Personal Note:
I was 17 when I had my first real gardening job.   I worked in the vegetable patch, orchards and chicken coops of The Plum Lane Inn, a Victorian bed and breakfast in Northern Michigan run by eccentric and wonderful Bea Bowen, age 87.
(However, as the most valuable piece of education I learned there was that you'll never be asked for I.D. at the bar if an 87 year old woman is buying your bloody Mary, I happily say that I started gardening seriously a few years later.)

I began working seriously (professionally) as a gardener in 1991, working in Medina, Washington just up the street from Wells Medina Nursery.   I was spoiled, there's no doubt.
I learned quickly that I had a gift for making plants grow very well... better than they had been and better than they did when I wasn't there.   I had the encouragement of the landscape designer I was working under and he just showed me everything... from pruning espalier trained fruit trees to taking care of roses.
Eventually I was asked to design the pots for these clients in Medina as well as annual displays which led to learning all about design first hand as well as studying at night and every chance I could. After several years, the designer I worked with left the United States and went to live with his new wife in Brazil, ("... where they treat American designers like Gods!") and I had the very good fortune of taking over his long term design clients.
It was trial by fire, but I couldn't lose.   I had the help of years of practical experience, studying by night, and constant, daily trips to Wells Medina Nursery - the undisputed best of the best. I can't say that my first work was my best, but it was exactly what the clients wanted, and I had lots of encouragement from Ned and his wonderful kids and crew at the nursery when things got rough.

My first client in Medina, WA. (A great start.)

Also in Medina.

Since then I have continued to work in garden design, although I have now moved to the small waterfront town of Kingston, Washington, working in a variety of different conditions on a variety of different garden projects.   I also offer my services as a speaker and hope to do more of this in the future.

My projects have changed in the past few years away from gardens in Medina behind iron gates and toward helping regular homeowners achieve their own perfect vision within a tighter budget. I enjoy this work very much.

I had the good fortune to meet and work on a commercial project with Architect Jim Jenkins several years ago.   He is a man I deeply respect and would love to work with again.   Jim suggested that I begin a business working with Architects that want to design their own landscape plan for their buildings but need help with knowing what plants for which side of the building, the best way to achieve the look they're going for and help with drawing these plants onto an overlay plan.   I have been too busy so far to begin a separate business doing this kind of consulting, but would be eager to do this kind of work if it should come up.   If you are an architect or designer and would like to contact me about doing this kind of work with you, please e-mail me.