Peter C. Dickens

Peter Dickens, founder and owner of Washington Landscapes, has devoted nearly five decades of his life to an ideal: compensating the urban growth in the Washington metropolitan area by adding green spaces to residential and commercial areas. He started in the landscaping business when he was 16, doing small jobs in local gardens. Over the decades, he has become a renowned landscape artist and major proponent of the health and environmental benefits of creating green ecosystems in urban and suburban areas.

Peter obtained his degree in Landscaping and Horticulture at the University of Maryland. Peter is a native of the District of Columbia and, as the son of a diplomat, grew up in South America. In countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Ecuador, he developed an interest in native floras and how they could be restored to urban areas. Back in the United States, he has drawn inspiration from Rock Creek Park, the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay.

In the eighties, Peter decided to investigate landscaping around the world to learn the techniques and aesthetic principles other cultures have perfected. He traveled to Japan and studied in a gardening school in Kyoto, mastering the art of zen settings and rock gardens. “I try to apply the Japanese teaching of letting the trees grow in limited spaces in my daily urban work”, he says. “In Kyoto, I also learned the importance of the seasonal flowers, which is evident in the DC area thanks to the cherry blossoms”.

Peter later studied at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom. He thoroughly researched the history of gardening in Europe and immersed himself in the landscapes of cities like Paris and Rome. Versailles, in particular, had a strong effect on him. “Those gardens taught me what effect you can have on history with a proper use of landscaping”, recalls Peter. “What you do now, in terms of horticulture, will have a major impact on the future”.

In 1987, Peter learned about Brazilian landscape artist Roberto Burle Marx, whose projects included the mosaic sidewalks of Copacabana Beach and hanging gardens in Brasilia. Peter wrote to ask whether he could study with him. After receiving an invitation, he traveled to Brazil and spent a year in Rio de Janeiro studying the artist’s work and techniques. Peter describes the experience as a turning point in his career.

Through Washington Landscapes, Peter brings this international experience to the DC area. His work combines research into local plant life with an interest in environmentally friendly practices, including electric vehicles and tools and water recycling systems. His aim is to create landscapes that benefit Washington’s communities for years to come.