Being a Garden Consultant feels like coming home.

In 2014, when I was a single-working mother and full-time physician, I hired a landscaper to beautify the front yard for me and my 1 year old daughter.

All kids need lots of outside time, but my daughter is neurodivergent, so an outside refuge was especially important for her.

The landscaper chose a design that was beautiful, welcoming and simple. When I asked how to care for the plants, I received some vague answers about adding compost here and there. A year later, when I hired the same landscaper back, I was scolded for not watering the plants and allowing weeds to take over.

Embarrassed, and determined to do better, I applied my natural curiosity and tenacity for research to understand the plants in my home's landscape.

I was shocked to discover that several of the plants installed were on the NC invasive species list.

That led me to several articles about the ecological benefits of native plantings. I grew fascinated by the concept of working with nature to help build plant communities. I studied permaculture principles, removed or battled back against the invasive plants and, over time, replaced my lawn with non-invasive and native plantings.

Just prior to COVID-19, when my health began to fail I went down to part-time at the hospital. My daughter and I spent more time in the garden growing vegetables and flowers (with varying degrees of success). We fell in love with our outdoor haven.

My landscape became a garden, and the practice of gardening became a balm for my soul. The garden helped me survive the toughest years of my life.

Traditional landscaping is designed to be enjoyable to view, and easily maintained (or outsourced). A garden is an outdoor space designed to grow a relationship between the people in the space and its ecosystem, including plants, soil, pollinators and wildlife. 

I became a garden consultant to help others find solace, joy and beauty in gardening.

There is a big gap between what traditional landscaping services or big box garden stores offer and what I and other families need to care for our corners of the Earth's ecosystem.

I became a Garden Consultant to bridge that gap, acting as a resource and advocate for the Durham community.

I bring the same level of professionalism, scientific curiosity, dedicated research I've built during my medical career. I use my natural eye for beauty, studying design principles and best practices, to design sustainable, naturalistic and doable home garden spaces.

As a garden consultant, I've grown more deeply connections with the Durham community. I make a difference in others lives in a way I never could behind the doors of a clinic.

Working as a garden consultant feels like coming home. I am grateful every day for the honor to do so.