---
title: "The Spirited Gardener — Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers | Houzz"
canonical_html_url: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/the-spirited-gardener-pfvwus-pf~1795875462
markdown_url: https://www.houzz.com/md/professionals/pf~1795875462.md
entity_type: LocalBusiness
business_name: "The Spirited Gardener"
category: ["Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers"]
image: https://st.hzcdn.com/fimgs/ddd32874032b12af_1759-w400-h400-b0-p0--.jpg
address: "Chicago, Illinois, United States"
latitude: 41.8971
longitude: -87.6223
phone: "(773) 520-4226"
website: https://www.spiritedgardener.com/
rating: 4
review_count: 4
best_of_houzz_awards: 1
followers: 12
last_updated: 2026-08-17
---

# The Spirited Gardener

Original Houzz profile: [The Spirited Gardener](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/the-spirited-gardener-pfvwus-pf~1795875462)

## Professional summary

- **Primary category:** Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers
- **Location:** Chicago, IL
- **Serves:** Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, Glenview
- **Houzz rating:** 4.0 out of 5 (4 reviews)
- **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2021), for Service.

## About

### Houzz Badges

- Star Houzzer
- 5 Ideabook Saves

Spirited Gardener is focused on providing design, consultation and project management for our clients. We've produced more beautiful, EcoFunctional Gardens, which includes managing rain water, to be added to The Spirited Gardener's list of sustainably relevant yards and grounds.


I keep up-to-date with my knowledge base by attending seminars and workshops per the following: 2018 Woodlands Field Seminars that the Conservation Design Forum held based on Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Attended the ILCA's Impact Conference: Building Sustainable Landscapes each year at the Chicago Botanic Gardens iLandscape: The New German Design in Landscaping Seminar; Perennial Plant Association- Prairie Nursery presentation on Effective Native Plants for the Home Garden, MELA, LDA, Aquascapes, LiveRoof, Midwest Ground Covers, Chicago Center for Green Technology, Jack Pizzo & Associates, MidAm, Wicker Park Garden Club, Windy City Harvest. Participate in on-going workshops; samples of completed workshops - Incorporating Grading and Draining into your Designs (Stephen Marzahl, ASLA), Rain Water Harvesting & Condensate Recovery (Tom Barrett); Aquascapes Rainxchange certified installer; Greenroofs and Green Walls (certified installer for Green Living Technologies and LiveRoof); Chicago’s Urban Forest agenda; Extending the Growing Season - CBG; RCOP - New Annuals

I am currently active in the following organizations: On the board of Chicago Women In Green, Member of Landscape Design Association since 2005 (Previous President in 2015), Illinois Green Alliance.

### Services Provided

- Landscape Design
- Garden Design
- Hardscaping
- Landscape Plans
- Patio Design
- Drought Tolerant Landscaping
- Site Planning
- Drafting
- EcoFunctional Design
- Rain Water Management

### Areas Served

- Chicago
- Evanston
- Oak Park
- Glenview

## Business Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Business Name | The Spirited Gardener |
| Address | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Phone | (773) 520-4226 |
| Website | https://www.spiritedgardener.com/ |
| Followers on Houzz | 12 |

## Contact

- **Houzz profile:** [The Spirited Gardener](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/the-spirited-gardener-pfvwus-pf~1795875462)
- **Website:** https://www.spiritedgardener.com/
- **Phone:** (773) 520-4226

## Credentials

**Certifications & Awards**
- Certified to install the LEED approved LiveRoof Green Roof module systems
- Ornamental Plant Certificate from the Chicago Botanical Gardens.
- I have Featured Gardens in 2014 and 2015 on USGBC GreenBuilt Home Tour
- Design selected for the 2013 LDA Annual Garden Walk & Ravenswood Manor Garden Walk.

- **Best of Houzz:** 1 award (2021), for Service.

## Reviews

**Overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 — 4 reviews**

*Aspect averages:*
- Work Quality: 40.0
- Communication: 35.0
- Value: 35.0

### All 4 reviews

**★★ — Lesley Hershman, July 2024**

> Unpleasant experience when we did not receive what we asked for, despite showing Julia photos she assured us she could replicate.  Ended up having to hire new designers to redo the work.

**★★★★★ — Dana Pearl, Oct. 2020**

> I am so grateful to Julia Bunn, who is truly a "Spirited" gardener! Because of her dedication to caring for the Earth, she created the most amazingly beautiful gardens for my eco-friendly, LEED certified house. She created different displays in different places, with rain gardens and swales that manage all the rainwater on my property. Nothing goes to waste, or into the sewer system! My project received all 15 possible points towards the certification, which put us over into the highest level -- Platinum!
>
> While others have had difficulty adjusting to being shut in during the pandemic, I have been able to flourish by simply sitting outside, or enjoying the gardens via windows all around the house, including while working in my home office. I enjoy every critter who visits my gardens, be they bees, wasps, butterflies, birds, racoons, skunks, opossum, bunnies or squirrels! There's more than enough food for all of them.

**★★★★ — A Ehrich, May 2019**

> Julia Bunn installed wonderful a rain garden which routes water away from the house to low areas in the yard. The plants she chose were perfect for the space and after several years the garden has matured beautifully. I would recommend her for anyone thinking of having a rain garden.

**★★★★★ — Kipnis Architecture + Planning, Sept. 2018**

> I have collaborated with Julia Bunn from the Spirited Gardener on two very challenging projects.  The first one was a new, modern single family home in Chicago.  The owner was also a gardener and Julia produced a great landscape design that fit perfectly with the homes design.
>
> The second project was a LEED Platinum project in Evanston.  Her deep knowledge of LEED not only helped secure many precious points, but the design was amazing!  I would highly recommend working with her and look forward to our future work together!

**Comment from The Spirited Gardener:**

> Thanks for the recommendation Nate.  Always a joy to integrate environmentally good design both inside and out for our clients!

## Selected projects

- [Pearl](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/pearl-pj-vj~4602567)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 6
- [Seslowsky](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/seslowsky-pj-vj~4602573)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 1
- [Michiana](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/michiana-pj-vj~3740939)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 5
- [Wilmette Library in collaboration with Red Stem](https://www.houzz.com/hznb/projects/wilmette-library-in-collaboration-with-red-stem-pj-vj~4602646)
  - Location: Not specified
  - Photos: 1

[See all 4 projects](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/landscape-architects-and-landscape-designers/the-spirited-gardener-pfvwus-pf~1795875462)

## Ideabooks

- [Wish List](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/97497384/list/wish-list) — 9 ideas
- [Shower stalls](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/97496622/list/shower-stalls) — 2 ideas

[See all 2 ideabooks](https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/users/jabunn)

---

*Source: Houzz professional profile. Reflects the profile as of 2026-08-17.*