Work

My work sits at the intersection of place, design, horticulture, writing, and public engagement.

Here are a few examples.

  • Colorful landscape painting depicting the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, in view of a campaign about The American Landscape Project.

    Program Designer, The American Landscape Project

    Public engagement project designed for The Cultural Landscape Foundation.

  • Book cover for 'The Garden Problem Solver,' featuring images of various garden plants and flowers including ivy, tulips, a white dahlia, grapes, marigold, hosta, apples, and a sunflower.

    Contributor, The Garden Problem Solver.

    Provided clear, solution-driven garden advice for a broad national audience focusing on IPM.

  • Steps for making concrete garden stepping stones with detailed instructions and images showing each step.

    Editor and Model, Fine Gardening Magazine

    Edited an article on making stepping stones and worked closely with the art director and photographer on process shots and final design.

  • A garden with a variety of colorful flowers, greenery, and trees. There is a small birdhouse on a post among the flowers. A house with a shingled roof is partially visible in the background. The scene includes lush grass in the foreground.

    Editor, Storey Communications Custom Publishing

    Edited and developed books in the Time Life Complete Gardener series; managed freelance artists, writers, and photographers.

  • A flyer for Jacqueline Murphy Design, featuring text about landscape design and real estate staging services, contact information, background on Jacqueline's experience, and a photo of orange flowers with green leaves in the bottom right corner.

    Marketing Writer and Designer, Garden Design Brochure

    I’ve worked as an independent garden designer on both coasts and designed all my own marketing material, naturally. Click to enlarge.

  • Document titled 'Every Garden Tells a Story' explaining a garden conservation initiative called 'Every Garden Tells a Story' that encourages visitors to interpret gardens through art, with sections on concept, how it works, and its relevance.

    Program Designer, Every Garden Tells A Story

    Creative engagement initiative designed for the Garden Conservancy in association with their Open Days program.

  • Landscape design sketches with markers and rulers.

    Landscape Designer, Sketches

    Landscape design sketches.

  • Muddy slope with a shovel standing in the soil.

    Landscape Designer, Stepping Stone Path

    Supervising the installation of a stepping stone path on a muddy slope.

  • Stepping stones with river rock.

    Landscape Designer, Stepping Stone Path

    Newly installed stepping stone path with planting bed and river rock edges.

Place + Story

Every Garden Tells a Story

A creative engagement concept developed for The Garden Conservancy exploring how people might respond to gardens through writing, drawing, and observation.

What it demonstrates: Place-based storytelling • Creative engagement • Gardens

The American Landscape Project

A public-engagement concept exploring how artists and others can connect with and respond to significant cultural landscapes.

What it demonstrates: Landscape • Culture • Public engagement • Program development

Writing + Editorial

Fine Gardening

Edited garden and horticultural content and worked closely with art direction and photography to develop clear, useful material for readers.

The Garden Problem Solver

Contributed practical garden advice for a national audience, with a focus on integrated pest management.

Storey Communications

Edited and developed books in the Time Life Complete Gardener series and managed freelance writers, artists, and photographers.

What it demonstrates: Horticultural knowledge • Research • Writing • Editing • Project management

Landscape Design

I’ve worked as a staff landscape designer at garden centers and nurseries in Westchester County, New York, and Northern Virginia and as an independent consultant in Rhode Island and California. My experience includes horticulture, site analysis, and garden design, as well as the practical realities of managing landscape project installations. Earlier in my career, I earned a Landscape Designer certification from the Virginia Society of Landscape Designers and a Certified Horticulturist credential from the Rhode Island Nursery & Landscape Association.

What it demonstrates: Landscape design • Horticulture • Site analysis • Design communication

What I Bring to a Project

I look closely, ask questions, make connections, and find ways to make complicated ideas clear.

Sometimes that means developing a story. Sometimes it means writing it. Sometimes it means figuring out a better way for people to experience or understand a place.

Have a project in mind?

Let's talk.