About the Studio
I offer landscape and garden design, planting plans, site planning, garden consultations, and specialized garden services. My approach is iterative, collaborative, and flexible — tailored to each unique site, context, and client. I aim to bring people and plants together while creating design-solutions that: preserve and enhance ecosystems; provide a moving aesthetic experience; and warmly invite habitation.
Planning
Refine and articulate the destination; build the road-map.
No matter the scale, from small planting plans to multi-acre sites, planning is the process of visioning, articulating goals, researching feasibility and constraints, and finally, organizing a practical, coordinated plan.
Design
Define the problem; solve it and make something beautiful.
Emerging from the disciplines of art, design, and landscape ecology, the idea of ‘pattern and process’ form the conceptual core of my work. To that, add rock, soil, concrete, steel, light, water, time, space, climate, vista, enclosure, spaciousness, memory, association, connection, smell, familiarity, uniqueness, surprise, color, contrast, comfort, abundance, texture, simplicity, delight, pollinators, edibles, trees, people and plants…
About Julia
I have always loved plants, art, and problem solving.
At the age of four, I began my first landscape project — on an eroding triangle of lifeless dirt between two sets of concrete stairs. As it turns out, the process of problem solving and visioning, of planning for plants where there were none, was a version of what I’ve been doing ever since.
About Julia
I have always loved plants, art, and problem solving.
I have always loved plants, art, and problem solving.
At the age of four, I began my first landscape project — on an eroding triangle of lifeless dirt between two sets of concrete stairs. As it turns out, the process of problem solving and visioning, of planning for plants where there were none, was a version of what I’ve been doing ever since.
As a landscape designer, I draw on formal training in studio art, education, landscape architecture, and sustainable design, as well as from experience as a farmhand, a farmers’ market master, an environmental educator, a food systems activist, and an artist.
Prior to starting my own practice, I attended graduate school in landscape architecture and hold a Master of Science in Sustainable Design. I am especially interested in climate-adaptive planting design, in the preservation and enhancement of ecosystem services, and in environmental psychology.
When I am not collaborating with clients, nursery staff, and contractors, you might find me contemplating branching structure in the orchard, tending my cut flower garden, or beachcombing with my family.
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Additional Certifications/Continuing Education:
Floret Farmer-Florist Workshop, Floret
Master Fruit Tree Stewardship Training, City Fruit
Permaculture Design Certification, Midwest Permaculture
Sustainable SITES Fundamentals, Sustainable SITES Initiative
Social, Economic, and Environmental Design Certification, SEED Network
Urban Agriculture Certificate, Chang School at Ryerson University