Variegated clover (Trifolium variegatum), camas (Camassia quamash), meadow barley (Hordeum brachyantherum), and North Coast semaphore grass (Pleuropogon hooverianus); Willits, CA

Young Western bluebird on native coast live oak (Quercus agrifolia); Santa Rosa, CA
Photo: Thomas Reynolds

Old man’s beard lichen (Usnea sp.) grows abundantly on blue oaks (Quercus douglasii); Glen Ellen, CA

Denise Kelly
I’ve worked as a horticulturist in Northern California since 1978, with experience in wholesale and retail nurseries, landscape construction and restoration, environmental consulting, landscape architecture, and estate gardening.  My affinity is for native plant communities and gardens with the right plant in the right place. This eye for concision and clarity led me to pursue a certificate in editing from UC Berkeley Extension—putting the right word in the right place.

Variegata

At Variegata, design starts with a diversity of skills, ideas, resourcefulness, and efficiency. We respond to a strong sense of place with appropriate scale and natural materials to create meaningful private spaces.

We have practical solutions—creating balance between the interests of the client and botanical /arboricultural resources, and providing guidance for successful projects.

• Modern, Sustainable Landscape Design
• Native & Mediterranean Gardens
• Tree/Plant Health Care Management; certified arborist (WE#1469A) and registered consulting arborist (#477).
• Habitat Restoration Plans
• Horticultural and Arboricultural Consultation
• Botanical Reconnaissance

Katydid on Benary zinnia in my garden; Santa Rosa, CA

Pomegranate tasting at UC Davis’ Wolfskill Experimental Orchards; Winters, CA

Ray and disc flower arrangement on a sunflower are examples of Fibonacci numbers: 0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, …(add the last two to get the next)