Born in Dallas, Texas 1969
Environmental Educator, Sustainable Garden Designer, Native Plant Specialist,
Naturalist, Ecological Restorationist
Work History
2001-Present Nativedave.com!
Has and continues to create and deliver hundreds of public presentations on topics of garden design and how it relates to managing natural resources.
Assists clients in creating sustainable gardens by way of consultations, plans and project management.
Specializes in native habitat and plant communities as they pertain to creating outdoor livable spaces.
Pursues mission of making positive changes through activism and participation. Involved in several volunteer projects including school gardens, non-profit organizations and Habitat for Humanity.
2003 hiatus The Gourd Garden And Curiosity Shop, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
Manager. Responsible for all aspects of outside retail plant/product sales, maintenance and upkeep of nursery grounds, and weekly garden topic presentations. The Gourd Garden was an iconic shopping destination beloved by locals and tourists. It was featured in several national and local magazines and specialized in native coastal plants. I took the opportunity as manager during a time when we were exploring the possibilityof Nativedave! becoming a retail nursery.
1999-2000 Dallas Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, Dallas, Texas.
Garden Supervisor of The Lay Ornamental Gardens. This section of the gardens emphasized the use of native plants in a perennial border setting. Responsible for all aspects of managing the garden. Supervised rotating crew of employees and volunteers. Provided walks of garden to VIPs and gave presentations on variety of garden topics.
Skills
Public Speaking
Dynascape Landscape Design Software, used since 2003
Basic computer proficiency: Word, Powerpoint, Publisher
Proficient in wide range of horticultural practices.
Basic botany and identification with specialty in native plants of Texas Tallgrass Prairies, Hill Country, Gulf Coast and Florida Gulf Coast.
Certification for Florida Master Naturalist Coastal Systems, Northwest Florida, 2003
Knowledgable on a variety of natural resource, ecology and environmental topics to Texas.
Awards
2006 Urban Forestry Council Award, Project Post Oak, City of Denton
2007 D Magazine Flower Power and Best Native Plants and Landscaping Awards, Best of Everything edition
2006-2010 City of Dallas Water-Wise Landscape Contest winners
2007 Florida Native Plant Society 1st place Residential Landscape Design Award
2007 Environmental Steward Award, City of Plano
2011 Leadership Support Award, Keep Denton Beautiful
2001-Present Numerous Yard of the Month recognitions in various cities across DFW
Notable Projects
Schroeder Park, Lockhart, Texas
Park Meadows Prairie Restoration (Private Residence), Dallas, Texas
Prairie Creek Baptist Church, Plano, Texas
Denton Recycling Facility, Denton, Texas
Copano Bay Coastal Gardens (Private Residence), Rockport, Texas
Project Post Oak, Denton, Texas
Education
1987 Plano East Senior High, Plano, Texas
1990-1992 Longwood Gardens, Philadelphia, PA. Graduated from Professional Gardener Training Program.
1997 Austin Community College, Austin, Texas. Associate of Arts.
1999 Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas. Bachelor of Science, Geography/Resource & Environmental Studies.
2003 Certification for Florida Master Naturalist Coastal Systems, Northwest Florida.
2000-2010 Licensed Texas Irrigator.