| About the Gardeners |
I have experience designing, installing, and maintaining residential ornamental gardens from the
foothills to thecoastal plain. Having gardened avocationally in North Carolina since childhood, I
began gardening professionally upon leaving an 18-year career in communications and adult
education. For five years I had the joy and good fortune of being affiliated with Messenbrink's
Nursery at their N. C. Farmers Market location.
Although I only rarely meet a plant I do not like, my particular passion is plants native to the
Southeastern United States. When designing, I believe it's very important to consider not only a
site's physical characteristics, but also the existing and surrounding plant and animal
communities. For me, a garden is truly alive when it becomes a healthy, functioning
ecosystem.
Gardening provides a multitude of benefits from fresh air and exercise to fulfilling the need we all
have for creative expression and beauty. I especially enjoy working with individuals and families
who want to reconnect with nature by creating a vibrant home environment that appeals to all of
the senses. I feel strongly that engaging children with the natural world is important both for
their own development and the future of our planet.
Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bachelor of Arts in English Literature
North Carolina State University, Certificate in Writing and Editing
North Carolina Botanical Garden, Native Plant Studies, ongoing
Associations
North Carolina Botanical Garden
North Carolina Native Plant Society--Margaret Reid Chapter
Friends of Plant Conservation
Friend of the Reid Wildflower Garden
National Wildlife Federation
North Carolina Wildlife Federation--Capital Chapter
J.C. Raulston Arboretum
Triangle Land Conservancy
I believe that our immediate environment has an enormous impact on the quality of our lives—
physically, mentally, and spiritually. A beautiful and serene home garden lends beauty and
serenity to the lives of its inhabitants. My strong experience with visual design and presentation
coupled with fifteen years of horticultural experience enables me to create and maintain such
environments for our clients.
In my experience most principles of good stage presentation are equally effective in garden
design. Having enjoyed working with performing artists to enhance and present their material in
the most effective ways, I also enjoy the process of working closely with garden clients to create
very personal designs that fulfill their needs and wishes for their own home landscapes.
Education
Birmingham-Southern College - Bachelor of Arts in Drama
University of California, Davis - Master of Fine Arts in Directing
Associations
J.C. Raulston Arboretum
American Horticultural Society
Friend of Plant Conservation
Triangle Land Conservancy
foothills to thecoastal plain. Having gardened avocationally in North Carolina since childhood, I
began gardening professionally upon leaving an 18-year career in communications and adult
education. For five years I had the joy and good fortune of being affiliated with Messenbrink's
Nursery at their N. C. Farmers Market location.
Although I only rarely meet a plant I do not like, my particular passion is plants native to the
Southeastern United States. When designing, I believe it's very important to consider not only a
site's physical characteristics, but also the existing and surrounding plant and animal
communities. For me, a garden is truly alive when it becomes a healthy, functioning
ecosystem.
Gardening provides a multitude of benefits from fresh air and exercise to fulfilling the need we all
have for creative expression and beauty. I especially enjoy working with individuals and families
who want to reconnect with nature by creating a vibrant home environment that appeals to all of
the senses. I feel strongly that engaging children with the natural world is important both for
their own development and the future of our planet.
Education
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Bachelor of Arts in English Literature
North Carolina State University, Certificate in Writing and Editing
North Carolina Botanical Garden, Native Plant Studies, ongoing
Associations
North Carolina Botanical Garden
North Carolina Native Plant Society--Margaret Reid Chapter
Friends of Plant Conservation
Friend of the Reid Wildflower Garden
National Wildlife Federation
North Carolina Wildlife Federation--Capital Chapter
J.C. Raulston Arboretum
Triangle Land Conservancy
- I bring Gardener by Nature my experience from thirty years as a
technical theatre teacher, stage designer, and technician, as well as
knowledge gained from a life-long fascination with plants and
gardens. As a cub scout, I planted English ivy along my mother’s
driveway, and then later watched my father create a lovely woodland
garden at our home in spite of that ivy.
- While pursuing my master’s degree in California, I worked in several
private gardens, and gardening continued to be a hobby over the
years. However, I didn’t get really serious about residential
landscapes until 1994 when I began developing our own property into
a botanical display garden.
I believe that our immediate environment has an enormous impact on the quality of our lives—
physically, mentally, and spiritually. A beautiful and serene home garden lends beauty and
serenity to the lives of its inhabitants. My strong experience with visual design and presentation
coupled with fifteen years of horticultural experience enables me to create and maintain such
environments for our clients.
In my experience most principles of good stage presentation are equally effective in garden
design. Having enjoyed working with performing artists to enhance and present their material in
the most effective ways, I also enjoy the process of working closely with garden clients to create
very personal designs that fulfill their needs and wishes for their own home landscapes.
Education
Birmingham-Southern College - Bachelor of Arts in Drama
University of California, Davis - Master of Fine Arts in Directing
Associations
J.C. Raulston Arboretum
American Horticultural Society
Friend of Plant Conservation
Triangle Land Conservancy
| Guiding you to successful gardening! |
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| --Dale |
| --John |
