The Whiskey Porch - Prescott, Arizona

Debbie Beets

Having recently purchased an 80 year old home in Prescott with a very steep and challenging lot, we knew we needed a professional to design a beautiful yard that could be enjoyed year round. We hired Miriam at The Whiskey Porch to tackle the challenge! We are very pleased with the results. Miriam was meticulous in each and every detail and took into account all that we were trying to accomplish in the space. She worked closely and collaboratively with us every step of the way to ensure she was hitting the mark which she absolutely did! It was an investment to have a professional design the space but in the long run, we believe it was worth it to have a well designed plan that we know once fully executed will be a space that we can enjoy with friends and family for decades to come! We are very happy with the outcome!

Barbara Birdsall

When I bought an historic bungalow in Prescott a year ago, I had no idea of how to convert the large weedy lot into a beautiful, useable yard for my two corgis and me.

Solution found! A call to The Whiskey Porch, a landscape design service, put me in touch with Miriam Carlson-Maier
We connected immediately!

Miriam and I spoke at length about what I wanted: a deck, a garage or carport, a shaded sitting area and a place for the dogs to run. She then came up with sketches which were refined to match my budget. For example, a wraparound deck connecting the front porch to the new backyard was eliminated. We opted instead for a spacious redwood deck, encircling a massive juniper tree and enhancing the style of the house. One of Miriam’s proficiencies, which I greatly appreciate, is staying on top of costs by keeping track of contractor’s estimates and actual bills.

I discovered she has not only an artist’s eye but the very practical set of skills to transform a yard from unknown mounds of buried rubble to a very distinctive space with paths, plantings and seating areas.
Sketches became a detailed plan of tree and plant placement, a kitchen patio, paths and lighting.

Miriam functioned as a general contractor. She helped me select builders, electricians and landscapers as well as specialty trades in order to make our plan come to life. She oversaw each aspect of the project and did her best to keep all on schedule.

Projects like this always hold surprises but it seemed like Miriam was never stumped for a way to get around them. Gas lines are not always where you might expect, (she worked with the heavy machinery operator to avoid a disruption), enormous piles of concrete from decades past needed to be removed or incorporated into the terracing.

Besides building knowledge, Miriam is an accomplished master gardener. Her plant suggestions are unique, hardy and suited to our area. It is extraordinary how her selections flow together throughout the project. All was thoughtful: the Deodar cedar was carefully placed to screen nearby houses as well as to plan for its eventual growth.

One more important note was her color advice. My new storage shed would have been ho-hum without Miriam’s ability with color – finding a paint shade that enhances without dominating the rest of the yard. This same sense of color is apparent in the plants and shrubs. One example is the burst of blue in the hardy plumbago, beautifying the planter wall.

If you are considering updating your surroundings, do not hesitate to choose Miriam and The Whiskey Porch. She is a consummate professional and a pleasure to work with!

Michele West

My husband and I met with Miriam to discuss our whole home remodeling project. We are so glad that we did! Miriam exceeded our expectations. She was professional, creative and we will certainly be utilizing her services again when it is time to tackle our exterior landscaping project.

Miriam developed an entire floor plan, lighting plan, and demolition schedule for us. Her creativity really showed as the ideas she came up with were some that my husband and I had not even considered! Miriam recommended several contractors that she has worked with personally. The peace of mind that gave me cannot be beat! We are thrilled for the work to begin on our forever home!

Tracy Augustine

We now have a beautiful front entrance, courtyard and garden thanks to Miriam and The Whiskey Porch. We could not be happier with the result. Miriam is super creative and thought of things we would not have to make our space more inviting; she listened to our needs and collaborated with us all along the way to make sure we were on the same page. She chose unique items and plants to make our space stand apart, yet fit perfectly with our style and the style of our Santa Fe/Pueblo style home. She was very generous with her time and tips for how to maintain the garden after as well. She was responsive, organized and very detail oriented so we knew we were in good hands. She also was budget conscious and helped us stay on budget. Months later, our plants are thriving, the colors are beautiful, and her tips really helped. We would absolutely use The Whiskey Porch and work with Miriam again.

C&M's Landscaping

Miriam was a pleasure to work with during our design process. She was very professional and was able to create a clean and detailed plan for our project. Miriam was also great at communicating with us and ensured that our plan was created in a timely manner while meeting all our expectations. Will definitely be using her services again!

Victoria Morhous

We cannot say we had a good experience with Miriam of The Whiskey Porch – it was an exceptional experience. We contacted four local landscape companies to discuss our landscaping and design concerns. Only two responded back. Only one had listened to what we wanted; Miriam of the Whiskey Porch. Yes, listened and then questioned us. She wanted to get a real feeling of what we envisioned and desired. The initial plan was wonderful. It incorporated the “yard” feeling that we wanted to achieve and took some things to a better place. Plant selection? She also listened there and brought a font of knowledge regarding plants to us. She is an exceptional master gardener with insight as to how plants will grow, mature and thrive in the area. We couldn’t be more pleased with this extraordinary experience. Kudos to a job well done.

Susan Ploeger

I had the opportunity to meet Miriam in person and tour her beautiful gardens!

If we decide to move to Arizona, I will definitely engage Miriam's consulting services.

She is so knowledgeable about what trees, plants and flowers will thrive in various geographic zones and has a remarkable sense of landscape design to fit your home and surrounding area.

Miriam is a delight to be with and an excellent communicator.

John Colvill

We recently used the Whiskey Porch for a drawing of a landscape project at our residence and found their services to be very helpful and creative. We would recommend them for your next project.