In this episode of Architecture, Design & Photography, Trent Bell sits down with Mike Corsie of Terrapin Landscapes to talk about building a business from the ground up, evolving from lawn care into high-end design-build work, and creating landscapes that feel deeply rooted in Maine.
Mike reflects on 25 years in business, the turning points that helped shape Terrapin’s identity, and the importance of craftsmanship, trust, and doing what you say you’re going to do. The conversation also explores how landscape can tie architecture to place, why native plants and stone matter, and how great outdoor spaces become part of the experience of home.
They also get into the bigger picture: the realities of running a seasonal business, the pressures of creative work, the changing character of coastal Maine, and the tension between thoughtful development and preserving what makes a place feel authentic.
About Terrapin Landscapes:
In 2001, Terrapin consisted of Mike Corsie, a truck, and a mower. He built a network of clients in the community around his home of Kennebunkport and delivered on the promise of deeply personal, quality work. Over the years, he invested what he earned back into the business, adding equipment and building an equally committed team. He connected with clients who wanted much more than a manicured lawn and began flexing the design principles that you recognize in Terrapin today: natural stonework, native plants, careful shoreline stabilization, and an overarching sense of belonging.
Today, Terrapin is recognized as one of Southern Maine’s premier landscape companies, with a full-time crew of landscapers, masons, and horticulturists, a fleet of hard earned trucks, and a gorgeous design office in Arundel, ME.
More from Terrapin Landscapes:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terrapinlandscapes/
Website: https://terrapinlandscapes.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/terrapinlandscapes/
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