Miles Hilton Connors, MALD 17 Wilson Avenue, Belmont, MA 02478(617) 233-2040, sustainablegardendesign@gmail.com

Portfolio Horticulture & Landscape Design

Resume 1-2

Design and PlanningSteps Toward A Green Development, Acton MA 3-6Land Management Plan, Southbury CT 7-10Residential Landscape Design, South Deerfield MA 11-14Stormwater Catchment System, Colrain MA 15-16

Index

Related Works

Samuel Whitehorne House 17-18Rough Point Estate 19-20Camel Topiary 21Drawing from the natural world 22 Sustainable Garden Design 23

MILES HILTON CONNORS, M.A.L.D.17 Wilson Avenue, Belmont, MA 02478(617) 233-2040, sustainablegardendesign@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCESeptember 2010 to Field Manager, Parterre Garden Services, Cambridge, MAPresent Provide large scale and high-end gardening services including landscape management, routine maintenance and design for 18 properties in Cambridge and one 60-acre estate in Hopkinton, MA.

January 2006 to Business Owner, Sustainable Garden Design, RI & MAPresent Design & build business specializing in unique garden and landscape planning for historic & residential properties. Dedicated to native plant palettes, organic maintenance, seasonal productivity and aesthetic functionality.

June 2001 to Head Gardener, Newport Restoration Foundation, Newport RIAugust 2009 Planning, implementing and managing gardens and landscapes for 82 colonial properties on the Federal Historic Register;

including Rough Point Estate, Samuel Whitehorne Museum and Prescott Farm. IPM, irrigation design & installation, arbor care & cataloging, crew management, staff & board meetings and budget organization. Promoted and presented educational programming of gardens. Established organic lawn and land care program for the foundation.

January 2007 to Caretaker & Estate Gardener, private homeowners, Newport, RIAugust 2009 Managed homes and gardens of seasonal residents by supervising contractor work, budgeting expenses, gathering quotes

and overseeing the opening and closing of respective properties. Meeting client objectives by offering garden design options, researching natural habitats for coastal conditions and incorporating sustainable and functional outdoor spaces for entertainment.

PROFESSIONAL STUDENT PROJECTS

May 2010 Green Housing Development Plan, Acton, MA, CSLD Student Project Site plan for 12-acre property, analyzing the capability of passive energy use in new home construction, alternative storm water management and native plantings to unify the site.

January 2010 Land Management Plan, Southbury Land Trust, Southbury, CT, CSLD Student Project Designed a document for best management practices on a 155-acre open space parcel. The management plan focused on conservation of agricultural practices and passive recreation while protecting diverse natural habitats and resources for the community of Southbury, CT.

September 2009 Residential Landscape Design, South Deerfield, MA, CSLD Student Project Alignedwithspecificclientgoalsandthecontextoftheirresidentialneighborhoodtoestablishanewandsustainableplanting plan.Transformedmownlawnintoopentrailswithnativeplanting’stofilterstormwaterandprovidehabitatand forage for wildlife. Trail network design links neighbors to one another and to the contiguous conservation land. 1

EDUCATION June 2010 MA, GRADUATE PROGRAM IN SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPE PLANNING & DESIGN CONWAY SCHOOL OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN, CONWAY, MA

Master’sdegreeprograminsustainablelandscapeplanninganddesign,creatingecologicallyandsociallyresponsibleland and residential plans for three real-life client groups. Computer application skills: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and SketchUp.

May 1999 BS, ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING & POLICY, MINOR IN BIOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT FARMINGTON, FARMINGTON, ME

CONTINUING EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

2004 - 2009 New England Grows Annual Professional Conference, Continuing Education, Boston, MA 2007 OrganicLandCareCertification,NortheastOrganicFarmer’sAssociation,MA 2006 OrganicLawn&TurfCertification,NortheastOrganicFarmer’sAssociation,MA 2004 CertifiedHorticulturalist, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 2002 MasterGardenerCertification,UniversityofRhodeIsland,Kingston,RI

AWARDS

2007 - 2009 Newport Daily News, Garden design and installation showcased and published Newport, RI 2006 La Vie Claire Magazine, Estate gardens and green design plans published

Rough Point, Newport, RI 2006 NewportFlowerShow,Awardwinner(historicflowerandheirloomroseentries) Rosecliff Estate, Newport, RI

VOLUNTEER

Daffodil Days in Newport volunteer, Newport, RI Newport Tree Commission board member, Newport, RI NRF Education speaker - Organic Lawn Care Program, Rough Point NRF Historic Garden speaker - Whitehorne Museum and Prescott Farm, Newport, RI

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Steps Toward A Green Development

Project Site

Isolated activities that residents engage in the community directly impact the whole water supply.Source: Actonstreamteams.org

Mass GIS data

On the west side of the property is a forested wetland that is part of the aquifer recharge zone for the community water supply.

Fort Pond Brook is fed in part by water that runs off the residents property.

The 12-acre Kotanchik property lies within the Su-As-Co watershed that is rich in resources. The watershed and the town’s water supply are threatened by the existing growth rate of current development patterns and non-point source pollution entering surface water that recharges the groundwater supply.

The Kotanchik property has an extensive system of wetlands and open space. The family has decided to subdivide the site into four lots, allowing for three additional homes along a new town road. Two acres of wetland that recharge the towns water supply exist on the west side of the property. This wetland could be heavily impacted by development if careful planning isn’t taken to protect the resource. The Kotanchiks have an opportunity to define green development in a way which preserves the health and beauty of the watershed, while also building three additional homes that utilize sustainable technologies creating a private home space and landscape.

Acton,MA

Boston

Massachusetts Watersheds

Fort Pond Brook Sub-basin: 30 acres

Su-As-CoWatershed

Legend

Protected Open Space

Wetlands

Vegetation

Impervious Surfaces

Project Site

Project Context: Living in a watershed

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Existing Conditions

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The Kotanchik’s own a modified farmhouse on a twelve-acre site in Acton, Massachusetts. They have decided to subdivide the site into four lots, allowing for three additional homes along a new town road. The goal of the client is to develop in an ecologically responsible way, resilient in the face of an uncertain future. The client also wishes to build a sense of community through a planting plan that incorporates edible landscaping and managing storm water on site, while accessing the suitability of constructing energy efficient homes that uses alternative energy sources. 4

Around the existing farmhouse are ornamental trees and shrubs with open lawn and meadow that allow stormwater to flow off the site.

Summary analysis

Micmac Lane

Direction of Prevail-ing Winter Winds

Direction of Summer Breeze

Forested Wetland

0-3% Slopes

Potential Impact From New Septic System and Soil Disturbance

Micmac Lane Development Area

10-40% Slopes

Hot Summer Sun Exposure

Kotanchik Private Space

0-5% Slopes

Maintain Views

Screen Winter Wind

Block Views to and From Micmac Lane

40’

80’

120’

0’

Forested Wetland The western third of the property is a forested wetland that recharges the towns groundwater supply. The health of the wetland and the water supply is directly impacted by the activity on the east side of the property.

Micmac Land Development AreaThree new homes will be built on the western slope. The original subdivision plan requires additional septic systems, a stormwater management system, a new town road, buried utilities, and a connection to the town water supply. Building these homes will require disturbance to the area from regrading, which may increase non point source pollution and the potential for erosion into the wetland.

Kotanchik Private SpaceThe eastern side of the site will remain the Kotanchiks’ private property. The residence is situated at the top of the slope which offers beautiful views to western mountains but leaves the home exposed to cold winter winds. Stormwater flows from the house southeast towards Nashoba Road across well-draining soils and slopes of 0-5%, making it a prime area of the property to slow and infiltrate stormwater on site.

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Preferred design

Lawn

Integrated home design Shared community space

Greywater purification systemStorm water privacy trail

Boardwalk to conservation land

Wild meadow gardens

Clients landscape plan (See detail)

Rain garden

Wildflower Meadow

Mown Path

Lawn

Lawn

By working in conjunction with the natural systems on site, the preferred design provides privacy while encouraging community, turns storm water into an amenity, takes advantage of solar gain while providing welcome shade and wind breaks, and demonstrates responsible land stewardship.

Greywater Purification SystemThe average American uses 100-200 gallons of water a day in their home. Reusing greywater in the landscape reduces the strain on the septic system and the impact that septic effluent will have on the wetland. For the time being, Massachusetts law discourages the recycling use of greywater to irrigate gardens and lawns. However, grey water can be contained as a lined water feature in which plants filter nutrients.

Storm Water TrailIn the new design, all the storm water on the western slope is managed through the reuse of stone found on site and by deep rooted and densely planted native plant species. Instead of conventional structures that carry rain water off site, the daylighted system allows water to nourish fruit producing plants, that filter storm water before recharging groundwater, while creating habitat for wildlife. Additionally, the system creates access to a boardwalk trail that connects the residence to neighboring open space, including local farms. This system also helps to create privacy between homes.

Rain GardensThe storm water that falls on the roof is slowed and cap-tured as close to the ground as possible. In the landscape design, storm water is directed towards vegetated depres-sions planted with native trees, shrubs and grasses. The gardens slow water moving across lawn surfaces where it can infiltrate and recharge groundwater.

Wild Meadow GardensManicured lawns demand the input of nitrogen and phosphorus often found in chemical fertilizers, which threatens water supplies. By replacing the vast expanse of domestic lawn around the property with low maintenance edible plants, each resident spends less time mowing and more time outside with family and in touch with neighbors.

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Land Management Plan Project Goals:

1. Document the history, nature, and character-istics of the Phillips-Lovdal farms, as well as its current limitations and future possibilities.

2. Develop Phillips-Lovdal maps that can serve as the basis for land management decisions regarding conservation, agricultural, and rec-reational uses.

3. Identify the best uses of the defined zones based on the analysis of the properties and make recommendations for uses and land management in a time-phased plan.

A stone wall image was used to gather information on preferred uses for the site at an open board meeting. The top five interests expressed by community members were (1) preservation of open space, (2) conservation of agricultural heritage and pastoral fields, (3) hiking and enjoyment of nature, (4) Community Supported Agriculture, and (5) educational activities.

Project Context: Conserving open space

The 155-acre Phillips-Lovdal Farm in Southbury CT is surrounded by suburban housing development, privately held land, and working farms.

Although development pressures have reduced agricultural land and fragmented forests, connective corridors exist for recreational activities, productive land, wildlife habitat, and water resources. The existence of the land trust has contributed greatly to the conservation of these valued resources in the community. The land trust has permanently protected almost 800 acres since its founding in 1978, including the Phillips-Lovdal Farm, and has conservation easements on an additional 200 acres.

The Southbury Land Trust Mission:

The protection and preservation of Southbury’s natural resources for the enjoyment and benefit of all present and future residents.

The Land Trust’s primary mission is conserva-tion. In the context of conservation practices and recommendations for the Phillips-Lovdal Farm, conservation is intended to be dynamic, adapting to the emerging discoveries of the land and its heritage while supporting natural resources, agriculture, and scenic beauty. Preserving these values is also about responsi-bility to the community as well as stewardship of the land.

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The vision of the Southbury Land Trust is one that balances the conservation of agriculture and natural communities while continuing to promote low-impact recreational activities on the Phillips-Lovdal Farm Preserve.

Existing conditions

The 155-acre Phillips-Lovdal Farm Preserve is open space for recreation and agriculture, and is treasured by the community for adding to the rural character of the scenic landscape. A continuous trail leads the visitor through forests and fields and along numerous water courses and stone walls. Approximately 42-acres of the preserve are open field. Areas actively hayed range from wet meadows in the valley basins to dry upland hayfields. Three remaining 96-acres of the preserve are in varying ages of forest cover, including centenarian hickory, maple and oak, and early succession red maple stands. Planted groves of white pine, larch, chestnut, and apple orchard are remnants of past agricultural uses. Approximately 17-acres are wet areas. These include the headwaters of Jeremy Brook in the northwest, to the wetlands in the valley basins. Seasonal vernal pools are isolated under the shade of upland forest. The one-acre Lovdal Pond in the southeast is primarily used as recreation and wildlife habitat. Additionally, seeps and springs emerge throughout the property and drain into a fen.

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The 15-acre fen is a unique aspect of the farm, fed by mineral rich groundwater from the surrounding watershed. This leads to unusual plant and animal life in and around a fen.

Site analysis

Slopes and Drainage

Steep slopes are northeast-facing and primarily occur in forested areas. Moderate slopes occur in forested areas and open fields where agricultural activities are present. The gentle slopes primarily occur in low wetland areas. Surface water flows into the property from surrounding neighborhoods. Storm water from fields used for parking and farming equipment drain into ponds and brooks. The water continues to flow off the property to larger bodies of water to the east.

Implications for Planning:The slopes and drainage patterns are partof a much greater watershed. Potentiallycontaminated water flows on site from neighboring properties and settles in wetlands. Areas for parking and current agricultural practices contribute to groundwater contamination.

Access and Circulation

Parking from either end of the property takes place on open agricultural fields. An existing 1.3-mile trail links the two farms. The land trust is developing a trail that would run through wetlands and numerous intermittent streams. Farm equipment is stored in a barn near public parking.

Implications for Planning:The existing trail is well maintained andaccessible to the public. At two points the proposed trails pass through wetlands and riparian buffers. Parking areas are within active agricultural sites, causing some safety concerns to visitors and potential damage to agricultural crops by vehicles.

Soils

Patterns of current agricultural use reflect largely in the underlying soils. Primeagricultural soil is protected beneath mature tree canopy, sheltered by early successional growth, including patches of invasive plant species where historically active agricultural uses took place. Wetland soils occur largely in forested areas with the exception of thefen and pieces of agricultural fields.

Implications for Planning:Soils in open fields supportcurrent agricultural uses on the site, butthese could be diversified. If additionalfarmland soils are required for futureagricultural uses, they are protectedbeneath early successional forest.The wetland soils are fragile and protected so that agriculture or recreational uses should be avoided in these areas. 9

Preferred design

A Land Management Plan

Wetlands & WatercoursesMaintain 50-ft riparian buffers around delineated fen and wetlands to protect water quality and wildlife habitat. Monitor for invasive species.

Fields for MeadowsManage designated fields as meadow habitat for wildlife and pollinators. Monitor and manage invasive plant species and overseed in the falland spring with seeds gathered on site along with native wildflower mixes.

Fields for AgricultureMaintain designated fields for haying and for scenic open space. Build replacement barn on Zontok instead of Phillips and relocate visitor entrance/parking to the far west gateon Sanford Road, limiting current entrance to agricultural use only.

Edges & CorridorsReplace invasive plants with native, fruiting trees and shrubs, along with woody debris from native plants, in select areas to encourage wildlife habitat. Place nesting boxes to encourage nesting bird species.

Access & CirculationUse interpretive signs, trail markers, and a trail map to guide visitors and to designate restricted or limited access areas or times. Keep trailsoutside riparian buffers or install appropriate crossings, such as boardwalks, using the mostdirect routes to cross wet areas.field for agriculture

fields for meadows

50-ft vegetated buffer

existing trail

proposed trail

wetland

seeps and springs

Management recommendations for Phillips-Lovdal Farm Preserve will protect natural communities, supportcurrent and future agriculture, and improve access and circulation on the site.

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Legend:

Residential landscape design

On the north, the front entrance has several young trees that rise from the open lawn to greet guests as they pull into the asphalt drive. Evergreen shrubs encircle the home, but provide little privacy or protection from winter winds.

To the east , spectacular views of Mount Sugar-loaf rise above neighboring properties.

To the south, the lawn slopes down gradually to a constructed drainage swale. The swale moves storm water away from the home and into infiltration basins. The property has a drainage easement that restricts building and limits plant-ing within the thirty-foot setback of property line for all properties in the subdivision.

Project Context:A newly developed residential neighborhood of South Deer-field that was historically in agricultural use, the landscape is dominated by open lawn with young trees that provide little summer shade and privacy. With a strong desire to use their landscape for entertaining guests and enjoying the spectacular views of Mount Sugarloaf to the east, the residents would like to create outdoor living spaces that welcome friends and neigh-bors while establishing areas of privacy.

The 2900-square-foot home is perched on a one-acre site, with gently sloping lawn to drainage swales on property borders. To the north is the more exposed front entry, and to the south an open lawn with young trees and shrubs.

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11 Spring Blossom Arrival

As guests approach the home in early spring, they are greeted by flowering cherry trees under-planted with naturalized daffodils, reducing time spent mowing lawn.

2 Lush Living LawnThe lawn is organically maintained and is used primarily for open areas for entertaining and to connect garden areas.

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3 Alluring Azalea WalkThe front entry has been improved by reducing lawn and planting woodland trees, shrubs and perennials that have seasonal flowers and fall color.

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4 Edible Fruit AlleyThe mown swale on the east side of the house has been transformed into an edible fruit grove.

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5 Carpet Thyme WalkA Goshen stone terrace and walkway on the south side of the house has been planted with thyme and other low- growing groundcovers.

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6 Intimate Dining Additional living space for entertaining on the southeast corner of the home has views of Mount Sugarloaf.

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7 Culinary Herb GardenA variety of herbs are cultivated for the table in preparation for guests and seasonal floral arrangements.

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Formal Rose GardenThe existing tea-rose collection has been relocated to become a focal point of the garden and entertainment area.

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Native Grass SweepViews of Mount Sugarloaf are enhanced by removing existing hemlock and birch and planting native grasses.

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Shady Trellis RetreatIncreased area for entertainment under a rose-covered trellis gives guests a destination in the garden.

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Calm Sanctuary ViewsAn area for quiet meditation while enjoying the views of Mount Sugarloaf. A simple stone bench is embraced by native grasses and evergreen hedge.

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Wild Meadow StrollA mown path in the drainage swale connects users to neighborhood. The existing lawn matures to meadow, ensuring seasonal beauty and forage habitat for wildlife.

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1213 Warm Woodland Way

The west side of the property has ornamental trees and shrubs that filter warm afternoon sun and provide habitat for wildlife.

14 Blue Mystery EntranceFrom the driveway, the transition from public to the more private garden is through an arbor of blue atlas cedar, under-planted with blue fescue and wildflowers.

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Preferred design

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Residents propertySwale meadowPedestrian access trailMount Sugarloaf ‘Bridle Trail’

The neighborhood residents have an opportunity to turn the drainage easement into a community asset.

Transforming the constructed drainage swale into a vegetated corridor full of diverse, native plants with pedestrian trails creates immediate open space for residents and day hike options into the Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation.

Additionally, patches of habitat for foraging wildlife is increased, while reducing the overall time spent on lawn maintenance. The Corridors and Connections design also functions to slow and filter rapidly moving storm water through the drainage swale before recharging back into groundwater supply.

Alternative: ‘Corridors and Connections’

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The front of the house has been framed by reducing lawn and planting native and ornamental trees, shrubs and perennials that have seasonal flower, fragrance and fall color.

Front Entry Planting Plan

TreesCc Cercis canadensis eastern redbud ‘Forest Pansy’ Fs Fagus sylvatica Dawyck purple beech Fa Franklinia alatamaha franklinia or franklin tree M Magnolia ‘Elizabeth’ Oa Oxydendrum arboreum sourwood Sv Sciadopitys verticillata Japanese umbrella pine

ShrubsCa Clethra alnifolia summersweet ‘Ruby Spice’ Ha Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’-white mophead Hq Hydrangea quercifolia oakleaf hydrangea ‘Alice’ Hm Hydrangea macrophylla lacecap ‘Blue Billows’ Ic Ilex crenata ‘Green Luster’ Ic Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’ Holly Io Ilex opaca American Holly-female Mv Magnolia virginiana sweetbay magnolia

WildflowersAm Alchemilla mollis lady’s mantle Ac Anemone canadensis Canada anemone Cm Convallaria majalis lily-of-the-valley Cv Coreopsis verticulata ‘American Dreams’- pink Ds Dicentra spectabilis bleeding heart species Ep Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’ cone flower Ep Echinacea purpurea ‘Kims Knee High’ cone flower Go Galium odoratum sweet woodruff H Heuchera ‘Raspberry Regal’ Coral Bells Iv Iris versicolor northern blue flag L Lavender ‘Hidcote’ P Paeonia Peony ‘Sorbet’ P Paeonia Peony ‘Sarah Bernhardt’ Pp Phlox paniculata ‘David’, white flower Pb Polygonatum biflorum ‘Variegatum’ Solomon’s seal S Sedum spurium stonecrop ‘Tricolor’ Tv Thymus vulgaris Tyme for walkway

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A Sustainable Family Farm

Clients Long-Term Goal“We would like to leave our children with a property that can be a productive homestead, as well as a central place for them to reconnect once they move out into the world. Given that we are somewhat pessimistic about where the world is headed (environmentally, economically and spiritually), we’d like to make sure they have the option to grow at least some of their own food and have a quiet place to retreat.”

Spring Farm, Colrain MA

Clients Short-Term Goals-Site a few large garden areas-Rebuild the existing stone wall-Conserve water while creating a pond

Clients Ideal Landscape

“Diverse, productive and abundant with wildlife- predominantly natural meadow with areas for sheep, goats and a mule. Some thickets, and a natural pond is possible. We would like to site a small red (old looking) barn, an orchard of fruit trees and a couple of large vegetable gardens with a greenhouse to support the growing”.

The historic brick home is at the top of a hill with deteriorating stone walls and early successional meadows surrounding it.

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slate roof

pondgravity feed water to faucet in stone wall

550 gal. poly tank

stores water

The drip line of the house

pond

terraced stone wall

vegetable garden

Storm Water Catchement System

As the initial phase of the land management plan, I worked with the family to rebuild an old section of stone wall that had collapsed and was unsafe, as well as create new garden space and divert water that is collecting in the basement. With water often in the basement from roof runoff, I felt that solving multiple issues in one coherent design could be addressed.

The design set out to rebuild the stone wall and create a storm water catchment system that would pull water away from the house where it could be reused in the landscape. At the drip line of the house, a rubber liner filled with crushed stone was laid with a two-percent grade into PVC tubing that runs into a cistern. The water is collected in a 550 gal. poly-tank that could then gravity feed into a vegetable garden below the stone wall. The storm water catchment system overflow leads to a constructed pond to provide water for irrigation, a summer swimming area and support habitat for wildlife.

Spring Farm, Colrain MAPhase One: conserving water while rebuilding a tradition wall

sugar maple provides shade

Samuel Whitehorne House

“If the landscape does not present a similar picture to that of the structure, then the story is incomplete.” Favretti, ‘Landscapes and Gardens for Historical Buildings’.

Over the past three decades, the Newport Restoration Foundation (NRF) has meticulously restored the magnificent Samuel Whitehorne House, transforming it into an architectural showplace on the National Historic Register. With the restoration complete and the future of the building assured, the Foundation turned its interests to the restoring the historic integrity of the gardens.

A historic home has a garden restoration

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Samuel Whitehorne HouseAs Head Gardener, I found that researching and restoring a historic garden to its original state may be more challenging than historic house restoration. While the outlines of a house remain relatively distinct, landscape use over time can easily obscure the original garden design. For example, original paths, fences and out-buildings had been demolished for additions to the house and on-site parking. Without written records of any kind, the curators and historians of the Samuel Whitehorne House had little to base a garden restoration on. Therefore, it was decided that the goal of the design and restoration should become “an interpretation of an early nineteenth century sea merchant’s garden in Newport, Rhode Island”. The garden design was my responsibility, with the guidance of professionals in historic garden design. Close to the house are culinary herbs mixed with cut-flowers, such as hardy heirloom apothecary roses that are fragrant in June. Bush fruits of many varieties, including alpine strawberry and high bush blueberry, grow among peach and pear trees. Gravel paths with stone walls create symmetry and pedestrian circulation throughout the garden. Today, visitors are encouraged to walk through the gardens of the Samuel Whitehorne House and are offered educational talks that interpret Whitehorne’s unique house and gardening history.

Spring 2004

Spring 2006

A Seaside Estate in Newport, Rhode Island

Rough Point Estate

Blue flag iris naturalized in rocky ledge at oceans edge

Seven-acres of organically maintained lawn

Over sixty-five different varieties of dahlia were grown as cut-flowers for the house While managing and working alongside a full-time staff of gardeners, grounds crew and volunteers,

I began the collaborative restoration of Rough Point estate’s 11-acre lawn, vegetable, rose and cut flower gardens. My Head Gardener position soon transitioned into educational events and commu-nity outreach programs, while also maintaining the esthetic integrity of the gardens. I collaborated with a professional arborists to identify, catalog and label specimen trees to create an arboretum on the estate. I coordinated with the University of Rhode Island to promote hands-on educational internships that supported sustainable practices and historical garden design.

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The formal gardens were planted with careful attention to original plant lists from the estate archives. Lists include spring flowering allium and ladies mantle with catmint.

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Rough Point Estate

I maintained the public gardens and historical landscapes for the Newport Restoration Foundation. My responsibilities incorporated garden restoration and maintenance for public viewing and formal landscape design and installation. I also encouraged the foundation to broaden their mission into areas of sustainability. This included developing organic landscape plans for their 82 properties, estates, and historic Prescott Farm.

Unpredictable weather patterns were common across the ‘rough point’, making gardening more challenging.

Camel Topiary

The act of physically building a design from a sketch concept on paper to a final product is an effective hands-on experience that strengthens a designer’s knowledge base.

In honor of “Princess & Babe,” two Bactrian camels that lived at Rough Point, I designed two life-sized Bactrian camels during the spring of 2007. My crew and I built and planted the frames for an exhibit entitled ‘Zoo in the House’ at Rough Estate in Newport, RI.

Materials used: Welded 1/4” steel wire frame with chicken wire zipped tied to hold sphagnum moss and soil medium. Thymus vulgaris, and sedum varieties with Nasella for beard. 21

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Drawing the Natural World

Taking the time to draw a place or pattern seen in the natural world captures a moment that may seem to stand still, or rapidly pass by. It allows the artist to explore these details and learn from their design.

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Above: Retail entrance for popular downtown Museum Store, Newport, RI.

Right: Pathway enhanced with a knot garden theme, including boxwood, santolina, lavender and summer annuals. A wooden bench was added for customers to relax and enjoy the courtyard garden.

Hard-scapes constructed from reclaimed brick, bluestone and cobble add an outdoor room for entertaining.

A mature red maple stands alone in an unused corner of the lawn (above). The clients wished to add an outdoor living area that was private. The design focused on building an iron arbor that weeping cherry could be trained over, allowing a living wall for privacy and added interest.

Residential design and construction of a small kitchen garden. The client goal was to grow and harvest organic vegetables and herbs from there own urban garden.

Sustainable Garden Design

Before

Before After

After

Enhanced commercial entry,Newport, RI Reclaimed hardscapes,

Newport, RI

Intimate private garden,Newport, RI

Organic kitchen garden,Newport, RI