Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cari Tiller. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Cari, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
For 18 years, I worked in Advertising and Marketing. I felt like I was spinning my wheels and never really making a difference or making the world a better place. I feel like God had a higher purpose for my time and talents.
Once I combined my passion for the outdoors with creativity and gardening, I realized I could improve the world one yard or garden at a time by designing functional outdoor spaces for families to enjoy. I love creating landscape designs to provide peace and beauty, but also to support and attract bees, butterflies and all sorts of wildlife (lizards, beneficial insects, birds). We can all do our part to positively impact the world, and I feel like designing native and sustainable gardens is my purpose and my way of giving back to mother nature.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I became a landscape designer after intentionally going back to school to pursue and study for a Horticulture degree. I also become a certified Master Gardener in my local community. My greatest joy is taking my passion for gardening, art and nature to work with residential clients to transform their landscape into a thriving garden retreat full of life and beauty!
I really take time to understand what is important to each client!. I ask a lot of questions to understand desires, likes and dislikes. I want to know a clients’ goals for their landscape and how they will use their space daily. Once I know my clients’ lifestyle and wish list, I can create a unique, functional and beautiful outdoor living environment customized just for their needs.
I love to focus on native plants that are well-suited for our climate, soil, lighting and wildlife.
My custom design process and presentation style is very visual. I provide conceptual photo mock-ups (along with CAD drawings) that allow my client to see the design installed. My design and presentation process allow the ideas and vision for their landscape to crystallize in their mind. There will be no doubt what the final product will be!
What do they say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”? I provide pictures so my clients can SEE their dream yard. I truly think this extra step differentiates my client offering from the competition.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Plant Knowledge – I immersed myself in “all things plants” to learn about the plants that grow and thrive in North Central Texas. I focused on native and adapted plants. I learned the most from my “hands-on” experience as a Master Gardener in my county. I spent lots of time in gardening classes and lectures, volunteering in demonstration gardens and working on gardening projects. The best experience is immersion!
– I went back to school to earn my Horticulture degree. It was important to learn the science of how plants thrive and grow and how to nurture the soil – which is the foundation for all plant life.
2. Design Expertise
– I enrolled in classes for landscape design to learn the basic design principles. There are so many things to think about when creating a landscape design: proportion, order, repetition, unity, line, balance, color, texture, form, mass/visual weight.
3. CAD Software
– Choosing a CAD Software that gave me the desired end result for clients was very important. I enrolled in various training courses to learn the software and get the “hands-on” experience creating beautiful designs. It was important to choose a software that was easy to learn and use, but also one that provided a very beautiful layout that allowed clients to more easily visualize the plants and hardscape in their outdoor space.
Over my 5 years in the landscape design business, I continually learn. It is important to take as many classes as possible and stay aware of industry trends. I have also invested in a large library of books to use for continued learning and as resources in my design process. My library continues to grow!
Always seek opportunities to learn and improve your knowledge and skills.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
“Residential Landscape Architecture – Design Process for the Private Residence” – By Norman K. Booth and James E. Hiss
This book was invaluable in learning the key steps and processes for developing a successful landscape design from start to finish. It truly is for the designer who wishes to create a thoughtful and quality design for a client. There is so much time and energy set up in the planning process for a landscape design. I spend the MOST time in research and planning with a client in their outdoor space to ensure I have all of the information before sitting down to design. We are hired to be problem solvers!
Believe it or not: Plants are the very last thing to think about!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.catatiller.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catatiller/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catatiller
Image Credits
Images courtesy of Gracie Ortiz Photography.
