Design and planning services

Our process takes you from visioning through implementation. Our approach to native plant garden planning is rooted in evidence-based design principles, environmental psychology, and ecological horticulture.

Excellent landscaping adds 10-12% to the value of a property, according to research. Most of that value comes from having larger plants and more attractive plantings. Unfortunately, landscaping budgets are often over-allocated to hardscaping and too little is spent on plants. We work with you to maximize the value of your yard — first, in terms of delighting you and your family and, secondly, in terms of ROI.

Our clients end up with a restorative garden where they and their family and friends love to spend time. Their gardens are also ecological sanctuaries that supports bees, birds, and butterflies, and meet all the criteria required to be a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.

Depending on your needs, our services might include:

Desired features assessment and design brief creation
Existing condition mapping and layout design
Cost-benefit analyses, budgeting and phasing
Native plant selection, sourcing, and installation
Vetting and training of teams in ecological landscaping methodologies

Our minimum fee is $3,000 for design, plus the cost of plants and installation. Schedule a free 45-minute consultation to talk about your goals and how we would approach your project. If you want to move forward, we will prepare a detailed proposal.

If you have less than $10,000 to spend or would enjoy designing your own garden, we suggest you join us for our online courses and coaching, subscriber to our newsletter, and follow us on social.

Meet the team

Zoe Evans has studied with ecological landscaping pioneers Ben Vogt and Larry Weaner. Her approach to landscape design is practical and collaborative, drawing on a background in coaching and mentorship to engage clients in the design process. She leverages her training in art, somatics, and mindfulness to develop gardens into vibrant, experiential spaces, while her scientific education informs her ecosystem-driven plant designs. Zoe was the Mentorship Program Director for The Art of Yoga Project and is a certified yoga instructor. She holds an M.Sc. in translational medicine from UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco and a B.Sc. in neuroscience with a minor in chemistry from NYU.

Master Gardener Heather Evans writes and teaches about designing yards filled with native plants that restore humans and support wildlife. Her Dear Avant Gardener newsletter has garnered a following of 10,000+ subscribers who appreciate her research-based advice. Heather brings to landscape design decades of experience managing design, earning awards and cover stories for dresses, magazines, marketing campaigns, visual branding, and residential interiors. Heather’s approach to design has long balanced creativity with analytic rigor and her original research has been published in peer-reviewed journals. An accomplished educator, Heather developed the Design Management MPS curriculum for Pratt Institute and has taught at Harvard, NYU, and Parsons.