Colleen understands gardens. She has over 20 years experience curating and managing public botanical gardens ranging in size from 6 to 20+ acres located in the United States and the UK. Colleen works collaboratively selecting and editing plants and specifying garden maintenance and care requirements. She effectively can interpret design intent, manage garden related staff, budgets, contracts and programming. Colleen has real hands on experience managing green spaces and has a unique ability to ensure that the design intent matches the financial realities of maintenance and the long term success. Her expertise comes from education, successful entrepreneurship, and years of experience interfacing directly with city parks, contractors, civil engineers, building architects, garden designers, horticulturist’s, benefactors and landscape architects. Colleen is known for her ability to bring people together in a collaborative way so that all parts of a project are successful.

Experience

Bachelor’s of science degree from Purdue University in Public Horticulture with a Minor in Urban Forestry. Colleen studied Landscape Architecture & Planning in Denmark.  She has worked in a variety of public gardens on the East and West Coasts, Midwest and in the United Kingdom. She understands the beauty and differences of each local environment. In her most meaningful position, Colleen served as the First Director and Head Horticulturist of the Lurie Garden in Chicago's Millennium Park. Working directly with Piet Oudolf was a remarkable gift and honor. After Chicago, Colleen spent almost ten years in beautiful Portland, Oregon focusing on small scale organic farming and education along with collaborative city pollinator projects. But alas, Colleen and her family moved back to the Midwest to be near family in 2018. With Sustinea, she focuses on smart plant selections and garden editing while ensuring that a projects design intent meets the realities of care and maintenance. She enjoys working collaboratively with teams and respects the role of each person to make a project successful. Aside from her work with Sustinea, Colleen volunteers with The Community for the Commons in Excelsior, MN helping with new responsible garden areas and building the volunteer base. She is a member of the Minnetonka Garden Club and involved with the Pollinator Friendly Alliance, Metro Blooms, Lowry Nature Center, Wild Ones and the Xerces Society.

also on the Board of Director’s for the Leach Botanic Garden, is a Member of the Portland Garden Club, a Friends of Trees Summer Inspector and serves as Organic Specialist for Oregon Tilth’s Organic Land Care Programs.

The Fun Stuff

A native of Chicago and lover of the urban and wild environments, Colleen and her husband left the windy city to create a more balanced life in Portland, Oregon. They moved to Portland for its smaller size, accessibility to nature, and the milder climate. When not working, you’ll find Colleen hiking with family and friends, walking her two rescue dogs, cooking, reading, traveling, cycling, and of course gardening finally in her first real backyard. Colleen volunteers at The Pixie Project, a small no kill animal shelter in Portland. Her dream one day is to have land where she can create a safe haven for animals in need, run a local and sustainable flower farm and grow the majority of her own food – some day.

Other affiliations and interests:

  • Xerces Society, Member

  • Friends of Family Farmers, Member

  • Zenger Farm

  • Hoyt Arboretum

  • Elk Rock Gardens

  • Portland Garden Club, Member

  • Gardens Illustrated

  • American Public Garden Association, Member

  • Portland Audubon Society, Member

  • Leach Botanical Garden, Board Member