a new start!

i'm a very creative soul, but not a writer...so bear with me!  i'm excited to announce/shout/sing "I'M GOING OUT ON MY OWN!"  i have been in the landscape industry for over 15 years, mostly working for other companies and learning a ton.  i've loved and lived this work, which started with me being a super nerded-out gardener in my own yard.  i always joke that my plants spent more time on my shovel than in the ground from moving them all over the place.  i spent every moment i could (kids' napping) to get out in my yard.  i've always loved the outdoors and this was a way i could enjoy the fresh air, sunshine, and dirt.  my accounting degree was not going to help me do this for a living, so i went back to school through a program offered by northwestern university at the morton arboretum and learned design, plants, rendering, hardscapes, etc.  so here i am.  i have a passion for sustainability--specifically using natural materials--clay brick, stone, gravel, outcropping, crushed stone, cobbles, steel, wood, etc.  i love using plant material that will stand the test of time and look elegant and simple at the same time.  my design aesthetic is more modern/current--with large swaths of color instead of "onesy-twosy" gardening, and also using different foliage colors and textures whenever i can.  we all love flowers but they come and go, so i always like to fill in with leaf colors and textures that really stand out and provide contrast to "so much green" that everyone complains about.  my goal is to get people out in their own yards, enjoying themselves and their families.  this means creating low maintenance but stunning landscapes, gorgeous curb appeal, and comfortable back yard living spaces.  this requires 1. a detailed initial consultation 2. a thoughtful and practical design and 3. a hands-on installation process.  more on all those things later, but i just wanted to tell you a bit about me.  i hope to provide you with some helpful tips, some interesting things happening in the world, and interesting people.  and i hope that if you're looking for landscaping, please let me know if i can help you make your outdoor living space a place you want to be.