I have recently started a mentoring program with graduates of the Landscape Technology two year design program at Portland Community College where I teach. I will be working with two or three 'Associates' in a mentoring capacity with the aim of providing well-thought out and personal designs that will be an enriching experience for everyone involved!

MY BACKGROUND- GOING DOWN THE GARDEN PATH....

I grew up on the East coast where I earned a design degree from CORNELL UNIVERSITY and worked eight years as a room designer for Armstrong World Industries. In 1973 I moved to OREGON with my husband and two sons and received a degree in Landscape Design. In 1984 we established CLOUDREST VINEYARDS on 12 acres of hillside property outside of Portland. Since 1984 I have traveled and photographed gardens in England, France, Japan, Italy, Germany, and even Siberia! I have studied under the English landscape designer, John Brookes, and am a certified board member of the ASSOCIATION of PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS. In addition to offering designs and consultations, I also teach in the Landscape Technology Program at PORTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE, and offer workshops in botanical illustration. In 1995 I collaborated with Al Rogers on a book, PEONIES, published byTIMBER PRESS.

FULL LANDSCAPE PLANS...CONCEPTUAL SKETCHES...LECTURES...WEB DESIGN

My fees:

Sedums glow in a late season composition

WHAT IS A GARDEN ?

Garden-making concerns the relationship of the human being to his natural surroundings and an awareness of the interplay between objects occupying outdoor space. When we 'landscape' we attempt to make the best use of the space available by shaping the land to reflect the natural qualities of the site and selecting plant material that is a reflection of the region. A landscape becomes a garden when it becomes an extension of the owner, both functionally, aesthetically,and emotionally.

MY SERVICES....

As a landscape designer, I provide a wide range of services - ranging from a one hour consultation on the site to a design package of five or more plans and sketches. A complete design can take a month, or several, depending on the scope of the project. The DESIGN PROCESS is done in several stages, taking into consideration your needs and desires, the characteristics of the site, the climate, and the principles of good design. After the initial site analysis diagram is drawn up, the first stage will be the CONCEPTUAL LAYOUT of the property, showing traffic patterns and family activities, weather patterns, orientation of the house to the site, and roughed out shapes of the planting elements...basically a study of relationships. The FINAL PLANTING PLAN will show locations of specific plants, hardscaping elements such as decks and patios, and a complete plant listing and spec sheet.

Please feel free to read the CLIENT-SITE ANALYSIS that I ask my clients to fill out. If you are interested in a design I will require that you fill this out and send it to me, along with a Proposal / Contract that I will send to you.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND INSPIRATIONAL LINKS...

Tour our 'special place' in Oregon - the GENIUS LOCI that helped create, and continually inspires, my garden style.

I will periodically include segments of lectures that I give to my students. DESIGN PRINCIPLES IN GARDEN-MAKING is a topic covered in my Plant Composition class, and illustrates the close ties that exist between artist and gardener.

You might want to visit a few of my FAVORITE GARDEN-RELATED SITES. If you are interested in visiting a great NW Nursery go to Heronswood. ,or try ForestFarm. Have a peak at Lakewold, a once private NW estate that is now a public garden! Another creative website developed by Scott Anderson is Seiwa-en, the Japanese Garden at the Missouri Botanical Garden. If you are interested in learning more about NATIVE PLANT communities visit the Berry Botanic Garden , or check out A Sense of Place and explore a Backyard Forest. If you'd like to explore GENERAL GARDEN INFO try the ever-changing links at 101 Garden Links, or go to GardenNet, or Gardening Launch Pad, and Garden Guides. For the academic types try the OSU Plant Materials Course , or to participate in some great forum DISCUSSION GROUPS, try The GardenWeb. And finally, travel to England and explore Garden Designer, UK and The Garden Directory. Have fun, but don't forget to come back here often!

If you are interested in having a more dynamic garden space that truly reflects your personality please feel free to contact me by Email, snailmail or phone!

The shady areas of my garden are featured in the Early Spring 1999 issue of GARDEN SHED MAGAZINE, pgs 102-107...have a look!

DESIGN ISSUES FORUM: If you've made it down to the bottom of this page you probably have (1) an interest in design (2) an inquisitive nature. HERE'S A NEW QUESTION FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM:

ARE WE LOSING OUR PRIVACY? HOW CAN WE DESIGN GARDENS TO HELP MAINTAIN A SECLUDED RETREAT WITHIN A CHAOTIC WORLD?

E-mail me and we'll start a new forum ! My previous questions had many RESPONSES!