Services
So often, people find me through a shared resonance. A way of looking at beauty in the world around us and wanting to cultivate it close to home. A desire for a vibrant and functional outdoor space to engage with the people we love. Even, perhaps, the willingness to be a bit scrappy with how it gets done. I offer three different types of design service, depending on needs and location.
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A garden consult is the place to start, whether you simply want to brainstorm ideas and ask all of your horticultural questions, or you know you want a full design plan.
What to expect: garden consults typically last from 1.5-2 hours and take the format of a property walk with discussion throughout. It can be as big-picture or specific as you’d like. After the consult, I will send a summary of my notes and any recommendations. I may sketch to illustrate a point onsite, but I do not generally do plan view drawing for a consult.
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Maybe you need to set the stage for a new home build or you have an existing home and plan to bite off a piece at a time? It always helps to have a vision for the end goal even if you are approaching it in stages. Or perhaps there is one specific area you wish to develop, like a front entry, new pool area, or perennial garden. I like to stay involved through the installation process and can recommend trusted contractors for whatever the project requires.
After a garden consult visit, I will discuss an expected fee range based on the size and complexity of your project.
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Big picture vision and space planning are two things that are entirely possible to do remotely. With proper site documentation, I help clients with master plans, phasing, and style refinement. The specific site and location determines how much planting design I could dive into, and I cannot oversee construction projects remotely.
This option is ideal for someone who wants to build their own garden and simply needs a design partner, or who is happy to liaison with a local contractor to bring designs to life.
DESIGN APPROACH
Gardens lie at the intersection of nature, community, and divine wonder. I know that might sound like a lot of pressure to put on a little square of what we Americans call “a yard.” (I think this is terrible, by the way. A yard will never be a place of magic without a mindset change!) The shift to garden is every bit as powerful as the shift from “house” to home. A garden is a dynamic, generous place. I ask the same questions about outside spaces that every interior designer asks about the inside ones. “How do you live now? How do you want to live? How do you want to feel? In what ways can we encourage your family and friends to spend more time engaged with each other and their surroundings? How can this place stimulate your mind and feed your soul?” Every project is a dance between what we want and what we can actually achieve, with the real factors of budget, timeline, and resources carefully considered. Design is a deeply personal process that gives real-life feet to dreams. My favorite gardens are immersive and often combine classic geometry with the softness of thoughtful, diverse planting. Every garden uniquely reflects its place, its time, and its caretakers.
