Wild Works of Whimsy

07/28/2026

Every dream garden has to start somewhere. 🌱

These photos are just three years apart.

The first was the week we finished building our little backyard pond. Fresh stone… and a whole lot of patience.

Today, it’s one of my favorite places to sit. The plants have grown together, wildlife has found it, and it looks like it’s always belonged here.

It’s a good reminder that gardens aren’t built in a weekend—they’re grown over seasons.

Which is also why now is the perfect time to start planning your fall and spring projects. The best landscapes aren’t created when you suddenly decide you want them next April. They’re the ones that have been thoughtfully planned ahead, with the right plants in the right places, and then given the time to mature into something special.

Start this fall… and next summer you’ll already be amazed at the difference. Give it a few years, and you’ll forget it ever looked any other way.

🌿 Fall is one of our favorite times to plant native landscapes. If you’re hoping to transform your yard, let’s start the conversation now.

07/07/2026

There are just 7 days until our Design Your (Coastal VA!) Native Landscape class begins.

If you’ve been wanting to plant more natives but keep thinking…

🌿 I don’t know where to start.
🌿 I’m afraid I’ll choose the wrong plants.
🌿 My yard is too difficult.
🌿 I want it to look beautiful, not messy.

That’s exactly why this class exists.

We’ll walk through how to:
• evaluate your site
• choose the right plants for the right place
• create a landscape that looks intentional
• avoid expensive mistakes before you buy plants

You’ll leave with far more than inspiration—you’ll leave knowing how to make decisions confidently.

There are still a few seats available if you’d like to join us.

If you’ve been thinking about it, now’s the time. Link in bio!

(*English accent not included- Cheerio! )

05/28/2026

We have a giant terrier mix who is… very committed to chasing wildlife.

Unfortunately for him, we’re also very committed to hosting wildlife.

When we’ve replaced sections of our fence line, we’ve done it thoughtfully: keeping shrub cover where we can and intentionally leaving small openings underneath in select areas.

Why?

Because residential habitat doesn’t stop at property lines.

Rabbits, turtles, lizards, frogs, small mammals — they move through neighborhoods looking for cover, food, nesting areas, and safe passage.

This morning, a rabbit bolted through before the dog could catch up. When I looked down near the fence afterward, there was a tiny yearling box turtle tucked into the vegetation. Absolutely adorable. Also a good reminder that even small landscape decisions can create safer movement pathways for wildlife.

For us, the goal isn’t perfection. It’s thoughtful coexistence:

✔ habitat structure
✔ visual screening
✔ dog safely contained
✔ room for wildlife to move through the neighborhood

Sometimes ecological landscaping looks less like a pristine magazine fence line… and more like designing around the realities of dogs, neighbors, and living systems.

Dog people: how do you balance pets and wildlife habitat at home?

05/26/2026

I’m probably NOT your landscape designer if…

❌ You want every trendy plant your neighbor has… even after learning they’re invasive.

❌ You need a full landscape plan by yesterday.

❌ You prefer long surprise phone calls but haven’t checked email since 2018.

❌ You want a copy-paste yard instead of a landscape built for your site.

❌ “Low maintenance” means “I never want to look at this yard again.”

I AM your designer if…

✅ You’re willing to trust a thoughtful process instead of a rushed one.

✅ You care about habitat value, stormwater management, and what your landscape is actually doing for your property.

✅ You want a plan designed around your conditions — sun, soil, drainage, goals, lifestyle, and coastal Virginia realities.

✅ You value long-term resilience over instant gratification.

✅ You’re open to learning, collaborating, and creating something that actually belongs here.

Not every designer is the right fit for every project — and that’s okay.

The best landscapes start with aligned expectations.

05/14/2026

A very surreal moment for our little corner of coastal Virginia 💃

Wild Works of Whimsy (and ) was featured in the Best of Virginia 2026 issue from Virginia Living Magazine in their Eastern Virginia Services section.

When we started this journey, the goal was never to become the biggest landscape business. The goal was to help people reconnect with place through native plants, ecological design, and practical education rooted in the Chesapeake Bay region.

To see that work recognized in a statewide publication is incredibly meaningful.

Thank you to our clients, nursery customers, workshop attendees, conservation partners, and fellow plant nerds who continue to support what we do. We’re grateful every day to be part of this community 🌿

05/11/2026

I recently had the opportunity to speak with a student writer from ODU’s HerCampus.com chapter about entrepreneurship, conservation-focused business ownership, and some of the realities of building a small business in Hampton Roads.

We talked about everything from networking and hiring decisions to sustainability, uncertainty, and navigating a traditionally male-dominated industry. I always appreciate opportunities to have honest conversations about what small business ownership actually looks like behind the scenes.

Thank you to Faith Sweazy for including me in the piece alongside other local women business owners. 🤗

Social media “aesthetics” of business ownership certainly blur the line between expectations and reality, so I reached out to local women entrepreneurs to gather their best advice for aspiring business owners.

05/06/2026

Not yet tired of us posting about plants? Join us for our last Habitat Heroes Native Plant Workshop of the spring on May 12 from 6 - 7:30pm! 🦋

Here you’ll learn how to create a sustainable, low-maintenance landscape that supports local wildlife and thrives in the Hampton Roads environment, plus, you'll get a native plant to take home! 🪴

This workshop is designed with adult learners in mind. The content may be more advanced than what younger participants typically engage with, and seating is limited to a total capacity of 20 people. Reserve your spot to join us at this link: https://virginiazoo.org/event/native-plant-workshop-3/

04/30/2026

Last fall, this was lawn. ☠️

This spring, it’s becoming habitat. 🦋

Peg didn’t install this overnight—and she didn’t do it alone. Through a consultation, a clear plant plan, and phased planting, she transformed this space step by step.

✔️ Started with a design + plant guidance
✔️ Used a mix of 1-gallon plants + plugs
✔️ Installed over 2,000 plugs herself (yes, really)
✔️ Kept learning along the way (blogs, videos, real support)

Her words say it best:
‘I could not have planned, visualized and designed this project myself without your team’s help… I love the changes and all the insects and birds that these native plants attract.’

This is what we mean when we say landscapes are a process.

Not instant. Not perfect. But real—and incredibly rewarding.

If you’ve been thinking about starting, this is your sign that you can do this—with the right guidance.

04/18/2026

This will be so good!