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Crew Lead / Plant Installation Specialist / Project Lead for Uplift
MNLA Certified Professional
U of M Extension Certified MN Naturalist
Personal PicksFavorite Plant
There’s too many to choose from, so I would probably have a different answer each time I’m asked. But top five today are Bur Oak, Tamarack, Ironweed, Pussytoes, and Wild Ginger.
Outdoor Feature
A clay paver patio large enough for a group to relax on, but surrounded by dense plantings that make you feel tucked into your own world.
Favorite Place
Countless spots along the North Shore and the bluffs of the St. Croix River Valley
I have been a crew lead for most of my time at Field and have enjoyed cultivating my craft in all aspects of our landscape installs, from rock work to patios, and love training new employees that are excited to learn what we do at Field. However, my biggest passion has always been installing plants to bring the landscape to life, and making connections with clients. As a Plant Installation Specialist, I’m excited to work closely with our clients and help them feel confident in caring for their gardens and continue to find joy and connection in their outdoor spaces.
Background & JourneyI have an art background, and spent several years working at a production pottery company that made mugs for cafes, B&Bs, Renaissance Festivals, etc. I enjoyed the hands-on aspect, and getting to touch clay every day, but it was repetitive and there wasn’t much room for artistic expression.
In 2018, I moved into a house with weed trees and a patchy lawn, and found so much satisfaction in transforming it into gardens that I wanted to spend time in. In 2019 I left the pottery studio to work at an embroidery shop. It was during this time, working in a windowless block room and decompressing in my garden during time off that I realized I wanted to work with plants, and I desperately wanted to spend my days outdoors. As I was debating whether to go back to school for a horticulture degree, I found Field online, and their website featured several employees with that background. Since I’m a hands-on learner, I thought just jumping in and learning from industry professionals might be the best path for me, and it really has been! I have learned a lot from my coworkers, and have enjoyed self-study through numerous plant, landscape, and naturalist classes.
Favorite Project Type
I love installing front slopes with a mix of boulder work and full plantings. We have a lot of front slopes in the city where lawn often struggles to grow and it’s a maintenance headache. A well-landscaped slope gives such great curb appeal, can give year-round interest, and rockwork you can perch on makes the maintenance you do have more enjoyable than trying to mow it!
I have always been a person driven by curiosity, who wants to know the ‘Why’ and ‘How’ of things. It’s important for me to make room for clients to feel comfortable asking questions without feeling like a bother. I love being able to give satisfactory answers to their questions, and if I don’t know an answer to something when asked, it just means when I find out we both get to learn something new.
I love installing projects that have patios or rock walls with dense planting around them. I also enjoy installing large rain gardens. Really anything that gives a beautiful solution to a functional problem. I may also love installing front slope landscapes more than any of my other coworkers!
A Standout Moment
The most memorable projects I’ve worked on are the full yard transformations over multiple phases. Each time I return to a project, I get to make a stronger connection with the client and their landscape. I love hearing their favorite plants that we planted last time and seeing their excitement for another new phase. It also means a lot to me when someone trusts us to work in their yard over and over again.
Outside of Field
I enjoy camping or hiking with loved ones. While I love a hike with a great view at the end, I’m often looking down throughout the journey, taking pictures of plants, fungi, or insects I don’t recognize so I can learn about them later. Early in our relationship, my husband gave me the trail name “I’ll Catch Up” because I say it so frequently as I stop for yet another cool thing!
Since 2005, Field Outdoor Spaces has helped Minneapolis and St Paul homeowners get the most from their outdoor spaces. We design and build dynamic and high-impact landscapes that are easy to care for.
