John F. Sendelbach

  John F. Sendelbach is a figure known in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts, for his contributions to both landscaping and sculpture, with his creations visible across the Pioneer Valley. His career reflects a gradual shift from designing outdoor spaces to producing tangible works of art in metal and stone, a transition shaped by education, experience, and a willingness to adapt.   Sendelbach was born in 1966 in Buffalo, New York, and raised in nearby Orchard Park, where he completed his education at Orchard Park High School. His early interest in plants and natural environments led him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in horticulture at Cornell University, which he earned in 1989. Following this, he enrolled in the landscape architecture program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst to further develop his skills in designing functional outdoor spaces. In the early 1990s, he founded Whirlwind Fine Garden Design, a business focused on creating residential landscapes in western M...

Chuck and Denise, who oversaw the grounds at Deerfield Academy back when, paid me a visit after being inspired by the Bridge of Flowers pothole fountain. They asked if I could take a look at a space they were considering for a water feature. We met on-site, and my first question was, “What are we using for stone?” Someone mentioned that the school had a collection of old millstones in an underutilized feature on the edge of campus, originally donated by esteemed alumni. We decided to repurpose all of them.  I also fabricated a silverplated pump housing which is out of sight. For the centerpiece, they brought a large apple cider wheel to my friend’s place, where I carved and polished the top to prepare it as a fountain. Once it was finished, they retrieved the stone and proceeded with the installation. The Goshen stone that fills it in was my adaptive design contribution, while the rest of the brick structures was already in place. This year, they’re redoing the entire feature, so t...