Meet Eryn
Landscape designer based in Nelson, BC
Hi, I’m Eryn, the designer behind Fronds + Friends Garden Design.
I grew up weeding and watering my mum’s beautiful garden on Bowen Island, and after finishing my BA in Psychology at the University of Victoria, I took a summer job landscaping where I fell in love with working in gardens and bringing them to life. I went on to earn my diploma in Horticulture and Landscape Systems from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and started Fronds + Friends Garden Design in 2019. I’ve been designing gardens remotely from Vancouver to Calgary since then, and in the West Kootenays in particular after we moved to Nelson, BC with our young family in 2022.
I’m also an artist and painter, and that helps shape how I see a garden: as a canvas of colour, texture, light and form. I like to think of creating gardens as interior design for the outdoors, with rooms to gather in, paths to wander and views to frame. I want your garden to feel as considered and personal as the inside of your home.
I design for the West Kootenays’ hot, dry summers, wildfire risk and varied terrain, with an emphasis on native plants, pollinators, xeriscape and FireSmart principles.
How I Work
I start by listening to you. Every garden is shaped around your home, your life and your vision, and I create handcrafted, to-scale plans that you or a trusted landscape company can build from. I work closely with local landscape contractors and nurseries, so the design on paper can be installed in reality.
My Philosophy
I’m passionate about creating gardens and outdoor spaces that enhance my clients’ lives. From our first discovery meeting, learning about your life, family and home becomes the inspiration for your garden design. I strive to keep the existing plants you love wherever I can, and I prioritize creating gardens that are beautiful, functional and ecologically beneficial.
My promise to you is that you’ll always be heard in what you want for your outdoor living spaces, and that we’ll have an honest relationship where communication and collaboration come first.