About Us
Jim McSweeney M.C.A, M.C.H.
Owner/Operator
Jim McSweeney, Hilltown Tree & Garden's owner and operator, is seen as an industry leader in Western Mass in both the arborcultural and horticultural fields. He and his business has been regularly featured in magazines & newspapers articles and on radio.
He is a certified arborist and a certified horticulturist with a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and was schooled in horticulture and arboriculture at the University of Massachusetts Stockbridge School. Jim spends much of his winters traveling while studying conceptual landscape design, alternative and organic methods for combating pests and treating plant disease, traditional agriculture, urban ecosystems, and other horticulture-related subjects.
Jim is on the faculty at the New England Wildflower Society, teaching courses on a diverse range of topics, including: Natural Pest Control, Pruning, and Landscape Design with Natives. He also does workshops for the Franklin Land Trust, The Goshen Open Space Committee, The Hilltown CDC, various garden centers and a range of other not for profit organizations.
Jim has routinely donated his time and expertise for local organizations such as: Habitat for Humanity, Pioneer Valley Symphony, Bonnie's Program, Cummington Community House, West Cummington Church, Russell Memorial Park in Chesterfield, Forbes Library Garden Tour, and many more. He has sponsored such recreational activities such as Chesterfield Baseball and the Hilltown Jr. Olympics.
His travels have brought him from Kew Gardens in London to the Mughal Palace Gardens of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Jim brings the abilities gained from this worldwide experience to your landscape.
Jim is an active member of ten professional associations:
- MA Arborist Association
- MA Nursery and Landscape Association
- MA Forestry Association
- Ecological Landscape Association
- Northeast Organic Farming Association
- New England Wildflower Society
- International Society of Arboriculture
- Berkshire Botanical Gardens
- Mary Selby Botanical Gardens
- The Trustees of Reservations
Jim is also a member of:
Tom Farrington, M.C.H.
Tom is a certified horticulturist, an arborist and a mason. Tom has been with Hilltown
Tree & Garden for over 9 years but has been involved with the horticulture industry for
over 20. He has a passion for native plants and is currently with the New England
Wildflower Society's Plant Conservation Corps where he is in charge of the monitoring of
rare and endangered plants. At Hilltown Tree & Garden Tom specializes in stonework,
perennial garden maintenance, and fine pruning.
Tom's hobbies include landscaping with native plants that attract wildlife and landscape photography. Tom is married with two children and is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Tech. with a degree in photo journalism.
Peter Merriam, M.C.H., M.C.A.
Peter is a certified arborist and a certified horticulturist. He has been with Hilltown
Tree and Garden for over 13 years but has been involved with the horticulture industry
for over 22. Peters knowledge of the culture of herbaceous and woody plants is
unparalleled. This makes him Jim's right hand man on all matters related to design and
plant selection. Peters specialty at Hilltown Tree & Garden is designing with native
plants and mature tree preservation. Peter enjoys living in the hilltowns where he can
pursue his love of nature.
Dario Colette
Dario is a mason and horticulturist. He has been with Hilltown Tree & Garden for over 10
years and has been involved with the horticulture industry for over 25. Dario
specializes in the preservation and reconstruction of historic stonewalls, hand cut stone
patios, and perennials.
Dario enjoys traveling to Italy where he makes and informal study of Italian masonry. He is married and has a child. Dario is a gradate of Ct. College and received his masters from Yale in opera.
Lisa McSweeney
Lisa is the bookkeeper and drafter of landscape design blueprints. She has been with Hilltown Tree & Garden for over 14 years. Lisa goes to all
landscape sites and does a full topographical site evaluation where she takes
measurements and photos and does rough sketches. She then returns to the office and
drafting table where she makes the landscape come alive on paper. Her design plans are
the epitome of clarity, simplicity and beauty.
Lisa is married with 2 children. She received her undergraduate degree from Univ. of Massachusetts and her masters degree from Lesley University in elementary education.