Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Kinney.
Hi Donna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My passion for landscape design and digital representation of my designs started it’s journey in the Summer of 1982 at the Main Campus of PSU. I was a student in the school of Arts and Architecture, with an undeclared major because I originally applied for the Architecture program but was not accepted due to the very competitive nature and highly qualified candidates. I was told to take some of the Freshman classes and if I did well in those to reapply because some students drop out very early in the program. In the meantime, a girl that I had befriended on campus told me that I should try her major of Landscape Architecture. At the time, I was not familiar with what that was and she explained it to me. I found it intriguing so I took some introductory classes. This major was made for me so I declared Landscape Architecture as my major. The program is very regimented so luckily I got in during my Freshman year and had already full filled some of the major’s requirements. In May of 1986, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Landscape Architecture.
The next day, after graduation, I moved to Florida and already had an interview set up with Full Circle Service – a Landscape Design/Build Company in Port Charlotte. I worked mostly in the Landscape Design/Build industry and 27 of my 38 plus years in the industry with King Landscaping and Sod. During that time, I won several Best Landscape Design in the Parade of Homes awards, gave presentations about landscape principals at events and communities. I also got married, built a home in Cape Coral, and had two children. The life altering event of losing my first born, Sean, at 15 months old – 8 days after immunizations had greatly put a detour in my intended path to become a registered Landscape Architect.
When King Landscaping closed their business, I spent a lot of time working for Retail nurseries that also provided design and installation services. This is quite different than the Design/Build Industry and added different skills to my experience palette. During the recession of 2008, I also started working on an as-needed basis for two high end and reputable, landscape maintenance companies. Whenever their customers need a landscape design to renovate their existing landscape or to provide for a new home, these companies call me to do the design . I have also done quite a bit of work with HOAs through my one boss.
As I grow closer to retirement age, I’ve been thinking that I will need to supplement my Retirement SS income when the time comes. That is when I decided to open my own business – Grow Your Vision . Why retire from doing what I love – “Landscape Design and Consultation with digital representation”
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When you’re in something as long as I’ve been in Landscape Design, there’s bound to be bumps in the road. The main struggle is that Landscape Design is directly connected to the economy and Building Industry. When people are building houses and commercial buildings, there is landscaping to be done. If the economy is weak and people are struggling to put food on their table then surely they are not going to invest in renovating their landscape. The introduction of more complicated computer programs, such as AutoCAD, make it hard to find a job in Landscape Design when you have the experience and knowledge of Landscape Design / Build but are not proficient in CAD programs. Finally, as is with probably many professions, employers in these times are looking for someone that is a Jack of all trades – sales, design, landscape construction, project management and procurement yet they don’t want to pay you to do the job of three people.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Landscape Design is a beautiful mastering of aesthetic meets function and creativity meets science.
A landscape designer has to have a knowledge of local flora – how and where it grows, how fast, how tall and how wide, with what nutritional, light and watering requirements? Does it flower, loose its leaves, have an unusual character to its form or bark? Is it poisonous to pets or people? What pests and diseases attack it and how to control them.
A landscape designer has to be familiar with local and community codes and requirements – what size trees and shrubs are required, do they have to be native, are certain varieties allowed or not allowed, are you required to block or screen some views and not others?
A Landscape designer may be asked to design or at least draft a conceptual drawing for outdoor living spaces – outdoor kitchens, firepits, butterfly gardens, herb garden, lighting, irrigation, among other things
A Landscape Designer may be asked to oversee the installation of the design that they have prepared.
I love what I do because each project is a new and fresh challenge. Clients have different wants and needs for their landscape with a budget that may or may not challenge meeting their goals, They may want a tropical style landscape that is low maintenance. It is my job to have the knowledge and to advise them that most tropical landscapes are not low maintenance. For example, a Hibiscus may be Hardy and withstand many circumstances but if you want it to look good, I believe it is not a low maintenance plant because it grows fast and needs trimming, it gets aphids and other pests that you have to treat for and it needs to be fertilized to have
a healthy appearance.
What I’m most proud of is how excited my customers are when they see their final project. For example, A client of mine had a vacant lot that they owned next to their home on a canal. They wanted to turn that lot into a parklike setting with butterfly gardens. Soon after their job was completed, they excitedly sent a photo of a caterpillar on one of the newly installed plants. That caterpillar would soon transform into a butterfly.
I think what what sets me apart from others is that I will take the time to educate my customers-
like when they refute that their community requires them to plant so many shade trees, I explain about how the shade from trees helps the micro climate to prevent tornados and such by cooling the ground so the air rising up from it doesn’t clash with the cooler downdrafts from the sky. +
I think what I’m most known for is my digital , computer aided, representation of my designs. I even make 3-D walk-thru movies so a client can see what their entire landscape – from different perspectives, will look like before the first hole is even dug. It puts a big smile on my face when a customer says , “Wow! that looks just like my house!”
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Not to sound like an athlete or a performer but God loves Landscape Designers too and I am grateful for the talent He has given me, a job that I never grow tired of doing, and provides a way every time that I need one. I believe my biggest motivators have been my clients- so a big thanks to the many that I’ve had over 37 years. I am thankful for my Part-time bosses – Ron Seals and Chris Horseman for putting their faith in me and giving me designs to create for so many years – especially when times were hard. Lastly, I’d have to say that probably my biggest supporter who always has positive things to say about my work when I hand in a project to him is Ron. Everyone needs to have their ego inflated every now and again – especially in this world today
Contact Info:
- Website: https://grow-your-vision.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Grow-Your-Vision/61577972918310/
