Why use a Landscape Designer?
A college educated and trained landscape and garden designer has the skills to work with all facets of the landscape. Not only do we create beautiful designs, but also prevent you from making costly mistakes. Areas of expertise range from horticulture and planting design to more intricate areas of paving materials, grading, and drainage. We evaluate the entire property and create elements that are attractive, functional, and cohesive (a phased-in project doesn't result in a hodge-podge look). An experienced designer listens to your needs and integrates your vision with the environment, nature, and budget. We take into account all the views within the property, outside the property (public view), and from within the house (like the views from your kitchen windows, views when guests exit your home). Most importantly we envision your landscape in the winter and insure your garden is attractive for all 4 seasons. When construction drawings for extensive grading, structures and retaining walls are needed, a consult with an architect is required. Typically the expense of a designer is much less than hiring a landscape architect.
Hello! I appreciate you taking the time to visit my website. You may want to know a little about who you'll be working with.
My love of outdoors started when I was a young girl sailing with my family on the Chesapeake Bay. When we weren’t on the water, I was watching my father tend to our vegetable and flower gardens. Some weekends my sister and I would go on ‘expeditions’ with my dad in the woods and swamps of my sleepy southern Maryland community. Gardening is in my blood, too. My maternal grandfather owned and operated a thriving apple business in West Virginia and my paternal grandfather traded his home in Mt. Lebanon, PA for a farm in Peter’s township, PA. The desire to transform my gardening hobby to a profession was during a visit to Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada. When I had a young family, I created an English perennial garden, children’s garden and taught myself about composting and amending tough clay soil.
Let me tell you about myself:
Professionally, I have a BS in Communication Disorders and MS in Curriculum and Instruction from Penn State. I spent my initial career in training and development, developing customer service and team training videos and print material. After my third child I closed this chapter and focused on my family. When this door closed (corporate work) another opened when I pursued an education in gardening and landscape design. I began teaching garden and landscaping at a local community college, taught annual gardening classes at Trax Farms as a PAWC outreach, and started my formal Landscape education at Chatham University. From here my business started as my students asked for design assistance. While continuing my landscape consult work, I completed my graduated studies and earned a MA in Landscape Studies in 2004.
I love to learn and teach others. During the past 5 years I have continued my professional education and enjoy sharing the knowledge with my friends and clients. In 2016 I completed Phipps Conservatory’s Sustainable Landscape Certification and courses in Organic Lawns, Pests and Diseases. The Penn State extension offers many informative classes. I have taken IPM (Integrated Pest Management), Pest Identification, and an 8-week seminar called ‘Woods in your Back Yard’. I am also a certified Master Watershed Steward.
My landscape design mottos: Plant a 10 cent tree in a 10 dollar hole. Plant the right plant in the right spot. The best designs are formed when I have a collaborative client relationship.
Stay in Touch. Sign up for my blog. I am excited to collaborate with my friend, Holly to bring you fun and informative landscape, gardening, and sustainable environment topics. Along the way we may share some of our own gardening challenges and successes. In the future we hope to visit various botanical gardens and share our visits with you. If there are topics you’d like us to cover, please reach out via email: gwdesigns@verizon.net.
Let me tell you about myself:
Professionally, I have a BS in Communication Disorders and MS in Curriculum and Instruction from Penn State. I spent my initial career in training and development, developing customer service and team training videos and print material. After my third child I closed this chapter and focused on my family. When this door closed (corporate work) another opened when I pursued an education in gardening and landscape design. I began teaching garden and landscaping at a local community college, taught annual gardening classes at Trax Farms as a PAWC outreach, and started my formal Landscape education at Chatham University. From here my business started as my students asked for design assistance. While continuing my landscape consult work, I completed my graduated studies and earned a MA in Landscape Studies in 2004.
I love to learn and teach others. During the past 5 years I have continued my professional education and enjoy sharing the knowledge with my friends and clients. In 2016 I completed Phipps Conservatory’s Sustainable Landscape Certification and courses in Organic Lawns, Pests and Diseases. The Penn State extension offers many informative classes. I have taken IPM (Integrated Pest Management), Pest Identification, and an 8-week seminar called ‘Woods in your Back Yard’. I am also a certified Master Watershed Steward.
My landscape design mottos: Plant a 10 cent tree in a 10 dollar hole. Plant the right plant in the right spot. The best designs are formed when I have a collaborative client relationship.
Stay in Touch. Sign up for my blog. I am excited to collaborate with my friend, Holly to bring you fun and informative landscape, gardening, and sustainable environment topics. Along the way we may share some of our own gardening challenges and successes. In the future we hope to visit various botanical gardens and share our visits with you. If there are topics you’d like us to cover, please reach out via email: gwdesigns@verizon.net.