I grew up in a small town in New York State in a natural landscape of granite outcroppings and waterfalls surrounded by hemlock, pine, flowering dogwood, rhododendron and mountain laurel. On our property there were a perennial border, a small cutting garden and great stand of old fashioned lilacs. I remember big black snakes sunning themselves on the rocks and bats living behind the shutters of the house. I think all of this was formative in terms of my ultimate choice of career.

In 1969 I went to Smith College in Massachusetts where I received a Bachelor’s degree in Art History with a minor in Environmental Science. Happily I discovered upon graduating that there was a discipline that combined both a love of art and natural science. By great good fortune (my brother was dating the personnel director), I was hired by Sasaki, Dawson, DeMay Associates, a world famous landscape architecture, architecture and planning office where I worked for several years and where my love of this profession was confirmed.


I love this profession and I hope to be at it for a long time to come. I think Dan Kiley has the right idea.