Zone4  Landscapes, based in Andes, NY, is lovingly owned and run by Mel Bellar.  

Mel has a Landscape Design Certificate from the renowned program at the New York Botanical Garden and a Master Gardener Certification from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Greene County.  Mel is still active at both institutions, continuing his educational studies and giving lectures and workshops.

Mel's passion for gardening and design have been developing for many years but took a leap when he purchased an apartment in Manhattan specifically to gain exclusive roof rights.  He proceeded to create a 1200 square foot garden where he spent most of his time away from the office.  After exhausting the limitations of the roof garden he purchased a log home with 5 1/2 acres in Andes, NY  in order to continue his pursuit.  This led to Mel giving up his lucrative Information Technology career (and roof garden) in Manhattan to start a landscape design business in his beloved Catskills.

Originally from Louisiana, Mel has three music degrees, two from L.S.U. and one from the University of the Pacific.  Mel moved to NYC in 1975 to pursue his musical career but instead of reaching Carnegie Hall, he switched gears and after a wild journey ended up at Ogilvy and Mather, one of the world's premier advertising agencies, as the Chief Technology Officer of the Interactive Division.