
 
  Always a self starter, willing to learn, take on new skills, getting the proper backup and team to do a job, being creative yet able to respectfully deal with customers needs, and give them the service they deserve for their hard earned dollars is a hallmark of how I do business.

This name was Chosen Because.... The name Arbourscapes was chosen for a few reasons. I specialize in Native plants: shrubs, trees and perennials. Carolinian plants extend into Southern Ontario which is very special and unique to the Canadian climate and are becoming more rare due to invasive species and constant human interference.  We have the benefit of the Great Lakes and the Niagara Escarpment which cradles the land in a micro climate sustaining plants that are native to the southern Carolinian States! Arbour means shaded woodland, or a wooded glen. The name represents our special place on this continent however it doesn't define everything I do. I design and take care of gardens for people who care about the natural environment but will expand on this by using the more decorative plants that most garden centers supply.
 
  Please take time to view my portfolio by clicking the link below. Thank for visiting and considering Arbourscapes!