Few landscapers will leave their designs with you -- too much risk that you'll simply copy the designs and do it yourself or use a gardener type to do the actual work. Also, it's hard for a landscaper to give you the price of the plants or even what type unless they own the nursery as well -- sometimes it is a matter of what's in stock and what condition the stock is in. (A good landscaper doesn't want to put in second-rate plants just because that is what was committed to on paper.)
Sadly, many want at least 50% up front. I know Rupert Cross doesn't regardless of what is being done but too many do.
As to the ARC issue, again, most landscapers don't bother with ARC. Don't know why and I think they certainly should, but they don't.
Good luck on finding the right landscaper to fit your needs and wants. Show us a picture when you're all done.
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Army/embassy brat - traveled too much to mention
Moved here from SF Bay Area (East Bay)
"There are only two ways to live your life: One is as though nothing is a miracle; the other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein
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