It might depend on where you located as some designers have a "trip charge" and you can minimize that by choosing someone relatively close.

I didn't realize that, I'm in Lawrenceville.

You might call some of the following folks then:

http://www.mrsgreenthumb.com/

http://www.southerntrillium.com/

The first one, a real down to Earth lady, is in Cumming. If you are just looking for ideas and intend to do most of the work yourself, try her.

The second one (in Lilburn) offers a bit more design plus installation, but I'm sure you could have them do just design.

I think most Pike's locations offer design services too and I think they would give you a discount on the plants if you purchased them there. Most small nurseries (try Randy's in Lawrenceville - http://www.randysnursery.com/) often have a local designer or two that they can recommend as well.

Tara Dillard did my landscape plan. I love it and I loved working with her--she's a hoot. She has crews she works with if you want installation or hardscaping (walls, walks, etc.) but she'll also just do a plan. She'll ask for a good bit of information from you (likes, dislikes, inspiration photos) so the more thought you put into that, then the better I think her plan will reflect your individual tastes. Try to find inspiration photos--a pictures is worth a thousand words when trying to communicate what you want (or don't want).

I think her aesthetic is very European influenced as well as taking what works from old southern gardens. Check out her blog and she has published several books as well. I saw her personal garden on a tour several years ago and I was surprised to find that it's pretty reasonable to just have the plan drawn. She charges by the hour and comes out to your house and draws the plans sitting at various spots in your yard. Our design was around $500-$600 (don;t remember hourly rate but she was here from morning til after lunch).

I also loved Dan Cleveland's yard that I saw on a tour as well as a couple of gardens that he designed, but I didn't get a price from him. I think you can contact him via Boxwoods in Buckhead.

Here is Tara's website:
http://www.taradillard.com/

Good luck
Susan

Leah Pine is a landscape architect, she is good with drainage issues, and hardscape (which garden designers don't always specialize in). I can attest to her fees being extraordinarily reasonable. She has been helping me get the foundation of the garden right, in an effort to get permits with CofA (not necessarily always an easy thing to do). I highly recommend her. She specializes in sustainable gardens and native plantings (but is not exclusive to that).

http://www.leahpine.com/

Thank you all for the info. I will start calling tomorrow!

If you're still looking, you may want to find Jim Collins. He did mine a few years back and did a fine job. Listened to what I wanted and gave me a quality plan. At one time he was teaching a design class at the community college.
GaMud