My Personal Journey and Design Philosophy

What can I say? I love plants. I have had a garden of one form or another for many years. It's probably is in my genes as my father was born and raised on a farm.

When my family and I moved to the Phoenix area, it was quickly made apparent that most of what I knew about growing plants had just become obsolete. Frustrated, I set aside plants for a while and expressed my "farmer genes" by developing a passion for horses, more specifically, an equine sport called Polocrosse (But that's another story.)

There came a time when riding horses held less allure - I got tired of falling off! I decided it was time to learn how to grow things in the desert. My first task became landscaping our front yard, a boring flat space covered with gravel, sporting a few plants and trees. Not really much to look at. Little did I know where this challenge would take me.

My first stop was the Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society to learn more about desert plants. I did more than learn, I became hooked on cactus (please pardon the pun). I became president of the organization and founder of the Cactus Rescue Program.

As my landscape took shape, friends and neighbors began asking me for landscaping advice. I realized that knowledge of plants was only part of the landscaping equation; there is much more involved. I needed to know more. This led me to the Desert Botanical Garden's Desert Landscape School (DLS), a nine-month program designed to provide a broad overview of proper landscaping techniques for the unique Phoenix environment.

I graduated from the DLS as a Certified Desert Landscaper (CDL) and even more people began to ask me for advice. I helped a few redesign their landscapes and assisted them through the installation process. It was like I had died and gone to heaven. I loved doing this work. I felt a real sense of accomplishment. I decided this is what I would like to do everyday.

Why did I (do I) like it so much? For several reasons:

• I love the creative process of taking a space and making it more livable, more sustainable, environmentally more responsible and, of course, more attractive. The results are tangible and can be shared by many.
• I like the challenge of helping people change their personal environment. Many times they know they want something different, but don’t really know what direction to take. My goal is to create an outdoor space that reflects the homeowners’ personal preferences, not impose my ideas upon them. Helping them discover their path is exciting and fulfilling.
• I enjoy helping people discover the inherent beauty of the desert and desert plants. Most of us have come from somewhere else and need to develop an appreciation for the unique plants that can survive temperatures ranging from 120 degrees and above at ground level to the freezing low 20’s. Not to mention the lack of moisture. A beautiful landscape can be achieved in spite of these harsh conditions.
• Last, but far from least, for some reason getting my hands dirty is fun.

I am not a landscape contractor. I do not have a crew who works exclusively for me. I am a designer and a consultant. I will create a drawing that can be used by anyone you choose to hire. Or, I will suggest people who can do the work needed to implement the design. I can consult with you as you have the work done to be sure it conforms to the design and I will help you select the best materials to go into the landscape.

My goal is to help my clients create an outdoor space they can enjoy on a daily basis throughout the year. There really is not much point to living in Phoenix, Arizona, if you have no place to go when the weather is as close to perfect as it will ever get.

Let me help you.