Meet Our Team
Jennifer McDonald
“She reminds me of me a long time ago. I am very impressed.” ~ Martha Stewart
I’m Jen, and I began gardening six years ago after watching too many Nancy Meyers movies. As a home stylist and lover of outdoor entertaining, I longed to set the ultimate scene with a swoon worthy garden that produced beautiful vegetables, loads of herbs and picture perfect flower bouquets, while wearing white linen pants (goals).
I grew up in Napa Valley, CA with hills and vineyards as my backdrop. My father had a full, productive garden and I remember spending afternoons sitting on an overturned bucket, watching him pluck tomatoes and snap peas from their vines. I loved eating whatever he was harvesting.
For the last fourteen years, I’ve called Houston home. I’ve learned through trial and error what grows well in this climate, which affords us a fantastic opportunity to grow year round. I was featured in Martha Stewart’s television series, “Getting Down and Dirty with Martha,” Season 1, Episode 8 where I impressed Martha (no easy task) with my fourteen raised bed kitchen gardens and growing methods.
Today, I’m a regular expert contributor to publications including Martha Stewart, Homes and Gardens, The Spruce, Southern Living and AD. I’m certified as an Organic Vegetable Garden Specialist, as a Texas Nursery & Landscape Professional and in Native Landscaping through NPSOT, Native & Pollinator Society of Texas.
I enjoy connecting with families and individuals who want to find magic in gardening. Let’s dream a little and turn that dream into your very own Nancy Meyers garden. Wear your linen or wear your workout pants. Just don’t wait. This is a lifestyle that you deserve to enjoy now!
Jill Oliver
I come from a long line of gardeners. As the daughter of a beekeeper and pecan-tree farmer, the granddaughter of fruit and vegetable gardeners, and the great granddaughter of another beekeeper, a true love of gardening is deep in my roots.
These days I continue the family tradition with my own 400-square-foot kitchen garden and greenhouse in Hunters Creek in the Memorial area. The best parts of my day are spent in my garden tending to all kinds of herbs, vegetables and flowers.
Bees and beekeeping are an important part of my gardening experience. Like my father and great grandfather, I understand how important bees are to a thriving garden. With pollinators and native plants in my yard, the bees can feed on nectar and pollen and keep my garden self-sustaining for consistent, bountiful results.
I have worked as a garden designer for more than two years, and I have installed hundreds of beautiful gardens in Houston. Sharing my love of gardening with others is my passion, and I was featured on the cover of The Memorial Buzz where I talked all things garden in the article “Kitchen Garden: An Edible Yard in the City.”
Let’s get started on your dream garden today! I would be honored to work with you to create your very own space to grow what makes you happy and help you learn the rewarding, lifelong skill of gardening.
Nicole Shah
Hi! I'm Nicole, and my garden is my happy place. Gardening is more than a passion—it's what truly nourishes my body and spirit. When I moved to Houston in 2001, I never imagined I would trade my lawyer briefcase for a gardening apron. My son was the catalyst for this transformation. I wanted him to experience the magic of growing things, just like I did as a child in West Virginia, and it became especially important with his food allergies to learn about fresh, healthy eating.
I feel honored to help clients set up successful raised bed gardens to grow tasty veggies, abundant herbs, and stunning cut flowers. It’s a privilege to witness the transformation that happens to clients in their gardening journey. Gardening is a refuge, teaching patience, discovery, and connection.
Besides inspiring others to grow, I hope to inspire others to follow their passion. Following my passion led me to co-found Garden Girls with two other phenomenal women. I am incredibly proud of our team and shared commitment to designing beautiful, productive, and meaningful spaces while educating others to become confident gardeners.
When I’m not in my garden, you might find me serving on the board of the Braeswood Place Community Garden or volunteering with my daughter at the West University Senior Center. I am also an avid cook and travel enthusiast. I use my garden harvests to make spicy salsa and vibrant pesto. And when I travel, my family knows we'll be seeking out local gardens, where I point out plants and wonder aloud if they could thrive in Houston.
My dream is for every household to grow something. Let’s nourish ourselves and nature and spread gardening joy!
Lindsey Johnson
Gardening Coach
Kelsey Gentry
Gardening Coach