About Us
DGA is nationally recognized, award-winning Design/Build firm specializing in the design, construction and care of highly detailed, beautifully designed gardens and outdoor living spaces.
Our Mission
Since our founding in 2004, DGA’s mission has been simple – to partner with clients to create thoughtful gardens tailored to their lifestyle, goals and aspirations. To accomplish this goal, it is imperative that we foster strong relationships and maintain excellent communication. We recognize that when clients build, they are making a significant commitment of time and money towards what is expected to be a valuable and rewarding investment. We believe it is our responsibility to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us. We strongly believe that garden spaces and nature enrich our daily lives and it is this passion that drives our work. Creating and designing with plants, stone and soil is our craft, providing our clients with a wonderful experience is our motivation.
Our Approach
Each project provides the opportunity to create a unique environment tailored specifically for our clients. Our designs, installations and care for the gardens are based upon a creative and thoughtful response to the site inspired by our client’s dreams and goals. Guided by our core values, clients can expect our personal stewardship in all aspects of a project.
Our Team
We invite you to learn more about our management team. From day one – before there were additional team members, the company has proudly operated under the name, Dear Garden Associates, Inc., reflecting our commitment to collaboration and shared expertise.
Since our inception, DGA’s priority has been to build a team of experienced, like-minded professionals who uphold high personal standards and bring genuine passion to their work. Our team embodies these values. Together, they represent more than 160 years of combined professional experience, each individual contributing deep knowledge within their area of expertise for the benefit of our clients.
We are equally fortunate to collaborate with an exceptional group of craftsmen who install and maintain our projects. Several members of our installation team have been building gardens with DGA for more than 20 years and take tremendous pride in their work. Their skill, dedication, and experience are invaluable in enhancing both the refined details of each project and the efficiency and precision of its execution
Bill Dear, Founder and Principal
Bill Dear is the Founder and Principal of Dear Garden Associates, established in 2004. Since the firm’s inception, Bill has guided its vision with a deep passion for creative problem-solving and an unwavering commitment to thoughtful, enduring design and the client experience. He leads the design direction of every project and remains actively involved from initial concepts through installation, ensuring that each garden reflects thoughtful design and craftsmanship blended with the client’s goals.
A Bucks County native, Bill’s connection to the landscape began early. Much of his childhood was spent outdoors exploring streams, fields and woodlands and developing a lasting appreciation for the natural world. While he initially considered a career in architecture, a position at a local nursery while in high school revealed a path that combined creativity and craftsmanship while bringing joy to others. The realization that he could design and build beautiful outdoor spaces using plants and natural materials set the course for his life’s work.
Bill earned a Bachelor of Science in Ornamental Horticulture with a minor in Biology, specializing in Ecology, from Delaware Valley College of Science and Agriculture. Following graduation, he joined a respected firm that had been designing and building distinguished gardens in the Philadelphia region for nearly a century. There, he contributed to a wide range of projects, from grand estates along the Main Line to contemporary coastal residences, while apprenticing alongside master horticulturists and masons, some with more than five decades of experience. Working on historic estates dating to the 1920s instilled in him a deep respect for craftsmanship, quality materials, and timeless design.
When that firm transitioned to new ownership with a different philosophy, Bill recognized an opportunity to create a company aligned fully with his own values, company grounded in exceptional design, superior materials, and an elevated client experience. From those values, Dear Garden Associates was born.
Bill is guided by the belief that “Gardening is the slowest of the performing arts.” To him, a garden is not static; it is set in motion the moment it is planted. This understanding informs every aspect of his work—from design and material selection to long-term care. With intentional stewardship, a garden matures, deepens, and becomes more compelling over time. Bill views DGA gardens as immersive environments—designed experiences that evolve with the seasons, continually offering beauty, meaning, and delight.
Outside the studio, Bill enjoys spending time with his wife and their three sons. When not at a sports field or one of their children’s other events near home they look forward to spending time in Ocean City, NJ.
Darren L. Sandvik, Lead Designer
As Lead Designer at Dear Garden Associates, Darren’s keen sense for transition between space and scale drives his focus toward larger scale design and estate master planning. Having been with DGA for thirteen years, Darren’s operational knowledge of the company, combined with a deep understanding of regional vernaculars, is invaluable. Initially wanting more exposure to the ‘build’ side of design/build, he came on as a Project Manager. Moving into a design position two years later, the benefit of project management made creating unique gardens that are as site-driven as need-based, a more comprehensive design exercise.
Having grown up on the Main Line, Darren’s appreciation of outdoor green spaces grew with the fortunate exposure to a wide variety of refined gardens as well as the many small and large parks of the area. Hiking Valley Forge Park, exploring local creeks with his brother, as well as backpacking with the Boy Scouts, rounded out an appreciation for nature in its many varied states, built and natural.
With academic concentrations in landscape architecture, garden design, graphic design, art and art history, Darren also brings a wealth of design knowledge to each project. Creative inheritance across varied disciplines play a significant role informing the potential of each client’s home having an entire garden experience where nothing is untouched by the poetry of the garden. This includes the progression of spatial relationships beginning with a property’s entry, approach to the home, transitions between interior and exterior spaces, as well as major and minor connections to various garden rooms and open space. Scale, structure, hardscape, plant material, texture, color and seasons all coming together to ensure a comprehensive garden experience, is a priority.
Outside of work, Darren can be found exploring new parks, towns and cities across the northeast, contemplating the relationships between people, nature and designed outdoor green space. Or, just as likely, in his Bucks County home studio, on his pottery wheel.
Brian Sheridan, Landscape Construction Manager.
Brian is a seasoned Landscape Construction Manager with over 30 years of hands-on experience delivering high-quality outdoor environments. Throughout his career, Brian has successfully led residential and commercial landscape projects from concept to completion, ensuring precision, efficiency, and lasting craftsmanship.
Known for his strong leadership, technical expertise, and commitment to excellence, Brian specializes in site development, hardscape installation, project scheduling, and team coordination. His deep industry knowledge, attention to detail, and commitment to client satisfaction ensure every project is built to last.
Outside of work, Brian values spending quality time with his family and 2 dogs and enjoys fishing whenever he can.
Noah Downs, Landscape Designer
With more than twenty years of experience designing and building residential landscapes, Noah brings a thoughtful and engaged approach to every project at Dear Garden Associates. He is involved from the initial walk of the property through detailed design development and on-site oversight, understanding that shaping a client’s home environment is both a privilege and a responsibility. For Noah, each garden is more than a project, it’s a long-term relationship built on trust, communication, and care.
A graduate of Temple University with a degree in Landscape Architecture, Noah developed an early appreciation for the outdoors that continues to influence his work today. He approaches every property as unique, carefully responding to its architecture, setting, and the people who live there. His years of experience bring confidence in construction and detail, while his intuition and love of design give each landscape warmth and character.
At the core of his philosophy is a simple belief: landscapes are meant to be lived in. Whether creating a quiet retreat, a space for gathering, or a garden designed to mature gracefully over time, his goal is always to shape environments that feel personal, welcoming, and deeply connected to their surroundings.
James Rall, Landscape Manager
Jim is an operational leader with 35+ years of green industry experience. His extensive background in landscape design, horticulture, arboriculture and construction management provides a solid foundation for his role at DGA. He specializes in operational systems that focus on quality, accountability and client satisfaction.
With a solutions driven mindset, Jim drives success for both DGA and their clients. He is committed to building strong performing teams, optimizing internal processes, and delivering positive, reliable experiences that enhance client satisfaction.
Armed with his degree in Landscape Architecture from Penn State and his work at Temple University. His career spans the commercial landscape construction and maintenance sectors. as well as residential design/ build companies throughout the Tri-state area.
He has also served as a Horticulture Instructor at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology where he prepared students for real world success in today’s skilled trade and technology driven green industry through hands-on training and work force aligned instruction, he shared practical expertise that continues to influence the next generation of industry professionals
Outside of work, Jim is an avid hiker who enjoys the challenge of demanding trails. Some of his notable accomplishments include: summiting Pikes Peak in Colo., completing the Grand Canyon’s Rime to Rim route, Traversing Mt Washington and the Presidential Range in N.H. and hiking Iceland’s renowned Laugavegur Trail.
Beth Mahoney, Maintenance Manager
Beth has worked in landscaping and horticulture for 40 years. She gained significant expertise working as head gardener on a private 12 acre estate in Blue Bell, PA and credits that role with developing her approach to estate gardening. Patience, attention to detail as well as the mantra, “the right plant in the right place”, all contributed to her success.
As a Horticulturalist for Manufacturers’ Golf & County Club in Fort Washington, PA, Beth had to plan well in advance for the many weddings, charity events, holidays and golf outings held on the grounds. These seasonal events required forethought and design planning well in advance of execution for the event itself.
Beth applies her wealth of experience as she tends to clients’ gardens and trains members of the Fine Gardening Team. Our clients truly benefit from her foresight and passion for bringing out the best in their landscapes all year long.
Kim Sayers, Office Manager
A graduate of The College of New Jersey with a B.S. in Business Administration, Kim spent 18 years as a litigation/ management consultant with a national consulting firm. Wanting to be closer to her Bucks County home, she switched gears to office management, first for a local manufacturing parts supplier, and for the past few years with Dear Garden Associates. In that role she handles a myriad of office administration and accounting functions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, human resources and reporting.
A native of Bucks County and a lifelong equestrian, she has an appreciation for the rural character of the area and the beautiful farms and estates that make it unique. Outside of the office she spends her time hiking, gardening, riding horses and exploring all things outdoors.
