About

Natural Greenscapes LLC is a landscape design-build and consulting firm, based in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We specialize in garden makeovers with focus on revitalization of overgrown, non-functional gardens into inviting, useful, outdoor living spaces that suit your needs and reflect your lifestyle. We take pride in being an environment conscious company.

OUR MISSION – we desire to bring harmony into a garden and the outdoor living spaces. OUR CORE VALUES – a ‘count-on-me’ mindset that focuses on teamwork, efficiency that focuses on doing the right thing at the right time and integrity that brings trustworthiness in our both professional and personal lives.

OWNER & PRINCIPAL DESIGNER

LARA ELIZABETH VYAS

After a successful career in database technologies, Lara channeled her passion for plants into the world of horticulture and landscape design. She earned her AS degree in Environmental Horticulture and Design from Foothill College, Los Altos Hills, CA in 2004. She has honed her technical skills as a landscape designer in a Los Altos landscape firm and then mastered organic gardening at Seattle Tilth as a Garden Steward for the Pickering Barn Learning Garden in Issaquah, WA.

Her experience in spearheading the implementation of the expansion of the Pickering Barn Garden – an effort to renew the garden with native plant beds, wildlife habitat areas, wetland areas, perennial edibles, vegetable beds and on-site composting, inspired her to start Natural Greenscapes in 2011.

“I simply love what I do. It’s been a joy to be able to create outdoor oasis for clients and see them revel in it with family and friends, especially in these pandemic times. I am truly blessed to be in a career that feeds my soul” ~ Dec 2021

Featured Designer – Feb 2022 – APLD WA Chapter

Lara is a Certified Professional Landscape Designer (CPLD), an industry standard for qualified landscape designers by APLD.

She is also a Certified Professional Horticulturist (by WSNLA), a Master Pruner (by Plant Amnesty), a Comprehensive Organic Gardener (by Seattle Tilth) and a Master Naturalist (by the City of Bellevue – read more about it on the garden blog).

In Jan 2015, Lara was honored with the ‘Cultivating Community’ Award (Team Photo) from WSNLA for her contribution to its mission in growing, promoting and educating the horticulture community.

Currently, Lara serves as Treasurer on the Board of APLD’s WA Chapter. In her spare time, Lara enjoys knitting, cooking and spending time with her family.

MEET OUR FINE-GARDENING TEAM

EMILY McGOWAN – Client Services Manager & Lead Garden Steward
Emily joined our team as an intern in 2020 and rose to her current position with sheer determination, passion and hard work. She is a Certified Professional Horticulturist and is now working on her Master Pruner certification. “Since I was young, the garden is my favorite place to be. Upon moving to the Pacific Northwest, I fell in love with the abundance that this temperate climate provides and was inspired to take up gardening as a career. I firmly believe that as I care for the plants around me, it is actually the plants that are nurturing me.”

MARY NICKERSON – Lead Garden Steward
Bringing several years of professional fine-gardening experience to our team, Mary is qualified to service variety of landscapes. A passion for horticulture and its effect on our eco systems led her to obtain a degree in environmental horticulture almost a decade ago. She is now a Certified Professional Horticulturist, a Plant Amnesty trained Master Pruner, and has a composting certification through Seattle Tilth Alliance. With her attention to detail and a friendly, cheerful spirit, she finds joy in being in the garden. In her free time, she tends her mason bees and completes challenging jigsaw puzzles.

HALEY MORRIS – Garden Steward
Haley has been working in her family’s gardens since she was young. Her love for the outdoors took her into a stint in agriculture where she ….

Haley is a quick learner and is currently working towards her certification in horticulture. She finds that her passion for plants brings joy and purpose in her daily life. In her spare time, she enjoys playing games with friends and family. She also enjoys performing arts and is active in the local theatre scene.

COMPANY CULTURE
As stewards of our clients’ gardens, we focus on building a harmonious, sustainable connection between all plant life as well as the various hardscape elements of their landscape. Our work enables the client to find solace and joy in their outdoor spaces as they spend time there with family and friends.
We embrace a ‘count-on-me’ mindset in our work. Our clients depend on us, and we depend on one another as a team on this ‘journey.’