Wild Root Landscapes LLC

04/28/2026

Sometimes I design ADA-compliant ADUs too 😉. These homeowners are dreaming big things for the adjacent lot they purchased. Soon it will be an extension of their current backyard with a native garden, vegetable garden and fire pit. The front half of the lot will someday be home to aging parents.

There were some serious constraints, like a 21’ elevation difference and the need to store a tractor. Swipe for before ~>

04/25/2026

Oh the beauty of native wildflowers. Buckwheats, daisies, flax, and primrose. Dusty maiden and shrubby penstemon. Spring is here. Go for a hike and enjoy the ephemeral flowers. It is a special time of year in the Columbia Basin.

02/07/2026

So excited to share this adventure with you!

A Tri-Cities specialty nursery was recently acquired by a local landscape designer and general contractor who focuses on hyper-local native plants.

02/04/2026

Thank you, Oscar, for bringing this design to life! And thank you, Alicia, for taking great photos. 🙏 Can you imagine mowing that slope?!

This fall - native plants!!

11/13/2025

Sometimes you don’t get picked and you won’t always know why. You’ll get told that they are “going in another direction”. It could be that they think you are too expensive. Maybe they’ll even say “you’re just not what we are looking for”.

That’s okay. You can’t please everyone. And you need to be okay with that. You shouldn’t try to be the solution to everyone’s problem. You’ll only end up tired and watered down.

I wasn’t chosen for this project, but I was so excited that I jumped the gun and started before finding that out. The house is Mediterranean-inspired and I had envisioned a Tuscany-meets-Columbia-Basin-style landscape. I was fortunate enough to study in Florence, Italy years ago and looked forward to using that knowledge to create something special.

The home’s architecture inspired a pavilion with a Tuscan tile wall nestled among granite erratics. Next to the pavilion sits a dramatic water feature reminiscent of Palouse Falls, a beautiful plunging waterfall of the channeled scablands. Both are wrapped in a tapestry of native and drought-tolerant, low-growing plants selected with fire safety in mind.

I’ll probably finish this design someday. I have this image in my head of asymmetrical axes, long allees, and secret gardens. Gravel gardens of native plants meeting prairie-style meadows. I’ll get rid of the lawn (that was a client request anyway). This design is now free from budget restrictions and AI-generated aesthetics. I get to use it to hone my craft and create an inspiration piece because I didn’t fit someone’s mold.

And neither do you. You have a way of doing what you do that is unique to your personality, your talents, and your passions. So go break the mold. Even better than that, find your tribe and break new ground together.

Ciao bella 😘

11/10/2025

It has been a huge privilege to create a landscape vision for this sweet family. I am especially excited about the backyard. We have preserved some of the mature native sagebrush-steppe community that thrives on site while creating plenty of space for games and family parties. This beautiful young family will have a sanctuary that grows with their kids. It truly is a special place for making family memories that includes a connection to the wild roots of the land.

A big thank you to for their continued support of this little women-owned design business. Wild Root would not be where it is today without you. 🙏

If you are interested in 3D landscape design, but aren’t sure where to start, please visit the new and improved website in the bio for frequently-asked questions and ways to connect!

10/24/2025

I am so incredibly excited to announce the purchase of Tapteal Native Plants! If you have not yet had the pleasure of discovering this native plant nursery, I hope that you will head over to the Instagram page and the website, www.taptealnativeplants.com, to check it out.

Ann Autrey and her dedicated staff have spent years nurturing native plants and building a vibrant community of gardeners, conservationists, and nature lovers. I feel so fortunate to be stepping into Ann’s role as owner and to be part of the Tapteal Native Plants story.

As Ann says on the nursery website, “While ownership is changing, the nursery’s roots remain strong. You’ll still find the same dedication to quality native plants, expert advice, and community connections with fresh energy and expanded services to support your outdoor projects.”

I am so grateful to Ann for her vision and will work hard to continue what she started.

That’s it for now, but stay tuned! We’ve got some wonderful things in the works. 🌱🌱🌱

09/29/2025

“That’s too much rock.” “There’s not enough greenery.” “There should be more lawn.” “No fabric?! How do you control the weeds?” “All of these rocks will end up in the pool.”

To be fair, the landscaping at this parade home is a bit of a departure from what you normally see around the Tri-cities. But that’s the point. And owning an acre of land is going to be arduous no matter how it is landscaped if you don’t know how to maintain it.

This design provides approximately 3500sf of lawn for volleyball, kicking around a soccer ball, or throwing a football. Plenty of room for active kids and dogs. It has pines, junipers, and oaks in all the right places that won’t crowd the house and will only look better year after year. I was even allowed to reestablish sagebrush on the property. Establishing more native plants on this land over time would take it to the next level without adding maintenance.

You might not think this is your cup of tea, but my hope is that it might change your mind about lawn. You certainly don’t need an acre of it. 😉

08/17/2025

Lines matter. ✍️🎨 Swipe for before photo.