I'm currently serving on the APLD (Association of Professional Landscape Designers) Board of Directors.  What an honor to participate in such an amazing organization!

I'm a registered landscape architect in the state of Iowa.

I love to teach (especially when I get to unravel the mysteries of landscape design). 

I'm crazy excited about earning these recent awards:

• 2018 GWA Silver Medal for Digital Media Blog Overall

• 2018 GWA Silver Medal for Writing on a Blog

• 2017 Iowa State University (ISU) Award for Early Achievement in Teaching

• 2016 ISU College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching by Lecturers and Adjunct Faculty

I love to use my drawings to teach (it lightens up many topics).

My blogging career began at The Lunch Box Project...my goal was to create one food illustration each day for a year in 2009.  I then continued this adventure until my shift to garden design in early 2014. 

I've had the pleasure of creating illustrations for fabulous clients such as Country Gardens Magazine, Garden Design Magazine, Jarlsberg Cheese, KitchenPlay, Smitten Ice Cream, Kestrel Design Group and many other amazing food and garden blogs.

I love giving presentations and recently had the opportunity to speak at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. Wow!

I love photography, though am really new at it, so please don’t expect greatness, but I’m shooting lots of images nonetheless. You can explore my photographic ramblings on Instagram.

I am crazy about peanut butter, ice cream and Claussen pickles (I do eat the pickles separately!).

I enjoy combining unrelated topics into fresh ideas...like peanut butter and jelly gardens. 

I love practicality with an unsuspected dose of whimsy.

I love perennials and am constantly seeking that perfect formula to combine them (it may not exist, but please don't take away this exciting challenge).

I am infatuated with the fringe of garden design...exploring new themes, new illustration styles and looking at gardens from unique vantage points (like through postcards, music and wedding photography).

I have three amazing, smart and creative kids (don't we all?!).

I also have a sweet, wire-haired dachshund named Gunther and a jumpy red-heeler named Sunny.