What’s New

Out of the blue, a new project landed in my lap and entails a long-time passion of mine – phytoremediation, utilizing plants to help clear the land and soil of toxins like petrochemicals and heavy metals. The project location is in Kinderhook, NY and involves removing an asphalt parking lot and planting the site with predominantly native grass species like Indian grass (Sorghastum nutans), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) and others. Deep roots phytostabilize the contaminants within the soil preventing leaching into groundwater or runoff in heavy rain events which is excellent news for the water table and ecosystem and the meadow garden will provide habitat for birds, insects and small mammals as well as beauty for the homeowners to enjoy. Wins all around.

In December 2025, I completed the four course certificate program in Horticultural Therapy via the Horticultural Therapy Institute in Denver Colorado and received my certificate! Thrilled to be starting the new chapter of designing and consulting on wellness gardens and therapeutic horticulture programs. Currently, I’m working with Dr. Vanessa Guyton, Founder and Director of Hush No More to develop a one-acre Herb Farm for Safe Haven Wellness Farm that will be used to grow calming nervine herbs like lemon balm and lavender. The Herb Farm will also be the site for a Vocational Horticultural Therapy Program for survivors, veterans, and individuals affected by addiction, PTSD, mental health challenges and trauma to gain workforce training that will develop long term independence and stability. COMING SOON: a short video on the benefits of therapeutic horticulture.

As of summer 2025 I’m now living and working in Columbia South Carolina and am meeting the new Native Plant Friends like red sage (Salvia coccinea). Hello, red sage! Hummingbird and pollinator magnet who enjoys full sun and grows to three foot tall and wide when happy.

Finally! A simple garden design APP that allows me to help you visualize your garden. Here are some before and after examples.

In 2020 I posted to Facebook about the heartbreak I felt walking onto jobsites witnessing trees cut down to make room for new houses, driveways, firepits, terraces.  The great sadness at seeing tree bodies piled at sides of newly constructed roads with just-severed tree roots still jutting out from soil embankments. At that point, I knew I could not continue to ignore my heartbreak but didn’t know how I would shift away from traditional landscape design into a softer, gentler way of working with people and plants.

Its taken me several years and I am still finding the path forward but am happy to invite you to the first annual Plants Speak Gathering at the Uplands Center in Walton, NY on Saturday September 21^st. For the past year I’ve been collaborating with a group of plant-centered humans including my herbal teacher Marguerite Uhlmann-Bower and my Plant Sister Miki Aso to create this event to bring ways of feeling and sending into plant knowledge to all people. Everyone from every walk of life and job is welcome, not just gardeners, horticulturists, herbalists, nursery people, artists others who work with plants. Though they are welcome too.