Press

“If you’d asked a young Philip Roche where he would one day spend his winters, he definitely wouldn’t have said in California’s Palm Springs. Or that his main residence would be a sprawling 14ha property and farmhouse on the other side of the United States in rural New Jersey.”

Plant Specialists worked alongside architect John Pawson and renowned interior designer Mica Ertegun to design, then install the garden.

5th Avenue duplex penthouse with wraparound terraces on both floors. “A suburban house in the city with a cottage garden.” Plant Specialists worked closely with world-renowned landscape designer Madison Cox and supplied, installed and maintained the plantings.

The developer of an old commercial building in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood commissioned Plant Specialists to design and install a large green roof space to give the residents a serene escape from the bustling streetscape below. Green roofs insulate the building, filter and cool rain water, and provide huge cooling effects as opposed to traditional bare roofs.

As co-owners and partners of Plant Specialists, Philip Roche and Grahame Hubbard run their “massive, enormously successful enterprise from a block-long compound in Long Island City, an old iron foundry transformed into green houses, an office, two apartments, an event space, and a magnificent rooftop terrace overlooking the East River.

“We are the industry leader i dealing with the complicated requirements of New York City buildings, including approvals, engineering and installation.” Roche and Hubbard lead a team of more than 50 gifted designers, horticulturalists and installers, transforming city spaces into works of art.

“Gardening in the sky is all in a day’s work for a pair of down-to-earth Antipodean landscapers who flourish among New York’s rich and famous.”

After first visiting New York aged 17, Philip returned at age 30 and at 40 became co-owner of Plant Specialist servicing 400 clients in Manhattan designing, building and maintaining rooftop gardens. The company has 60 staff, 12 trucks – and $2,000 a month in parking tickets.

The garden was finished with a wisteria-covered pergola, some teak steamer chairs and other chairs and tables. Total cost: $80,000. And why would a board spend so much for 14 trees, some ivy and a few deck chairs? ”It gives life in the city another dimension,” Mr. Roche said. ”It keeps you sane.‘’

A Capital Classic: What was a typical suburban back lawn sloping down to a perennial border was transformed by Philip to a Mediterranean garden with a series of terraced, tiled courtyards, classical pillars and paving stones glimmering in the bright sunshine.