---
title: "Whirlwind Fine Garden Design"
description: "A walkway revised when the original design would not work, Goshen stone walls, and gardens maintained over years: these are jobs customers described hiring"
doc_version: "2026-10-01"
last_updated: "2026-10-01"
---

# Whirlwind Fine Garden Design

**Trade:** Landscaping · **Address:** 40 Blackberry Ln, Amherst, MA 01002 · **Phone:** (413) 548-9999 · **Website:** http://whirlwindgardendesign.com/ · **Languages:** English

**Rating: 3.0/5** (medium confidence) — from 17 reviews across 6 sources.
100% of sentiment-scored reviews read net-positive. Last 6 months: 0 reviews, 0 negative.

## The honest read

A walkway revised when the original design would not work, Goshen stone walls, and gardens maintained over years: these are jobs customers described hiring Whirlwind Fine Garden Design to do. The Amherst company says it has designed, built and maintained landscapes since 1992, with an emphasis on low-maintenance plantings and stonework. Its stated service area includes Amherst, Northampton, Hadley, Greenfield and nearby towns, and it offers free estimates.

Customers’ written reviews date from 2011 to 2017. In a May 2017 Angi review, a customer said Whirlwind listened to the requested walkway design, proposed a revision when it did not translate well into reality, and completed a walkway that suited the house. A March 2017 Houzz reviewer described repeated work over the preceding 20 years, including shrub and tree plantings, Goshen stone walls, animal fencing and driveway work. That customer praised the finished designs and said the owners and crew kept them informed about schedules and unexpected developments.

In an August 2015 Angi review, a customer identified the owners as Chris and Suzanne Baxter. Suzanne handled the estimate, questions, scheduling and follow-up by phone and email; the customer said she responded quickly. Chris and his crew were described as punctual and willing to explain the work. The customer was pleased with the new walkway, garden and yard, and said competing estimates had been higher. A landscape architect writing on Houzz in April 2017 said they had brought Chris and his crew onto most of their residential design projects over the preceding 25 years, praising his technical work, flexibility and communication with clients.

The work also included regular upkeep. A November 2015 Angi reviewer described weekly lawn mowing that summer and a leaf cleanup completed within a couple of hours, including the plant beds and front-door path. A March 2017 Houzz reviewer described a brick patio, stone planters and a raised basketball court surrounded by a stone wall.

Prices drew different reactions. A September 2013 Angi reviewer said the cost was higher than some competing estimates but worth the work; an April 2012 reviewer called it expensive while saying they would hire Whirlwind again. Its Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration, number 143318, is expired.

**Strengths:**
- Walkway design — a May 2017 customer praised a successful design revision
- Customer communication — an August 2015 customer praised Suzanne's quick replies
- Stone wall work — 2011 and 2017 customers praised completed walls

**Concerns:**
- Expired HIC registration — Massachusetts registration 143318 is expired
- Higher pricing — 2012 and 2013 customers described expensive or higher-priced work

## Claims & citations

Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication.

- The company says it has provided landscape design, construction and maintenance from Amherst since 1992. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Official Website](http://whirlwindgardendesign.com) — “About (self-reported, verbatim): WHIRLWIND FINE GARDEN DESIGN is a full service Design, Build and Maintenance Landscape Contractor from Amhe…”
- The website offers free estimates and lists service in Amherst and nearby Pioneer Valley towns. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Official Website](http://whirlwindgardendesign.com) — “Stated offer (self-reported): free estimates”
  - [Official Website](http://whirlwindgardendesign.com) — “Stated service area (self-reported): Amherst, Belchertown, Deerfield, Easthampton, Granby, Greenfield, Hadley, Holyoke, Montague, Northampto…”
- A May 2017 customer said Whirlwind revised an impractical walkway design and completed a walkway that matched the house. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Angi](https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ma/amherst/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-reviews-5905011.htm) — “They listened and executed in a timely and accurate manner. We're really happy with the end result--a beautiful walkway that matches the sty…”
- An August 2015 customer praised Suzanne Baxter's prompt replies and scheduling, and Chris and his crew's punctuality and explanations. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Angi](https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ma/amherst/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-reviews-5905011.htm) — “Whirlwind is owned by Chris and Suzanne Baxter. Suzanne was wonderful to work with by phone and email regarding sending the estimate, answer…”
- A March 2017 customer described shrub and tree plantings, Goshen stone walls and animal fencing completed over repeated projects. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-pfvwus-pf~126733116) — “5★ We have contracted with Whirlwind many times for various landscaping projects over the past 20 years. In fact, we have referred some frie…”
- A March 2017 customer described a brick patio, stone planters and a raised basketball court surrounded by a stone wall. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-pfvwus-pf~126733116) — “5★ Whirlwind did general landscaping, brick patio, stone planters and a raised stone wall-surrounded basketball court. Beautiful design, won…”
- A November 2015 customer described weekly lawn mowing that summer and leaf cleanup including plant beds and the front-door path. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Angi](https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ma/amherst/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-reviews-5905011.htm) — “We also used Whirlwind this summer for our regular lawn mowing. They come every week and do a nice job mowing the lawn for a reasonable pric…”
- A September 2013 customer described prices above some competing estimates but worth the work; an April 2012 customer called the service expensive. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Angi](https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ma/amherst/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-reviews-5905011.htm) — “They are terrific. They do high quality work and they are responsive. They are wonderful. The guy really knows what he's doing. They are ver…”
  - [Angi](https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ma/amherst/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-reviews-5905011.htm) — “It is expensive but I would use them again in the future.”
- Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration 143318 is expired. _(confidence: high)_
  - [State License Registry](https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search) — “MA hic license 143318 registry-verified expired — registry holder of record: WHIRLWIND FINE GARDEN DESIGN”
- Specializes in Landscaping _(confidence: high)_
  - [Official Website](http://whirlwindgardendesign.com) — “About (self-reported, verbatim): WHIRLWIND FINE GARDEN DESIGN is a full service Design, Build and Maintenance Landscape Contractor from Amhe…”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-pfvwus-pf~126733116) — “5★ We have contracted with Whirlwind many times for various landscaping projects over the past 20 years. In fact, we have referred some frie…”
  - [Angi](https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ma/amherst/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-reviews-5905011.htm) — “We also used Whirlwind this summer for our regular lawn mowing. They come every week and do a nice job mowing the lawn for a reasonable pric…”
- Specializes in Masonry _(confidence: high)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-pfvwus-pf~126733116) — “5★ Whirlwind did general landscaping, brick patio, stone planters and a raised stone wall-surrounded basketball court. Beautiful design, won…”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-pfvwus-pf~126733116) — “About (Houzz profile, the business's own statement): Landscape design, construction and maintenance company, focusing on ecologically ground…”
  - [Angi](https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ma/amherst/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-reviews-5905011.htm) — “Chris and his crew did a wonderful job and we are very pleased with the look and sturdiness of the wall and path. They were very easy to wor…”
- Also offers Fencing _(confidence: high)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-pfvwus-pf~126733116) — “5★ We have contracted with Whirlwind many times for various landscaping projects over the past 20 years. In fact, we have referred some frie…”

## Ownership

- Identifies as family-owned — the business's own statement, not independently verified.

## License

Status: **expired** (#143318, hic) — verified against the official MA state registry on 2026-09-29, never self-reported.
Re-check at the official registry: https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search

## Sources

- [Local News](https://www.movecars.com/companies/dot/3370000/whirlwind-fine-garden-design): Listed on this source
- [Better Business Bureau](https://www.bbb.org/us/ma/amherst/profile/landscape-contractors/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-0261-253117): Listed on this source
- [Official Website](http://whirlwindgardendesign.com): 34 yrs in business · Self-reported profile and service details
- [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-contractors/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-pfvwus-pf~126733116): 5.0★ from 6 ratings
- [Angi](https://www.angi.com/companylist/us/ma/amherst/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-reviews-5905011.htm): 5.0★ from 12 ratings
- [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Whirlwind%20Fine%20Garden%20Design&query_place_id=ChIJPWKI0q7N5okRm9AF50UwNMk): Listed on this source

## Recent reviews

- **Angi · Betsy C. · 2017-06-01**: Very well and have greatly appreciated their work over the years- do an excellent job of keeping my yard/landscaping and if I have any questions/concerns, there is an immediate response. I will keep on using their services.
- **5/5 · Houzz · esaguirre23 · 2017-05-13**: Whirlwind Design is a professional and friendly landscape business who performs quality work at fair prices. They are knowledgeable and can suggest creative solutions to a range of project needs. We have hired them for three big jobs and would do so again.
- **Angi · Valerie R. · 2017-05-01**: They listened and executed in a timely and accurate manner. We're really happy with the end result--a beautiful walkway that matches the style of the house. When our requested design didn't actually make sense when translated to reality, they offered us a revised idea that would work better and it d…
- **5/5 · Houzz · Sue Reed · 2017-04-08**: Whirlwind's stonework and landscape contracting services are, from my point of view, the best in the Pioneer Valley, hands down. As a landscape architect, I have brought Chris and his crew in to work on most of my residential design projects for the last 25 years. To every project, he brings a techn…
- **5/5 · Houzz · Jim Johnson · 2017-03-27**: We have contracted with Whirlwind many times for various landscaping projects over the past 20 years. In fact, we have referred some friends and neighbors to them too who have been very pleased. Our projects over the years included shrub & tree plantings, Goshen stonewalls, animal fencing, and drive…
- **5/5 · Houzz · jodi5163 · 2017-03-23**: Whirlwind did general landscaping, brick patio, stone planters and a raised stone wall-surrounded basketball court. Beautiful design, wonderful small details, hard working, still some of the best money we've spent on our home and it was quite some time ago. Wholeheartedly recommend them!
- **5/5 · Houzz · marywhitneyhoch · 2017-03-23**: Whirlwind Fine Garden Design worked for us at both our business and our home. It was a pleasure to work with Christopher and his wife, Suzanne. Whirlwind's stonework is superb and beautiful. Christopher's knowledge of plants, trees, and all horticulture ensures that your garden will be lovely and or…
- **5/5 · Houzz · Lucille Halgin · 2017-03-22**: Fantastic company. The work is magnificent, the price is competitive, and the service is outstanding. Chris is masterful in his design and execution.
- **Angi · Christine C. · 2015-11-01**: We also used Whirlwind this summer for our regular lawn mowing. They come every week and do a nice job mowing the lawn for a reasonable price. For the leaf cleanup, they came and cleaned everything up within a couple of hours, including the plant beds and the path to our front door. We were very ple…
- **Angi · Melissa B. · 2015-08-01**: Whirlwind is owned by Chris and Suzanne Baxter. Suzanne was wonderful to work with by phone and email regarding sending the estimate, answering questions, scheduling the job, and following up. She got back to me very quickly whenever I had a question. Chris was also great to work with . He and his c…

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Data freshness: last scanned 2026-10-01T00:16:07.625Z.
Cite as: Whirlwind Fine Garden Design — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-amherst)
Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/whirlwind-fine-garden-design-amherst

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