weekends on the homestead: reconnecting with what matters most

during the week, i spend much of my time designing landscapes, meeting with clients, creating plans, and helping others bring their outdoor dreams to life. i genuinely love what i do, and i feel fortunate to have built a career around my passion for nature and landscape design. but when the weekend arrives, there is another place that pulls me in—a place that reminds me why i fell in love with the outdoors in the first place. that place is my homestead.

some of my favorite weekends are the simplest ones. there is something incredibly rewarding about stepping outside early in the morning, coffee in hand, and heading into the garden. the pace is slower, the distractions are fewer, and the focus shifts from deadlines and schedules to the simple act of working with the land. whether i am tending vegetables, pulling weeds, planting something new, harvesting produce, or simply walking through the garden to see what has changed, those moments help me reconnect with what matters most.

living and working on a homestead has taught me that landscapes are about so much more than appearance. they are living spaces that evolve, grow, and tell a story over time. every flower that blooms, every vegetable harvested, and every bird that visits the garden creates a deeper connection to the natural world. these experiences continue to shape the way i approach landscape design throughout naperville, aurora, plainfield, yorkville, batavia, geneva, glen ellyn, wheaton, downers grove, lisle, and the western suburbs of chicago. they remind me that the best outdoor spaces are the ones that invite people outside and encourage them to engage with nature on a daily basis.

one of the things i appreciate most about spending weekends outdoors is the opportunity to step away from the things i love so that i can appreciate them even more. as much as i enjoy designing landscapes, there is something different about spending a day in my own garden with no agenda beyond caring for the land. it allows me to slow down, observe, and experience nature firsthand rather than through drawings and plans. these moments often become a source of inspiration for future projects and a reminder of why i chose this profession.

the garden has also become a place of learning. nature has a way of teaching patience, resilience, and adaptability. not every plant thrives, not every season unfolds as expected, and not every project goes exactly according to plan. yet there is beauty in that process. watching the landscape evolve over time reinforces the idea that meaningful spaces are never truly finished—they continue growing and changing just as we do.

throughout the summer, i find myself spending entire weekends outdoors. sometimes i am working in the garden from sunrise until sunset. other times i am simply sitting and listening to the sounds of nature around me. the birds, pollinators, rustling leaves, and changing light throughout the day create an experience that cannot be replicated indoors. these moments remind me that some of life's greatest luxuries are not found in busy schedules or expensive possessions but in the simple act of being present outdoors.

i often encourage homeowners throughout naperville, aurora, plainfield, yorkville, batavia, geneva, glen ellyn, wheaton, downers grove, lisle, and the western suburbs of chicago to think about how they want to experience their landscape. a successful landscape should do more than increase curb appeal. it should provide opportunities to slow down, gather with family, grow food, enjoy nature, and create meaningful memories. it should become a place that people genuinely want to spend their time.

for me, the homestead serves as a daily reminder of that philosophy. it is where i recharge, find inspiration, and reconnect with the natural world. it is where i remember that the true value of a landscape is not measured by how it looks from a distance but by how it enriches everyday life. spending weekends outdoors, working in the garden, and caring for the land continues to fuel my passion for landscape design and reinforces my belief that the most meaningful outdoor spaces are the ones that invite us to slow down and simply enjoy where we are.