Creating a garden space is personal. It takes a listening ear, a clever mind and a creative intuition. I live for the moment when I can stand in a garden that only once existed in my mind; a garden that provides delight to all its residents, from the ladybug to the child staring at it in wonder.

My focus is on California native habitat gardens, restoring a bit of pre-colonial California one garden at a time. I also love planning for the joy of homegrown fruit, vegetables and herbs, and spend way too much time every summer making batch upon batch of jams, jelllies, chutneys and pickles.

I take a pragmatic and ecological approach to design by re-using materials, ensuring that hardscape is permeable, selecting low-water and low-maintenance plants, and sourcing materials that are as local as possible.

I design my projects the old fashioned way: with hand-drafted drawings and sketches. I believe it lends a personal touch to the process and am admittedly pretty stubborn about it! I don’t install the gardens myself, but I contract with an excellent crew and project manage throughout the process to ensure the garden is executed to high standards.

When not designing, you may find me on the ice rink, or living out my Martha Stewart fantasy at home through cooking, baking, floral arranging, sewing, herbal medicine-making, and generally keeping myself busy. I also help maintain the garden program at Peralta Elementary School, which you can follow on Instagram @peraltagarden.