The Early Years
I grew up on Long Island, NY under the shade of an old apple tree and spent much of my time climbing its limbs—when I wasn’t riding my bike or watching bugs… (always a nature-girl)
Study and Work
After studying Ornamental Horticulture at the University of Delaware and getting my Fine Arts degree at Philadelphia College of Art (now University of the Arts), I returned to New York. There, I worked for a company maintaining tropical plants in offices and restaurants.
I moved to Philadelphia in 1981 and started an Interior Plantscape business of my own. I planned, installed and maintained plants in client’s homes, model homes, high visibility commercial lobbies, and atriums.
In 1991 I came to Portland and studied Landscape Design at PCC Rock Creek. I worked at Tsugawa Nursery in Woodland, Washington, as a Garden Designer for 6 years. At Tsugawa, I also taught gardening classes and designed visual merchandising displays.
I established Plan-it Earth Design in 1998, and it has evolved into what you see today—a process-oriented design collaboration with you.
I have been publicity chair since 2011 for the annual ANLD Designers Garden Tour (www.anld.com) and continue to help keep local designers connected to events and educational opportunities in the region. 
I have served as Legislative Advocacy Chair on the Board of APLD Oregon since 2005, vigilantly protecting the rights of Landscape Designers in our state (www.apldoregon.org).
I’ve worked with The Leach Botanic Garden, The Audubon Society of Portland, East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District and The Backyard Habitat Certification Program as well as many local Nurseries, Master Gardener and other Garden Clubs delivering workshops for homeowners and landscape professionals alike.
I am available to teach classes throughout Portland, Oregon and elsewhere on various landscape design topics, including:
- Small Space Design;
- Gardening for Year-round Interest;
- Creating Habitat with Native Plants;
- Raingardens for the Disconnected Downspout; and
- Healthy Gardens for People and Wildlife
- Editing the Mature Garden
I have been trained by the City of Portland-sponsored stormwater retrofit program and listed on their website as a resource for raingarden (stormwater facility) design. You can find me on their Clean River Rewards Professional Referral list here.
In collaboration with another Portland area garden designer, I have created numerous award winning display gardens at the Portland Home & Garden Show and the Yard, Garden and Patio Show over the years with the help of my partners at The Garden Design Studio and Abundant Nature. Those gardens have been noted for their Water Wise, Wildlife Habitat and Educational values.