gwen our new intern: a creative force joins our design team
this year, we’ve been lucky enough to welcome a brilliant new intern to the rooted outdoor living crew—and let me tell you, she is a total gem. gwen is currently working toward her graduate degree in landscape architecture at the university of georgia, and somehow the universe conspired to bring her to us here in the western suburbs of chicago. i had been dreaming of adding an intern to the mix for a couple years now, and gwen showed up just when we needed her most.
what makes her even more of a dream fit is that she already holds degrees in both biology and sustainability. those two passions drive her work and influence her approach to design in such a thoughtful and grounded way. she’s incredibly focused on creating outdoor spaces that are not only beautiful, but functional and ecologically sound. her upcoming thesis will dive into the ins and outs of growing and raising your own food right in your own back yard—something that’s super aligned with how we think about land, design, and lifestyle around here.
from day one—literally—she jumped right in. her first hours on the job were spent in the middle of a dump truck plant delivery, helping unload and count hundreds of plants at our shop in oswego. since then, she’s been an enthusiastic, creative, and reliable part of everything we do—from site measures in naperville and client presentations in aurora to visiting job sites in naperville and updating our social media and blog posts. she gets scans and copies of our designs, assists with appointments, brainstorms design concepts, and always brings the best energy.
today, i casually asked if she could sketch a perspective drawing for an upcoming design we’re working on in batavia—a total front yard renovation of a mid century modern home. and wow… she delivered big time. her sketch completely captured our vision and added some unexpected magic. stay tuned for our next post where i’ll share the design and her stunning hand-drawn perspective. gwen has truly become part of the heartbeat of rooted outdoor living, and i couldn’t be more grateful.