AboutSean J Murphy, LA Expertise I can answer almost any question related to design, installation, pricing of landscaping and hardscaping. I am not a horticulturist though so I can not answer questions on pests or diseases of plants. I also can answer questions related to pools, water features, ponds, lighting, grading, drainage, walls, patios, decks and much more.
Experience I have been doing landscaping since I was 8 years old. My family owned a nursery in Florida when I was a teen and I owned and operated several lawn and landscape companies over the years. I have since completed 6 years of in Landscape Architecture at Purdue University and have a Bachelors degree in Landscape Architecture. I have been practicing professionally for 13 years in Atlanta and the south east US. I have worked for some of the best and most well know firms and personalities in landscaping and my work has won many awards. I have worked for the likes of Disney, the 1996 Olympic games, and REIT Post Properties(Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, NY, Tampa, Orlando). I know many of the plants in Georgia and Florida plus surrounding states. I have passed the Georgia Landscape Architects Licensure Exam and can legally call myself a Landscape Architect Lisc. # 001156
I am currently the Department Manager of the Planning and Landscape Architecture Department of a local Multi-Disciplinary firm and used to own and operate Amenity Architects LLC. you may preview our work at www.amenityarchitects.com. My new employer is SoutheasternEngineering, Inc. see www.seenginering.com
I am also part owner in the family business Murphy's Garden Art also see at www.murphysgardenart.com.
Organizations American Society of Landscape Architects,
Keep Smyrna Beautiful,
ULI,
Smyrna Downtown Development Authority,
Smyrna Downtown Task Force,
Publications Landscape Architect and Specifier News,
Atlanta Homes Magazine,
Landscape Architecture Magazine,
Coastal Living, Magazine
Education/Credentials Pinellas County Center for the Arts 1984 - 1988,
Bachelors Degree in Landscape Architecture - Purdue University, 1994,
Mike Lynn Graphics Workshop 1994,
University of Georgia Wetland Delineation Certification 1995,
Post University Mini MBA 2000,
Edinburgh College of Art - 1 year co-op 1993,
Intern Smallwood Reynolds Stewart and Stewart Architects Atlanta1993,
Awards and Honors ASLA Merit Award 1994 Mined Land Project IN,
ACI 1st Place for Hardscape Design / Installation 1999 Biltmore Atlanta.
Coastal Living Idea House Design 2005/2006.
South Eastern Flower Show People's Choice Award for best garden design,
Many more!!! too many to list here
Past/Present clients
Georgia Governor Roy Barnes,
The State of Georgia,
City of Powdersprings,
City of Stockbridge,
Post Properties,
Bayfair Homes,
John Willis Homes,
Pulty Homes,
Serenbe Development,
Mayor of Smyrna-Georgia Max Bacon,
Question Hi, there,
Eight years ago in ignorance I had a massive garden and landscaping
project built using old railroad ties. I now realize how foolish and possibly8
dangerous that was. I have beautiful apple, pears, lemon and other foods
and flowers growing in these beds and wondered if the food could be tested.
Do you know of any labs or services that do this? Should we be tested for
chemicals found in creosote? I hate to cut down the trees and only grow
flowers as that is the only place for growing vegetables and fruit on my
property if it isn't a problem.---or am I in lalaland?
Looking forward to your response and help.
Barbara
Answer Barbara: In my opinion the dangers from creosote and rail road ties for home owners are slightly over blown, as I have known many people have used these products in garden retaining and edging for years and have never seen any news stories on deaths or illnesses from garden related usage. The main problems associated with these products seam to be for people who work with them on a daily basis (railroad workers, and people who add the chemicals to the wood). From these people we learned it is a bad substance for Humans but it really seems to take a lot more direct contact to have an effect. However, all that being said, if possible, no chemical should be near your food if you can avoid it. You can do a lot simply by being sure your vegetable garden soil is raised and then separated from any creosote soaked wood by a plastic membrane. This way rain water moving through the wood goes down beyond your garden soil rather than moving laterally into the garden soil.
There are a great many testing companies for food and or almost anything but almost all are geared towards commercial farm users not the general public. You'll have to google "food testing laboratories" or "chemical testing companies" and make some calls and see which ones are willing to work with you.
My guess is that testing the wood and/or food will be cost prohibitive, unless you are willing to spend a thousand dollars or more on testing.
