Ronda M. Brands
Garden Designer & Horticulturist
Instructor & Editor
Garden Guide & Urban Explorer
Motivated by the desire to connect urbanites with nature, I specialize in creating beautiful four-season gardens of lush plantings and year-round interest for public parks and urban neighborhoods, university and residential campuses, and private homes in the New York City area and beyond.
Credentials
- Diploma in Horticulture from the New York Botanical Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture
- Landscape design training from the Landscape Institute of Harvard University
- Apprenticeship and design work with renowned public garden designer Lynden B. Miller
- Previous professional work experience in nonprofit arts management, board relations, and strategic development
- Master’s Degree in English Literature
Professional Associations & Service
- Metro Hort Group, The Horticultural Society of New York, and the American Horticultural Society
- Member, Advisory Council for the New York Botanical Garden’s School of Professional Horticulture
Teaching, Speaking, Writing & Editing Projects
- Teaching classes on Planting Design and Plant Identification:
- Faculty, New York Botanical Garden Adult Education Program
- Adjunct Lecturer, Columbia University’s former Landscape Design Program
- Guest Lecturer, New York University
- Speaking on topics related to public space design, planting design, and plants, for garden clubs and educational institutions
- Writing brochures, e-newsletters, bloom lists, operations plans, maintenance plans, web content, garden tour scripts, signage, brochures, strategic plans, landscape management plans, etc.
- Book editing for Norton Publishing:
- Lynden B. Miller’s award-winning Parks, Plants, and People: Beautifying the Urban Landscape
- Alexander Garvin’s Public Parks: The Key to Livable Communities
- Kimberly Duffy Turner’s Botany for Designers
