35. Ben O'Brien on Wild by Design

BEN O’BRIEN BIO

Ben O'Brien is the owner of Wild by Design, a naturalistic garden design business in Prince Edward County in Ontario that specializes in artfully crafted, richly planted, lovingly tended gardens. For the past decade Ben's passion for plants has informed a wide range of projects, from small town gardens to large rural properties and urban public spaces. Ben's trial garden research explores innovative ways to create beautiful, biodiverse and resilient designed plant communities. 

Ben has presented a webinar specifically focused on his trials for Garden Masterclass (UK), and appeared on their popular "Thursday Garden Chat" interview series. He has been a speaker for horticultural societies and professional landscape audiences across Ontario, and has written articles for the Ecological Landscape Alliance, the American Society of Landscape Architects' Professional Practice blog and Ground Magazine, published by the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects. You can learn more about Ben by visiting his instagram Wild by Design and his website Wild by Design, where he has multiple resources about grit gardening and the plant list.

SHOW NOTES

  • Ben O'Brien shared how his love for plants began with his rural upbringing in Ontario, surrounded by wild landscapes, and how studying landscape architecture at the University of Guelph solidified his passion.

  • The epiphany of visiting the High Line in New York City, which inspired him to explore naturalistic planting design.

  • Ben emphasized the "sweet spot" between ecological restoration and traditional horticulture, which he sees as a magical space for planting design.

  • In college, much of his knowledge about planting design came from self-directed study, including influences from books like Planting in a Post-Wild World and works by Nigel Dunnett, James Hitchmough, and Piet Oudolf.

  • His undergraduate thesis focused on how naturalistic plantings can shift perceptions about the natural world and demonstrate positive human influence.

  • When approaching planting design, Ben prioritizes understanding soils, microclimates, and site conditions.

  • The importance of layers in planting, filling every niche, and the CSR strategies of plants.

  • The value of experimenting with plant architecture and creating resilient plant communities through trial-and-error approaches.

  • Ben highlighted the challenges and benefits of using stress-tolerant substrates like grit, recycled concrete, and sand to grow diverse plant communities with minimal inputs.

  • He detailed his trials on planting into recycled materials, emphasizing how specific substrate compositions can reduce weeds and encourage long-term plant survival.

  • Ben reflected on the importance of ongoing management and stewardship in naturalistic plantings, sharing insights from his experiences maintaining client projects over several years.

  • The need for landscape architects and horticulturists to embrace innovative planting methods and reconsider traditional soil and mulch approaches.

  • Ben stressed the importance of publicizing successful trials and results to encourage adoption of new planting techniques.

  • He discussed the potential for rotational disturbance-based planting models to sustain dynamic plant communities over time.

  • Big successes and failures that he had from the trials.

  • Approaches to planting woody plants into gravel.

  • Limitations to naturalistic planting including plant knowledge and management issues.

  • The need to invest in management and stewardship of designed landscapes, suggesting that the future of naturalistic planting depends on skilled and supported caretakers and being able to see how plantings change over time.

  • Ben shared his perspective on balancing native and non-native species in planting, advocating for a thoughtful, context-dependent approach.

  • UGA’s pollinator study on pollinators and Celosia

  • On parenthood, Ben noted the importance of maintaining work-life balance and how becoming a parent has influenced his efficiency and priorities in work.

  • Ben highlighted the importance of efficient systems and processes, like using drone photography and spreadsheets, to streamline his design and project management workflows.

  • He explored the complexities of plant supply chains and genetic variability, expressing a desire for more transparency and knowledge in the horticulture industry.

  • For aspiring horticulturists, Ben encouraged curiosity and self-education while acknowledging the importance of creating viable career paths in horticulture management.

  • Ben recommended resources such as Planting: A New Perspective and The Dynamic Landscape for those interested in naturalistic planting and emphasized the value of exploring academic journals for practical insights.

  • Ben credited accessible resources like books, journals, and webinars for much of his learning and encouraged professionals to share knowledge to inspire the next generation.

  • Ben reflected on the need for the horticulture industry to move beyond traditional practices and embrace more innovative, ecologically sound methods of planting and management.

  • Learn more about Ben by visiting his instagram Wild by Design and his website Wild by Design, where he has multiple resources about grit gardening and the plant list.

32. Patrick Cullina on Dynamic Naturalistic Planting

PATRICK CULLINA BIO

Patrick Cullina is an award-winning horticulturist, landscape designer, photographer, lecturer, and organizational consultant with more than twenty-five years of experience in the landscape field. He runs a design and consulting business that is dedicated to the innovative and sensitive integration of plants and materials into a diverse range of compelling designs, drawing inspiration from both the natural world and constructed environments alike.

Previously, he was the founding Vice President of Horticulture and Park Operations for New York City's High Line; the VP of Horticulture, Operations & Science Research at Brooklyn Botanic Garden; and the Associate Director of The Rutgers University Gardens in affiliation with the school's Department of Landscape Architecture.

Throughout his career, he has served as a consultant and advisor to an array of public and private clients and projects and has lectured throughout the U.S. and abroad for universities, public gardens, garden clubs, horticultural organizations, museums, libraries and professional organizations on the subjects of plants, living environments, horticulture, landscape design, landscape maintenance and the urban experience.
His consulting work provides services to a host of private, municipal, corporate and conservancy clients and to a number of leading landscape architecture and architecture firms. His work in horticulture has been recognized by organizations like the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Garden Club of America (Zone Horticultural Commendation, 2010), and the Garden Club of New Jersey (Gold Medal, 2005).

You can learn more about Patrick Cullina through his website and on Instagram @pjctwo

SHOW NOTES

  • Passion for plants started in childhood, influenced by Olmstead Brothers Park in Hartford, Connecticut where he grew up playing in the park and participated in educational tours by the parks department

  • Formal education was in English literature at Fordham University

  • His after college work with youth programs in urban areas, which led to an affiliation with Rutgers University

  • Influential figures at Rutgers including Dr. Bruce Hamilton and Dr. Elwynn Orton

  • At Rutgers, Pat’s work on revitalizing the university's arboretum, learning about plant taxonomy, and family patterns

  • Transitioned from administrator to plantsman through practical experience and teaching

  • Creating compartments of plants to easily reference plants

  • Emphasizes the importance of observation and careful interpretation in plant science

  • Coming into horticulture backwards from being an English major

  • Challenges from early mentors to learn plants

  • Caution on turning one observation into canon

  • How design is like a tiger on a chain that has to be tightly held through the entire process

  • The challenges of maintaining integrity in design projects especially with herbaceous plants

  • Valuing gravity and narrative over novelty

  • Mentions specific plant selections and preferences, like reliable Echinacea and Baptisia species

  • Notes the difficulty of managing multiple projects over time

  • His work on Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum as an example of building stories around plants

  • Describes the chaotic nature of the design process and the importance of a strong narrative

  • The influence of his family's storytelling tradition on his approach to landscapes and narratives

  • The importance of creating effective narratives in any field connected to people and comparing it to teaching

  • Admiration of individuals like Roy Diblik, Betty Scholtz, and Darrel Morrison for their personal and authentic engagement with the public

  • Pat’s frustration with misleading advice in public landscapes and gardening and advocating for honest guidance that helps people succeed

  • He discusses the challenges of landscape design in public projects and the impact of poor design choices on community perceptions and funding

  • Cullina contrasts the High Line's success with other projects and suggests that small-scale, meaningful interpretations can be impactful

  • Pat’s design process organizing plants into three groups: grasses, long-lived perennials that act as anchors, and blooming elements, to create diverse and dynamic landscapes in sun and shade

  • Building a narrative with a planting with considering succession and average height and piercing plants

  • Adapting plant choices based on regional characteristics, soil, and exposure, using examples from projects in different climates

  • He talks about the importance of regional connection in gardens, encouraging local engagement with native plants and landscapes

  • Cullina highlights the educational role of public gardens, using the Fort Worth Botanic Garden as an example of promoting regional flora

  • How to change the public's perceptions of native plants, using the Highline's Rhus (sumac) and Sassafras as examples of how context can transform appreciation

  • Discussing the narrative behind garden design and the importance of seeing plantings as communities rather than individual plants

  • The visual appeal and ecological function of natural landscapes, emphasizing the interplay and repetition of plant combinations

  • Critique of overly rigid or overly sparse garden designs that rely heavily on color or mulch

  • The goal of achieving a fully realized planted ground plane, minimizing visible ground or mulch

  • The importance of plant density and inter-planting to create a secure and cohesive space

  • Lessons from a visit to a remnant prairie with diverse plant species, highlighting the inspiration drawn from natural plant communities

  • The debate between block style and matrix style planting, with a preference for a hybrid or matrix style for its adaptability and resilience

  • Discussion on the practical challenges of block style planting, including maintenance and the visual impact of large, homogenous groups

  • Visiting Chiwaukee Prairie

  • Emphasizing the need for understanding plant scale and cultural requirements in landscape design

  • The importance of selecting plants appropriate to the space to make landscapes that consume less, avoid excessive maintenance, and avoid unintended effects

  • Recommendations for using bulbs to bridge gaps in planting design, particularly during seasonal transitions

  • Encouraging the use of reliable sources for plant information and the importance of scale in both design and maintenance

  • The role of seasonal progression and plant behavior in designing sustainable and aesthetically pleasing landscapes

  • Consideration of color and texture in planting design, including the importance of flower structural variety among plants

  • The role of flowering plants, grasses, and woody plants in supporting wildlife through pollination, fruiting, and seed production.

  • Practical strategies for managing plant growth and structure, such as using certain species to support others.

  • The process of determining color preferences with clients, including addressing specific dislikes or strong preferences.

  • Flexibility in plant selection while maintaining a cohesive design vision, adapting to client preferences and site conditions.

  • The High Line’s evolution from a new project to a major attraction surpassing even the Statue of Liberty in visitor numbers

  • The High Line’s transformation into a popular urban promenade, influencing social interactions and city dynamics

  • Personal anecdotes from visitors to the High Line, showcasing diverse reactions and engagement

  • The narrative richness of the High Line, including its history, architecture, and cultural significance

  • Discussion on the concept of "editing" landscapes versus traditional gardening

  • The importance of maintaining and observing landscapes over time to make informed recommendations and improvements

  • Challenges in identifying and managing stealth weeds and plant gaps during the editing process

  • The necessity of understanding plant performance beyond initial installation conditions, including future growth and shade development

  • The value of visiting botanical gardens and nurseries for ongoing plant evaluation and knowledge

  • The role of cross-training culturally and engaging in diverse experiences to stay inspired and productive

  • The influence of collaborative experiences and collective observations in shaping one’s approach to landscape design

  • Emphasis on the importance of ongoing improvement, ecological function, and community impact over personal accolades in landscape work

  • Appreciation for the variety of approaches in engaging people through audio, newsletters, teaching, and social media

  • Importance of public spaces in creating connections, such as children playing with fallen magnolia leaves in the High Line

  • Viewing urban spaces as part of an ecological community, and the role of diverse plantings in promoting positive change

  • Discussion on the concept of native plants and the significance of regional ecologies

  • Debate on the value of native plant cultivars versus wild types, considering factors like pollination and plant performance

  • Observations on plant pricing in garden centers and the impact of plant sizes on design efficacy

  • Encouragement to listen to others' perspectives in teaching rather than imposing one's views

  • The challenge of balancing multiple educational approaches versus focusing on one niche

  • Recognition of the need for a broad approach to make diverse and compelling landscapes accessible

  • Propagating more horticulturists by telling stories and rewarding any engagement from individuals interested in horticulture

  • Emphasis on the value of real, tangible outcomes in client projects and the surprise element in final results

  • You can learn more about Patrick Cullina through his website and Instagram @pjctwo

28. Preston Montague on Urban Planting and Design

PRESTON MONTAGUE BIO

Preston Montague is a landscape architect and artist working to strengthen relationships between people and the natural world. His eponymous studio focuses on creating a flow between the arts, horticulture, and landscape architecture in the pursuit of building places that have meaning and ecological depth. When not in the studio, Preston enjoys teaching landscape architecture at North Carolina A&T University and hiking the wilder places. You can connect with Preston Montague via his website, Instagram, or LinkedIn.

SHOW NOTES

  • Discussing the ecology and lessons of Panthertown Valley its analog to urban environments

  • Preston’s passion for plants sparked from his mother’s encouragement of art, his father's work with the USDA, and how his love for gardening emerged in his twenties

  • Preston’s practice in the aquarium industry, the influence of Takashi Amano, and his prior work with koi ponds, water lilies, and lotus

  • Preston gives practical advice for adding water features to gardens, suggesting Pontederia cordata (pickerel rush), Lilaeopsis brasiliensis (swordgrass), and Sagittaria latifolia (duck potato), the importance of including small fish to manage mosquitoes, and how aquatic plants can amplify garden resources

  • Preston shares his journey from horticulture to landscape architecture inspired by the interactions in his Greensboro garden, his education at NC State, the practical skills gained, and the decision to pursue a master's in landscape architecture

  • The differences between landscape architecture and residential landscape design

  • He discusses the development of Preston Montague Studio and how it fulfills his dream of creating an artist's studio environment

  • The challenges landscape architects face in incorporating plants into projects due to budget constraints, long timelines

  • The lack of follow-up or post-occupancy evaluation in landscape architecture, which affects plant decisions

  • Preston notes that many landscape architects rely on tried and tested patterns due to time and budget pressures

  • He stresses the need for landscape architects to provide management plans and ensure proper installation of plants

  • The issue of improper plant installations due to availability problems or other constraints

  • He advocates for landscape architects to focus on maintenance and follow-up to improve planting designs

  • Montague suggests involving landscape architects and horticultural consultants in projects to enhance plant use without adding significant overhead

  • Preston’s passion for incorporating shrubs into urban environments

  • Montague describes the benefits of shrubs in creating texture and color in landscapes and their utility in various urban settings

  • He discusses his experience with large-scale herbaceous plantings and the need to adapt them to local climates

  • Montague highlights the importance of shrubs in code-mandated landscapes and the challenges posed by the recent native plant mandate in North Carolina that requires all state-funded projects to use 100% native plants, which also impacts nursery production and landscape design.

  • Preston explains the difficulties in sourcing native shrubs and trees that meet the new regulations

  • Preston shares his experience in promoting native plants and adapting plant palettes to reflect local species.

  • Preston emphasizes the importance of considering the local ecosystem and environment when selecting plants for urban landscapes and how native plants help add ecosystem service potential to large-scale landscapes, such as privacy berms.

  • Succession can be manipulated to maintain certain ecological states, like herbaceous or shrub levels, to suit specific environments.

  • Garden Revolution by Larry Weaner and Thomas Christopher

  • Fire suppression and lack of disturbances in places like the Piedmont affect shrub diversity and ecosystem health.

  • Climax forests need periodic disturbances to maintain diversity and ecosystem health.

  • A planting plan is a snapshot in time; landscapes evolve post-installation.

  • Woodland management techniques, like those at Great Dixter, balance harvesting with promoting species diversity.

  • Promoting shrub use in urban landscapes requires proper management and maintenance.

  • Shrouded in Light by Kevin Philip Williams and Michael Guidi

  • Influencing municipal design involves creating diverse and layered planting plans for habitat creation, and updated plant lists and diverse plant selections are essential for sustainable urban planting.

  • Residential landscape design often mirrors commercial work, focusing on practical and tidy planting solutions

  • Creating layers in planting designs enhances habitat potential and supports biodiversity

  • The importance of structure and diversity in plantings for achieving ecosystem services

  • Effective shrub maintenance and pruning practices are crucial for long-term landscape health

  • Educating clients on proper shrub care and maintenance ensures the success of planting designs

  • Maintenance is often undervalued and underfunded, leading to improper pruning and landscape care practices

  • His drawing practice as a crucial aspect of his design work, emphasizing drawing as a way of thinking with low expectations and judgment

  • Advice for drawers like focus on observation rather than strict accuracy and encouraging participants to lose themselves in the process

  • Project Codex Carolinum involved traveling around the state to draw plants in different seasons and noticing patterns in their habitats

  • Using sketches on photographs or digital platforms like Procreate and AutoCAD to convey design experiences effectively

  • Systems and processes Preston uses like having conversations, post-construction visits, maintenance participation, and documenting work to ensure longevity and competitiveness in the field

  • Time management with email and design

  • Preston's focus on restoration rather than traditional garden design due to the context of development in the Triangle area

  • Balancing time management between design processes and field work during construction for optimal results

  • Landscape Painting Now by Todd Bradway and Barry Schwabsky where Preston is exploring composition, color, and form for inspiration in landscape architecture

  • The magic of visiting Panthertown during mid-August to mid-September for its unique ambiance

  • How to propagate more horticulturists including encouraging conversations and mentorship to propagate a love for horticulture, highlighting the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences within the community

  • How to connect with Preston Montague via his website, Instagram, or LinkedIn

26. Julie Witmer on Designing Gardens and Inspiring Minds

JULIE WITMER BIO

Julie Witmer works to create beautiful and ecologically sensitive gardens across the continental United States. She began in perennial production and garden nursery retail before earning a Certificate of Horticulture—Britain’s professional gardener qualification—from the Royal Horticultural Society in Wisley, UK. She is a popular local speaker, teaching classes for all ages, and is a published garden photographer in books by Timber Press, Kew Gardens, and Rodale. Her own garden, Havenwood, is nearly one acre and divided into fifteen diverse garden spaces which grow a wide variety and succession of plants throughout the year. 

With a keen eye for design and place, Julie has worked with private clients for nearly twenty years, helping them realize their own garden dreams, and providing one-on-one coaching in order to grow the skills of the gardener alongside their garden. She shares online classes and garden inspiration on her Substack Julie Witmer Gardens and Instagram at @juliewitmergardens. 

You can learn more about Julie by visiting her website juliewitmer.com.

SHOW NOTES

  • How her passion for plants started while working at a local retail nursery after college and her transformational experience with plants, propagation, and gardening books

  • Julie credits Christopher Lloyd and Beth Chatto for shaping her early gardening philosophy

  • A favorite quote from Gertrude Jekyll in the Wooden Garden about the endless learning in gardening:

“I have learned so much. And I’m always learning from other people’s gardens. And the lesson I have learned most early is to never say, I know there is so infinitely much. To learn and the conditions of different gardens vary so greatly, even when soil and situation appear to be alike, and they are in the same district. Nature is such a subtle chemist that one never knows what she’s about and what surprises she may have in store for us.”

Insights from Charlotte Mason on nature study and fostering a love for plants in children

“Let them once get in touch with nature and a habit is formed, which will be a source of delight through life. We were all meant to be naturalists, each in his degree. And it is inexcusable to live in a world so full of the marvels of plants and animal life and to care for none of these things.”

  • Working at the nursery, Julie discovered her ability to solve complex problems with plants

  • Julie reflects on her college journey, transitioning from biochemistry to teaching

  • Teaching botany to her children and homeschooling

  • The creativity of table studies

  • Julie explains her locally based design business and her passion for helping families create better spaces with plants.

  • Her experience pursuing the RHS professional gardening certificate long-distance.

  • The importance of viewing the entire outdoor space as a garden, not just specific areas.

  • The emotional aspect of gardening and her role in helping clients navigate design decisions.

  • Julie recounts a project in Ohio where she helped a family overcome strife with neighbors through thoughtful garden design.

  • Julie emphasizes the uniqueness of each garden, highlighting that no two gardens are identical

  • Being honest about one's garden, expectations, strengths, and constraints is crucial.

  • The importance of aligning the garden with the gardener's desires and the environment.

  • Layering in garden design to create diversity, interest, and complexity by incorporating various elements such as trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, bulbs, groundcovers, and self-seeding plants

  • Discovering wildflower treasures once mowing stopped

  • The Erythronium post Julie references

  • Sharing her knowledge through writing, teaching classes, and engaging with gardening communities

  • Her daily routine of walking around the garden, observing plants, pests, and seasonal changes to help her with planning, problem-solving, and documenting the garden's progress

  • Julie’s approach to Japanese beetles

  • Her commitment to continuous learning from her garden and other horticulturists like Fergus Garrett

  • The North American Friends of Great Dixter

  • Her three main methods of note-taking: using photos, journaling, and using post-it notes

  • Julie reflects on how her garden plan, made a decade ago, has evolved over time.

  • favorite books that inspire her: Christopher Lloyd’s Succession Planting for Adventurous Gardeners, Beth Chatto’s Woodland Garden, The Well-Gardened Mind by Sue Stewart-Smith, which explores the therapeutic effects of gardening, and The Grove by Ben Dark, which combines humor and historical plant knowledge.

  • The challenges of gardening in a cold climate (zone 5) .

  • Julie discusses the myth that perennial mixed borders require more work than maintaining a lawn.

  • The lack of knowledge about complex habitats in gardens for biodiversity

  • How to propagate horticulturists by making gardening accessible, instilling a love for plants early on through exposure and hands-on experiences, and empowering families to design and live in their gardens

  • You can learn more about Julie by connecting with her on Instagram (@JulieWitmerGardens), through her Substack newsletter (juliewitmergardens.substack.com), and her design website (juliewitmer.com).

20. Molly Hendry on Telling Stories with Gardens

MOLLY HENDRY BIO

Molly toggles the worlds of design and plants as both a trained horticulturist and landscape architect. Up through July 2023, she was the Associate Director of Gardens Support for the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens for 5 and a half years. There she was actively involved in the horticultural and design development of the 26 unique gardens that make up Birmingham Botanical Gardens. She was also a key support player in the renewal of the Gardens's master plan, in addition to managing ongoing garden projects. Since recording the podcast, she has stepped out to create her own garden design studio, Roots and Ramblings, where she does design work for folks in the Birmingham, Alabama area. With this studio, Molly is most interested in the intersection between people and places. She loves designing gardens for "hands in the dirt" gardeners, focusing on how design is not just a masterplan on a piece of paper, but an ongoing dialogue between a person and a place... often with a spade in hand! One of her top honors is that she spent 10 months living in the UK, sinking her hands into the soil at some of the top gardens across the country as the Garden Club of America's 2016–2017 Royal Horticultural Society's Interchange Fellow. You can learn more about Molly by visiting her website Roots and Ramblings and by following her on Instagram @mollshendry.

SHOW NOTES

  • Molly on her childhood spent outdoors

  • Encouragement from her parents to pursue landscape architecture 

  • Molly’s focus on horticulture and landscape architecture at Auburn University

  • The impact of study abroad trips on Molly and the stories she learned about gardens

  • How Rousham deeply touched Molly

  • Molly’s internship at Winterthur and a valuable lesson learned

  • Experiences while being the Garden Club of America's 2016-2017 Royal Horticultural Society's Interchange Fellow

  • Shadowing Nigel Dunnett and James Hitchmough to learn about naturalistic planting and how to think differently about plants and gardening

  • Time at Great Dixter and lessons learned from Fergus Garrett

  • Fergus’s sketches and mind maps

  • Molly’s roll as Associate Director of Gardens Support for the Friends of Birmingham Botanical Gardens

  • Thoughts on how to illicit emotions in gardens

  • The analogy of garden design with Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat

  • Molly’s approach to designing gardens and questions she asks clients

  • How writing helps Molly be a better gardener and how she reviews her thoughts on New Year’s Day

  • Using the app Notability in the field and Google drive

  • Favorite books including Anne of Green Gables and Russell Page’s Education of a Gardener

  • The myth that we can’t garden the same as the English do

  • Molly’s favorite ice cream flavors

  • Propagating horticulturists by bringing in the human element and engaging with children

  • Learn more about Molly by visiting her website Roots and Ramblings and by following her on Instagram @mollshendry

6. Thomas Rainer on Planting in a Post-wild World

Thomas Rainer’s Biography

Thomas Rainer is a registered landscape architect, teacher, and author that lives in Arlington, Virginia. He is a leading voice in ecological landscape design and has designed landscapes for the U.S. Capitol grounds, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and The New York Botanical Garden, as well as over 100 gardens from Maine to Florida. He is a celebrated public speaker who has garnered acclaim for his passionate presentations to audiences across the U.S. and in Europe. Thomas serves as a Principal for the landscape architectural and consulting firm Phyto Studio in Washington, D.C.

Thomas received his Masters Degree from the University of Georgia. Thomas has worked for the firms Oehme, van Sweden and Associates, and was most recently a Principal at the landscape architectural and planning firm, Rhodeside & Harwell. He has a broad range of experience in project types ranging from intimate residential gardens to expansive estates, rooftop gardens, botanical gardens, large-scale green infrastructure design & implementation, and national memorials. His work has been featured in numerous publications, including The New York Times, Landscape Architecture Magazine, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, and Architectural Digest.

While passionate about design and focusing on details, Thomas is a specialist in applying innovative planting concepts to create ecologically-functional designed landscapes. His recent work focuses on the artful interpretation of wild plant communities into designed plantings that thrive in the context of towns and cities.  He also continues to love working on residential gardens, enjoying the intimate collaboration with clients and creating spaces. 

Thomas teaches planting design for the George Washington University Landscape Design program. His recently published book co-authored with Claudia West, Planting in a Post-Wild World, was released in fall 2015 from Timber Press and was selected by the American Horticultural Society as one of the 2016 books of the year.

You can learn more about Thomas on his website thomasrainer.com, his firm Phyto at phytostudio.com, and on Instagram where his handle is @thomasrainerdc.

SHOW NOTES

4. Riz Reyes on GROW and Growing as a Plantsman

Riz Reyes’s Biography

An early curiosity about fruits and flowers turned a young boy from the Philippines into an award-winning garden designer, floral designer, avid plantsman, and book author in the Pacific Northwest. Riz Reyes immigrated to the United States with his family in 1989 and settled in Shoreline, Washington. He grew up watching television to help learn English and discovered public television in his early years; on top of Sesame Street and Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, he discovered the art of Bob Ross, the culinary prowess of Julia Child, and most influential was the gardening series, The Victory Garden.

He collected plant catalogs and familiarized himself with the gardening section of his local public library and grew fond of different types of plants. He set his sights on pursuing horticulture as a future profession. Riz earned a BS in Environmental Horticulture & Urban Forestry from the University of Washington (UW) and worked as a horticulturist for the UW Botanic Garden’s Center for Urban Horticulture from 2007–2015. 

In 2013 he designed his first full show garden at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle, WA. Riz came away with a gold medal, the Golden Palette Award for the Best Use of Color and Plant materials, the American Horticultural Society Environmental Award, and the prestigious Founder’s Cup as the Best Show Garden. Riz was also a featured panel speaker for the first annual Slow Flowers Summit where he contributed to a discussion on the lack of diversity and people of color in the horticulture and floral industries. 

He is currently the gardens manager for the brew pub and hospitality company McMenamin’s Anderson School in Bothell, WA and maintains RHR Horticulture, his own horticultural enterprise where he designs gardens and cut flowers and also teaches and lectures for professional organizations. Riz also authored GROW: A Family Guide to Plants and How to Grow Them, which was illustrated by Sara Boccaccini Meadows. Riz volunteers with the UW Farm spearheading their cut flower program. Other hobbies include caring for a personal collection of rare and unusual plants in his apartment, dancing, figure skating, music, food, and spending time with family and friends.

You can find him online at his website rhrhorticulture.com and on Instagram @rhrhorticulture.

SHOW NOTES