Photo Gallery

---

 "A Garden is but a Canvas to our Imagination - Ever Evolving and Full of Endless Possibilities"

Hello...I’m Deborah, and I am the owner of GARDEN GIRL ™ 

Rooted in Michigan.  Defined by Nature 

I have been captivated by the natural world from a very young age. Growing up in rural Michigan, I spent my days immersed in the woods and wetlands behind my childhood home. I remember long summer days canoeing the cold, clear rivers of Northern Michigan, wandering through our beautiful National Forests and many sunny days along the beaches of our great lakes. 

These youthful adventures and my own curiosity helped me develop a deep, intuitive understanding of how our local ecosystems function and how everything is connected.

Because I loved all the sciences, I created an interdisciplinary educational path focused on ecological and natural sciences. 

I eventually narrowed my academic focus to Horticulture with a minor in environmental sustainability so I could build a business that empowers others to restore the land. My goal is to help people transform residential properties back into functional pieces of nature, proving that we can cultivate planetary health "one yard at a time".

I see a healthy landscape as a dynamic, living system where every element depends on the next. My work is rooted in the understanding that a truly resilient yard is an ecological community, starting with the life in the soil and extending to the insects and birds that rely on it. I don’t believe in "managing" a property; I work with Mother Nature to restore these vital connections. By nurturing the whole system, I move beyond surface-level aesthetics to help you cultivate a site-responsive landscape that is naturally in sync with our Michigan environment.   

Yes, garden curation can be done ecologically. In fact, ecological curation—or ecological horticulture—is a rapidly growing approach that blends aesthetic intention with environmental stewardship, aiming to foster biodiversity, improve soil health, and reduce carbon footprints. 

This deep respect for natural cycles is why I prioritize patience in early spring—such as waiting for our beneficial insects to safely emerge from diapause before we begin spring bed work. As the saying goes, "We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." 

~Deborah