Loree Bohl, a self-avowed spike-aholic, gardens in NE Portland – a USDA zone 8b. Loree grew up in Spokane, WA, (zone 6) and while she revels in Portland’s mild growing conditions, admits that she longs for the exotic plants her brother in Phoenix, AZ, and in-laws in Truth or Consequences, NM, can grow. “I know I’ve got the best of both worlds here in Portland. We have a wealth of great nurseries, adventurous gardeners and great garden designs…” which she shares with like-minded folks on her blog danger garden. Loree is also a co-founder of plantlust.com, an online resource designed to provide a “seriously simple search for plants and places to find them.”

Rollin Coville is a private entomologist and insect photographer whose photos can be seen at nature.berkeley.edu/urbanbeegardens and in the upcoming book.

Suzanne Ferris is a garden designer and a botanical illustrator who writes about horticulture. Her past includes a stint as an arts manager for the King County Solid Waste Division, a letterpress printer and hand papermaker for Sea Pen Press and Papermill, and a public artist on Waldron Island. Her botanical interests include conducting plant trials testing soils both native and manufactured. Her future may include designing a line of furniture for outdoor spaces for Newwood Corporation. Plan B is to open a private eating club that Falstaff might enjoy.

Suzanne received a Fine Arts degree from Madison, Wisconsin and attended horticulture classes at Edmonds Community College. She has tended a large garden in Seattle for thirty-six years and is currently writing a book about her garden mentors, including a chapter about Phil Wood, with whom she worked. Suzanne accepts commission work.

Phil Van Soelen is the co-owner with Sherrie Althouse of California Flora Nursery, a small, unconventional nursery devoted to California natives and plants appropriate for the California mediterranean climate. He is also a past president of the Milo Baker (Sonoma County) Chapter of the California Native Plant Society.

Christine Edstrom O’Hara is a Professor of Landscape Architecture at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.  She received her Bachelor’s degree from Stanford University in English and Art History and Master’s degree from the University of Washington in Landscape Architecture and Preservation Planning.  In 2002, she received the Douglas Dockery Thomas Fellowship in Garden History studying the regional design of Palos Verdes Estates and Balboa Park.  Prof. O’Hara has lectured and published both nationally and internationally on landscape preservation as well as its application to sustainable landscape design and construction.  Her current research focuses on the California work of the Olmsted firm, especially the Olmsted Brothers, and their approach to regionalism.

In addition to teaching, Ms. O’Hara practices landscape architecture and historic landscape restoration.  She is a principal of m + o landscape architecture which concentrates on contemporary design in sustainable and green infrastructure solutions.  This practice also includes the specialty niche of consulting on the restoration and preservation of historic landscapes by writing National Register Nominations and Cultural Landscape Reports, as well as restoration and rehabilitation plans for such projects as Rancho Los Alamitos (Long Beach, CA), Mountain View Cemetery (Piedmont, CA), Malaga Cove Garden (Palos Verdes Estates, CA), Righetti House (San Luis Obispo), and Hollywood Bungalow Courtyards (North Hollywood, CA).   Ms. O’Hara is on the board of the California Garden and Landscape History and is a trustee for the National Association of Olmsted Parks.   She views history and contemporary design as companion ideas where history provides the framework for understanding the direction of the field of landscape architecture.

Janet Enright, Principal and founder of Janet Enright & Associates, has been designing landscapes since 1985.   She provides landscape design and consultation services across the San Francisco Bay Area, using principles and practices that promote sustainable gardens that thrive in our Mediterranean climate.

Along the way, she’s studied with John Brookes at La Napoule Foundation in France, at UC Berkeley Extension Landscape Architecture Program, at Foothill Community College Environmental Horticulture and Design Program … and generally enjoys messing around in dirt.  Her diverse work experience includes driving a lift truck at her Dad’s lumber yard in high school, owning a floral design business, being an educator, and teaching at Santa Clara University.

Landscape design became Janet’s primary focus in 2005.  In her prior career in education, she was a School Principal at Juvenile Hall – not exactly what most people would consider likely experience for a landscape designer.  Think again – they both require the ability to see the larger picture and make sense of it, to understand the needs of the client and offer solutions they can embrace, and to have a well-grounded working knowledge of how to get them where they need and want to be – whether it’s in school (and out of jail) or in their garden.

Growing up, she was privileged to spend time on her family’s property adjacent to Big Basin Park – a wondrous education in the wild.  Throw in years of honing an artistic aesthetic through sculpture, painting and collage, and it all coalesces.

Janet is a Bay Friendly Qualified Landscape Professional, and 2011 Past President of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, California Chapter.

Jeff Rosendale and his wife Lisa own Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens in Watsonville, California. He has been part of the world of horticulture in the Bay Area and Central Coast for the past 40 years as a garden designer and nursery manager/owner specializing in Mediterranean climate and other appropriate plants for water-conserving gardens and landscapes.

Sierra Azul Nursery and Gardens is located in the Pajaro Valley, at the edge of Watsonville, adjacent to the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The winter weather is mild and summer is tempered by frequent fogs from Monterey Bay. The Pajaro Valley is known for its favorable agricultural and horticultural climate and is home to many nurseries and farms.Online at sierraazul.com and on Facebook.

Kristin Yanker-Hansen is a garden designer, past president of the California Horticultural Society, and a current member of the board of directors for The Ruth Bancroft Garden. Kristin gardens in Danville, California where she delights in growing almost any type of flowering plants, especially those in the mallow family.

Bridget Lamp has been gardening professionally for over ten years at Filoli Center, Lotusland, and the University of California Botanical Garden. She currently propagates plants for Seattle Parks and Recreation. At home, she is always looking for more space to plant edibles in her garden. You can follow her blog at fromgardentokitchen.blogspot.com.