meet olivia
a little about me
On family vacations I was always somewhere picking grass, examining rocks or wandering off towards some field of wildflowers. Maine is where we spent our summers hiking and enjoying nature. When it came time to go to college I had explored the idea of Environmental Science but knew I wanted to learn more about the people who are designing to change the world. This is where I found Landscape Architecture - a profession filled with people who innovate through design principles and are educated by nature to create a better future. I attended the University of Rhode Island. The principles I learned there allowed me to explore some major questions being faced today regarding the future of our coasts, environments and people. Truly inspired by this field and wanting more, I found my way to New Zealand. Oh gosh! - were those eight months magic. I have learned so much through my studies and adventures. In the years post graduation, I found myself to be much happier and more impactful when I share my passion and knowledge with people on a face to face level. I also found a deep need to be outside in the world that awes me the most. So that is just what I did. I changed paths and found myself here.
how I got here professionally
My first job was at Waterloo Gardens. I continued to work at another local nursery for several years following. There, I took on caring for the annual house as well as spending many days in the nursery. I learned hands on and jumped into design and Landscape Architecture at Longwood Gardens as the Horticultural Display Design intern and continued on there as a Landscape Architect. Today I am a designer, planting all things in pots and always learning. I continue to explore the world of gardening and horticulture as my journey continues….
why ferns
Ferns hold a lot of meaning to many different cultures - representing new life and new beginnings, acknowledging transformation, purity and hope. Everything about a fern makes me happy… its meaning, its deep connection to New Zealand, that season of my life, the quality it adds to a garden and the beautiful way it emerges in the spring. My personal mantra, if you will, is ‘the journey takes you’, and this could not ring more true when it comes to cultivating a life and a garden. Ferns embody this for me. We all need this connection to nature; it is in our roots.