Vivid Desert Design

I have over 20 years of landscape architectural experience. I started out at architecture firms in Utah & Australia where I did civic/commercial work but I now love focusing on residential designs. I focus on creating lower maintenance, lower water yards that have year round color and character. I have two design options that vary in budget and timeframe. Both options begin with a rough sketch to scale on site with the client that covers paths, planting areas, patios, rock work etc. to make sure the client is happy with the direction. The more budget friendly option is to formalize this sketch to scale with ink, placement of plants, labeling and coloring. I do this on site so the advantage to this cheaper option is that you will get the finished design product on the same day for efficiency! We then collaborate with Nate Criddle who is the contractor with Alpine Landscapes to get a free installation bid. He can work with your budget and make alterations as needed. The second option is more complex and exact with hardscape square footages etc. This is a good option if you have more time, have a really large yard and/or are a bit pickier on plant selection etc. This entire process can take up to a month with the three autoCAD phases which include discussions about any edits needed to both the layout and planting plan before printing. When the first digital plan is emailed you will also receive a large plant image base to choose selections from each category or I can create a lovely mix of the right plants for your yard. This separate plan enables you to get multiple free bids from contractors to review install times & costs etc... I chose to work in this industry because I enjoy creating inspiring outdoor spaces for the community. The first decade of my life was in rural Australia, my family then moved to the metropolis of Miami. This gave me a broad appreciation of both environments and also the desire to find a balance between the two as an adult. I came to work in Southern Utah in the wilderness therapy field thirty years ago. I believe the outdoors is a very powerful place. My desire to go into Landscape Architecture stemmed from the idea that I could create outdoor spaces that would provide relaxation and inspiration to my community. My masters thesis in graduate school involved the concept of enhancing public perceptions of waterwise landscapes. I also do stained glass and nature photography which complement my design work.