Carter van Dyke Associates

06/17/2026

CVDA on Location: This past weekend, Peter attended the 37th Annual Meeting of the Finger Lakes Land Trust. An incredibly impactful organization, the FLLT has protected tens of thousands of acres across the region to safeguard critical water quality, native habitats, and natural ecosystems.

The event took place at a spectacular setting—the Ganondagan State Historic Site in Victor, NY. Spanning nearly 600 acres, Ganondagan is a National Historic Landmark and the original site of a 17th-century Seneca town. The ecology, agriculture, and stewardship of the Seneca people have deeply shaped our modern understanding of sustainability and environmental design.

As landscape architects, we were highly inspired by how the site blends history with the natural environment:

The Seneca Bark Longhouse: A full-scale, fully furnished reproduction using historic, natural building methods.

The Art & Culture Center: A 17,300-square-foot facility designed to fit seamlessly into the natural topography.

Interpretive Trails: Educational pathways highlighting the vital role of native plant life.

The weekend was also a proud family moment! Peter’s brother, David Fernandez, took the stage to introduce and gather votes for the incoming FLLT board members who will guide the future of regional conservation.

06/16/2026

Carter and Lisa were honored to attend the recent fundraiser for the historic Woodward Community Center (formerly CHCC). Since 1917, this building has been a vital neighborhood hub. Now, CVDA is proud to serve as the Landscape Architects for this transformation. We are currently developing the brand-new courtyard and gardens to create a beautiful, welcoming outdoor space for generations to come.

Phase 1 was a major success. Structural work was completed by some of the finest engineers, architects, and builders in the Greater Philadelphia area. Phase 2 is now officially underway.

Join Us in Rooting for This Project.
Whether you are a local business or a resident, you can help us bring this green space to life. DM Danielle Gannon directly to learn more about sponsorship opportunities or Donate via the project GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/4b9affdf3

Let's build—and grow—the future of Chestnut Hill together!

06/12/2026

Check out this interesting write up in the Bucks County Herald on Carter's Victorian, which will be featured on Sunday's Bucks Beautiful Kitchen & Garden Tour.

Details and ticket info on the tour: https://www.bucksbeautiful.org/kitchen-garden-tour/

https://www.buckscountyherald.com/opinion/history-lives/history-lives-historic-kitchens-and-gardens/article_8811f70b-1bf8-4286-875c-35dada74da49.html

On Sunday, Bucks Beautiful's 31st annual Kitchen & Garden Tour will feature several homes situated within the historic district of Doylestown Borough which were built during the post-Civil War boom

06/11/2026

St. Thomas’ Church is one of the oldest churches within Montgomery County, dating back to 1698. The historic cemetery includes the graves of 12 veterans from the Revolutionary War. CVDA developed the master plan for the restoration of the approximately 42-acre site that included the sanctuary, historic supportive buildings including a school site, the historic cemetery, nature preserve, and community garden.

One of the key challenges was upgrading the antiquated circulation and parking system to be ADA compliant while maintaining and enhancing the historic setting. The master plan improved site visibility of the sanctuary, accessibility, and wayfinding; introduced stormwater infiltration in the parking lot; established a community garden and nature preserve; created new community athletic fields; and provided for overall landscape maintenance and restoration to enhance the historic setting of the church property. The first phase included the development of a new main entrance that improved safety, stormwater management and wayfinding.

06/11/2026

Lovely lily pond at Carter's previous home. Garden ponds are classic features that reliably add to the ambience of a plot. Sparkling water, calming ripples, leafy aquatic plants, maybe a fish or two... their presence alone is soothing and serene, offering tons of sensory benefits.

But ponds aren't just good for the aesthetic appeal – they're wonderful for wildlife too. Providing homes for frogs and attracting dragonflies and birds, they welcome life, movement, and a more natural edge to an outdoor space.

06/09/2026

🌿 Looking for something special to do this Sunday in Doylestown? As a proud sponsor of Bucks Beautiful's Kitchen & Garden Tour, we're excited to share this unique opportunity to explore some of the Borough's beautiful homes and gardens.

06/09/2026

This Japanese-inspired garden draw upon our client's fifty years of visiting arboreta and gardens, favorite shrubs and trees collected over the years and the realities of a less than 1/3rd acre plot size. Whenever possible, rare and unusual varieties were used, many of which were first obtained twenty or more years ago. Privacy, low maintenance, contrasting foliage and four-season views from the house and while strolling have been paramount.

Wholly regarded and replanted in 2012 in a collaboration among the owners, CVDA and Classic Gardens, the yard is enclosed by conifers, Japanese maples, redbuds and hybrid dogwoods. The interior is dominated by four features; a 15' by 45' koi pond with stone bridge and waterfall; a large moss-covered boulder surrounded with sedum and Japanese maples; three young flowering cherries (Akeono, ungrafted weeping Higan and Yoshino), and an exact one-quarter scale Japanese boathouse used as a shed. The owner's collection of tree peonies and deciduous azaleas provide color highlights from April to frost

06/05/2026

Architectural harmony is all about the seamless transition from indoor luxury to outdoor living. For this residential project, our team focused on structural cohesion and creating distinct outdoor rooms that flow naturally from the main house.

On the upper terrace overlooking the pool area, we used elegant, oversized planters to bring lush greenery up to the higher level. Directly below, shaded archways form an inviting poolside loggia that acts as a perfect transition zone for lounging away from the direct sun.

Clean, geometric lines of the pool paired with a warm, textured brick-paver deck establish a timeless, European-inspired aesthetic, while lush perimeter plantings and a backdrop of mature trees blend the structured hardscape beautifully into the surrounding woodland.

The result is a true backyard sanctuary designed for both everyday relaxation and elegant entertaining.

06/04/2026

Peonies are officially putting on a show in Doylestown! As garden designers, we love these perennials not just for their massive blooms, but for their incredible versatility. Here are a few expert facts about these garden favorites:

The Big Three: Peonies fit into three main categories—herbaceous, tree, and Itoh (a stunning hybrid of the two).

Sun & Shade: While most thrive in full sun, certain tree peonies actually prefer a bit of part shade.

Extend the Bloom: By strategically mixing early, midseason, and late-blooming varieties, we can extend your garden's flower show from late spring right into early summer.

More Than a Pretty Face: Did you know peony roots and seeds have been used for centuries in traditional Chinese and European herbal medicine? Modern studies even show they have mood-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties!

With over 6,500 varieties registered by the American Peony Society, there is a perfect peony for every landscape layout.

06/04/2026

Good landscape design is all about defining spaces and framing views. For this formal garden room project, we focused on crisp details and visual alignment to create a true destination on the property:

The Frame: A raised brick edge along the gravel walks clearly defines the boundaries of this formal garden room.

The View: We perfectly aligned the walkway with the dining room window, creating a sightline where lush shrubs and perennials frame a striking flowering tree across the driveway.

The Atmosphere: Discrete, low-voltage site lighting subtly outlines the space to extend the garden's beauty long after the sun goes down.

It is all in the details!