and over the last decade I’ve built my own business through word of mouth alone. Specialising in ornamental horticulture, I carry out Garden design, development and maintenance throughout Edinburgh and Central Scotland - from tiny New town City gardens, to large country homes.

Background

I trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh and hold a Diploma in Plantsmanship with distinction: DIPLOMA . I then completed a year-long internship focusing on planting design at Cambo Gardens - an historic estate garden in Fife, Scotland: CERTIFICATE . This was a pivotal year spent saturating in art and design theory, planting, and historic garden management.

What I learnt during this time really forms the backbone of what I do now - whether designing, consulting or working with other gardeners. I then moved on to become Head Gardener at an Arts and Crafts destination hotel in East Lothian, before finally deciding to start my own business. Other significant experiences include interning at Laos Botanical Gardens, developing and running a cut flower business, training as a florist, and creating wedding florals for clients.

I’ve maintained gardens for some of Edinburgh’s top designers, spent time in specialist plant nurserys, maintained indoor plant collections, and looked after tropical glasshouses. I’ve been responsible for propagating thousands of seedlings for annual displays, from sowing, and pricking out, to final planting. I’ve planted thousands, and thousands of bulbs, and mulched many borders….

While I love all of the above, what I am most passionate about is the artistic side of gardening. I see gardens as a canvas and I love applying the principles of Art and design to the daily, and seasonal tasks - embracing the seasonal changes, and planning for the months to come.

If you would like to see my current projects, and day to day work feel free to have a look: @terranova_gardening