Native Plant Landscaping for Small Projects
Serving Pasadena, Altadena, Sierra Madre and Monrovia
I specialize in small project native plant landscaping, helping you transform your yard, no matter the size. As an affordable alternative to a traditional landscape designer, I’m happy to focus on smaller projects and approach larger areas in sections. We can make a whole yard plan and execute it a section at a time. I can also create a hummingbird or butterfly garden, a small habitat corner, or a yard refresh. This means we work with your existing landscape to add native plants. Let’s transform your yard into a local wildlife haven that you can take care of yourself. As a California native plant garden coach, I help you choose the right plants for your yard’s unique climate, consider your yard goals (habitat, pollinators, forage, fragrance) and create a design plan. I can even help you install and maintain.
Services
Native Plant Coaching
Do you want to DIY, but need support from someone who knows native plants? I help you create your own native garden. We can walk and talk, or do it all online.
Native Plant Landscape Consulting
In person or online. I create a plan for you to follow: Plant List Only, Plant List + Zone Map, or a detailed Planting + Irrigation Map.
Small Project Installation
We can help you plant, set up simple drip irrigation, and assist with yearly garden maintenance.
Native Plant Garden Styles
These approaches make native garden design accessible and low cost. Learn about small gardens here:
Yard Refresh with Native Plants
For people who don’t want a total yard overhaul, but want to add native plant sections or integrate natives plants into their existing space.
Native Plant Yard Plan
When we design your native garden, we look at your home and consider how you use your space or want to use it. We create a one of a kind garden plan just for your home. We consider color, bloom seasons, shade, privacy, and experience. We can install your whole yard plan now or in phases, or you can DIY.
Native Plant Habitat Corner
A habitat corner is usually about 20 to 60 square feet made with all small creatures in mind. It’s an opportunity to bring more nature to your yard when you don’t have a lot of space. These tiny ecosystems can be tucked into a side yard or a corner. Learn more.
Native Plant Pollinator Garden
These tend to be 40 to 120 square feet, although bees can benefit from just 10 square feet of densely packed pollinating plants! Butterflies need more fluttering room, so their gardens are on the larger end. We can also focus on bird, fragrance or forage gardens. Learn more.
My Native Plant Garden Photo Gallery
Native yards offer a unique sensory experience. Native variety brings birds and butterflies, and creates opportunities to explore and discover in your own back yard. I set mine up as a meandering nature path, with opportunities to sit and even snack. Today, our water bill is half of what it was when the front yard was a lawn. As native plants don’t require the regular maintenance that imported landscapes do, this stillness invites birds to your yard, not only to forage, but nest and raise young.
Meet the Designer
I decided to focus on small project native plant landscaping after years of maintaining a Certified Wildlife Habitat in a Pasadena foothill community. Over time, I developed a unique, low maintenance approach to California native gardening, perfect for those who prefer to manage their own outdoor space. A native yard requires little maintenance once set up. There is no need for a leaf blower or a lawn mower, and once established, a native garden uses very little water. My husband and I are former art and design professionals who make it our mission to offer accessible and affordable approaches to native yard design.
As artists, we can visualize a yard over time, and we hand draw your unique garden design plans. We know which native plants grow fast enough for a hedge, which are suited for your unique terrain and light. We can work with what you already have or build a native yard one corner at a time. As a gardening enthusiast, we have done it all: tried every form of outdoor compost, utilize rain barrels, and keep a small fish pond and separate dragonfly pond.
Let’s work together to make your yard a garden.
Education and Certifications
I completed my Calscape Nursery Training. Our team is currently enrolled in the Theodore Payne Foundation California Native Plant Landscaper Certificate Program. Our yard is a National Wildlife Federation certified wildlife habitat, and we are happy to include these features in your yard design plan. In creating custom garden designs, I also draw from my BFA from the University of North Texas and years of graphic design experience.
Contact me for a free quote.
Ready to begin your own front or backyard small scale landscaping adventure? Contact me or fill out your Garden Plan Form to start now.
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Before and After
