Co-founder and principal landscape architect Mary Jane Lovering ardently believes that gardens should be soothing spaces; one-third of Vertechs’ projects are therapeutic gardens for health care facilities. At the headquarters of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the firm created a fragrant garden. Rather than having a signature style, Lovering aims to create spaces that reflect clients’ needs and whims, while also complementing the surrounding architecture and neighbourhood. The 27-year-old firm is conversant in everything from formal English gardens, complete with gravel paths, manicured hedges and quaint gazebos, to chic urban oases, outfitted with minimalist wooden screens, wild grasses and austere Buddhas. Lovering also builds sustainable gardens with local materials, native plants and optimal water conservation, to ensure your green space truly is green. Lead time is approximately one month.