SECOND NATURE ENVIRONMENTS is a first-class landscape design company established in 1992 by Matt Wilson. The company offers two primary services, both unique in their field:

Large-scale landscape design for residential and commercial sites
Artificial rock water features, design and construction

Landscape Design
President Matt Wilson has designed a number of exceptional landscapes for private homeowners, creating, in essence, an oasis of beauty as well as a private retreat. These locations are often challenging: sitting on a hillside-or even elaborately landscaped with tired or uninspired ideas that need to be totally revamped.

Matt is keenly aware of scale and spatial relationships. He is not afraid to be bold in his design ideas and even ignore popular trends. Some of his design ideas include sinking a patio or raising a swimming pool, creating a canyon effect in a lagoon-shaped pool, or adding a tree house designed for adults.

Visual interest is often obtained through intentionally hiding points of relevance with walls, mounding of earth or artificial rock work, enticing the homeowner to spend real time there.

Matt has the uncanny ability of viewing a setting and visualizing a transformative environment. Further, he then is able to encapsulate the many details needed to complete the job (from the additional outlets needed for entertaining to PCV sleeves for sports equipment like tetherball-and the brass plate to cover the hole once the use of the game is over).

This process begins with an extensive questionnaire to identify the homeowner's ideas, preferences, priorities, lifestyle and personality, as well as concerns. An initial site visit follows, resulting in preliminary concept drawings, proposal and fees. Once the homeowner and Matt are in complete agreement, detailed drawings will follow: 9-12 pages (24"x36" cad) consisting of the concept plan, water feature/pool plan, hardscape, woodwork, irrigation, lighting, planting plan, section drawings, and finally, a specification page. A model may also be included, which is a precise miniature of the project, avoiding any guess work whatsoever in the actual construction process.

Fees
Five percent of total cost of project (projects usually run $500,000+), which may be broken into phases so that the homeowner can complete the project over a period of time.

Artificial Rock Construction
Second Nature Environments is the oldest and most distinguished producer of artificial landscape boulders and rock panels in Northern California, having completed literally hundreds of projects. Most prominent among these is the "World Class Primate Complex" in Fort Worth, Texas, which Matt was personally asked to construct.

What Is Artificial Rock and Why Is it Preferable Over Quarried Rock?
Artificial rock consists of plaster (a mixture of sand and cement) created from pre-existing molds that is then meticulously sculpted and stained for each individual project. It can be made in virtually any shape or size, is easy to work with and lasts as long as the rock it substitutes.

Although the cost of artificial rock may at first blush seem high for some, it allows for a much more lifelike scale that is unachievable with quarried rock. "Real" rock must first be found and then unearthed (destroying natural habitats) and then trucked often long distances putting workers at risk of injury during their transport and placement because of their sheer weight and size; whereas artificial rocks can be created and moved in sections to achieve there ultimate height and mass.

Cost
Averages $75,000 (not including water containment vessel or retaining system).

Matt Wilson
Second Nature's president, Matt Wilson, holds a distinctive place in the construction world in that he has parallel talents of landscape designer/artist and contractor.
Matt brings over 30 years of experience to the field of landscape design and has distinguished himself as a true artist with his unique and stunningly beautiful environments that grace both commercial sites (e.g., museum exhibits and zoo enclosures) and what, in essence, is the private homeowner's resort.

Much of Matt's inspiration comes from his extensive travels to numerous countries (19) and islands around the world, including Fiji, Singapore, New Zealand, Costa Rica, the Caribbean islands, and Europe. And although he admits to enjoying the comforts of the resorts, his real passion is seeking the "National Geographic" experience-discovering grottoes and canyons, unique vegetation and the off-the-beaten-track waterfalls that make discrete pathways to the sea.

Matt holds California contractors' licenses in general building, landscape and earthwork and paving (classifications B, C12, C27 #654759), and a Certified Nurseryman's license (#790).

Matt Wilson can be reached at 925-943-6333 or mocroc@pacbell.net, or visit Second Nature's website at www.2ndnatr.com.