My interest in the landscape has its roots in my earliest childhood memories of following the grass pathways through my grandmother’s garden, helping my mother in her gardens, and starting my own garden when I was about 5 years old. There was always something to be discovered among the sights and sounds and aromas of the garden. As the plants emerged from the seeds I planted, I developed a love for their beauty and diversity which has become a life long interest. It has inspired me to visit and study gardens and the natural landscape wherever I have traveled in the U.S., Canada, Europe and China. Camping and hiking with my family also introduced me to the world of native plants. Other influences include the plant driven design of Piet Oudolf, Gertrude Jekyll, Elizabeth Farrand, Chinese and Japanese garden traditions, the layered garden, and succession planting.

I have come to understand what important roles native plant species provide in our environment. Besides their beauty and ability to adapt to all sorts of circumstances, they support and sustain the air we breathe, the soil, and provide pollen and food for populations of birds, insects, animals, and salt and fresh water creatures. Through research, photography, painting, and developing my own gardens, I have discovered many benefits for including native species in the development of more sustainable and lower maintenance gardens. Deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and plants of all sizes and habitats can be intermixed with cultivated varieties in appropriate conditions to provide enjoyable garden spaces with all season interest in urban, suburban and country locations. Well managed gardens become an extension and aesthetic enhancement of your home– providing places for relaxation, social activities, contemplation, and observation. ​