Women Of Yardzen: Diana D.

How did you know Yardzen was a good fit for you, career wise?

When I started working with Yardzen in 2019 I was still an M.A. student. I embraced this collaboration as an opportunity to grow as a Landscape Designer as I pursued my Ph.D. in Horticulture. As I grow in my career, Yardzen continues to be an excellent opportunity to do what I love and help our fantastic clients get the most out of their outdoor spaces.

Do you think it’s important for your personal passions to also become part of your career?

My hobbies, passions, and career all revolve around landscape design and plants, actually! If you were to visit my home, you would notice that my library is full of books on Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design, Plant Biology, Horticulture, and Urban Planning.

When I travel, it’s my passion to explore the landscapes and urban spaces around me—always with an eye to the plants and materials that inspire my own landscape design practice. I truly love what I do, and just about every aspect of my life has something to do with plants and landscaping!

What are your hobbies, or moments in your life, that allow you to totally disconnect from work?

Since I live in an apartment, I have an herb garden in my kitchen and a vertical garden on my balcony. Pruning and caring for the plants and herbs in my small space gardens is one of my passions. Plus, I love to try new, complicated recipes that utilize the herbs I’m growing.

I love animals, so my other passion is my playing with our black cat— the family’s baby! That’s when I truly feel like I can disconnect from school and work.

If you weren’t a Designer, what would you be doing?

My childhood dream was to become a veterinarian!

Have to ask – what’s your favorite feature of your own yard?

I’m currently planning and multiplying some perennials for our balcony vertical garden. And, in our kitchen, I’m working on a vertical herb garden. Herbs are one of my favorite plants to use in my garden and my clients’ yards because they are both ornamental and utilitarian, boosting the air quality in our apartment and providing fresh condiments for my cooking experiments.