Portfolio

I am somewhat active on Instagram, so below is a snapshot of some of my latest work related activities.

reneewilkinsonlandscapes

Landscape Architectural Designer
Modern Homesteader @hipchickdigs

Very excited to be working on the historic estate

Very excited to be working on the historic estate garden at Lewis & Clark College. As part of @migcommunity I was project manager + senior designer on the conceptual design process this summer + fall. My role continues as we work on construction documents this winter + spring, with construction planned for summer.

I can hardly wait to breathe new life into this terrace, while honoring the historic intention of this space. Dream project, dream client, dream team of designers 📐
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#womeninlandscapearchitecture #landscapedesign #landscapearchitecture #historiclandmark #estategarden #culturallandscape

Autumn ✨️ Plant ID in order: 🍂 Evergreen Hu

Autumn ✨️ Plant ID in order:
🍂 Evergreen Huckleberry
🍂 Fountain Grass
🍂 Little Limelight Hydrangea
🍂 Sunshine Blueberry
🍂 Chief Joseph Pine
🍂 Strawberry Tree
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#reneewilkinsonlandscapes #plantnerd #plantingdesign #landscapedesign #womeninlandscapearchitecture #plantcombinations #fallcolors

When we close our eyes and imagine being somewhere

When we close our eyes and imagine being somewhere free, it's always here for me. My mind is quietly gathering strength. Where do you go?

Back to the English countryside, and Scotland too

Back to the English countryside, and Scotland too this time! Tickets are purchased + lodging booked for summer '25.

We will start in the Lake District (pictured here thx to Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash). A week of hiking, biking, and deep cleansing breaths. Then to York, up the east coast to Alnwick, into Edinburgh for the Fringe Fest, thru the Highlands, ending on the Isle of Skye 🐑 🐏

The itinerary includes gardens, ancient ruins, epic playgrounds, and areas of outstanding beauty. I'm so excited and would love all your recommendations!
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#englandtravel #scotlandtravel #familytravel #epicroadtrip #lakedistrict

Japanese Anemones gracefully carrying this design

Japanese Anemones gracefully carrying this design project of mine into autumn. My list of "favorite" plants is long. Thankfully in my line of work I get to use them all, spread over land arch projects sprinkled throughout the PNW.

My job now is much broader than just planting plans. But, still, you'll find me at my happiest painting landscape plans with plants 🌿

What part of your work makes you happiest??
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#landscapearchitecture #landscapedesign #gardendesign #womeninlandscapearchitecture #plantingdesign #plantnerd #japaneseanemone

Process work on an inclusive playground. I'm so fo

Process work on an inclusive playground. I'm so fortunate to be part of the Play Studio dream team @migcommunity This will go from trace to final construction documents by year's end.

A couple weeks ago I traveled to Vashon Island and

A couple weeks ago I traveled to Vashon Island and met Oscar the Bird King. He was created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo @thomasdambo This is the last in his series of Pacific Northwest Trolls made with recycled materials.

That trip came at the perfect calm before a storm. I'm still inspired + grounded from my adventures up there.
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#outdoorart #outdoorsculpture #forestplay #forestcreature #troll #kingofbirds #vashonisland #pnwonderland #woodlandcreatures

A family originally lived in this lighthouse in th

A family originally lived in this lighthouse in the late 1800s. I love imaging how little may have changed from this window to the Pacific Ocean.

This was one of my first projects at MIG - a landscape architecture firm where I get to explore the accessibilty of historic landscapes (like this Yaquina Bay Lighthouse), design inclusive playgrounds, and play a role in the development of future parks. It feels like every step in my professional life was meant to lead me here.
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#landscapearchitecture #historiclandscape #adoregon #pnwonderland #womenindesign #womeninlandscapearchitecture

It's that most wonderful time of the year 🌸 .

It's that most wonderful time of the year 🌸
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#kwanzancherry #cherryblossoms #cherryblossom #cherryblossomseason #pdxlife #sellwood #sellwoodmoreland #pdx #springflowers

Before + After: my MIL's new house was an overgrow

Before + After: my MIL's new house was an overgrown jungle of weeds + heavenly bamboo (which is neither heavenly nor bamboo...). I poured some blood, sweat, and solid design sense into turning it into an Asian-inspired, soothing backyard.

My design took existing features that felt odd (buy costly to replace) - like this overly-sized, angled deck - and made them all make sense. I removed the junk + distractions, played off the funky angles by creating plant beds to soften them, and brought in more varied plant layers.

Star jasmine will start softening that fence. Everything will get mulched soon. And hopefully we'll find the perfect second-hand furniture to get my MIL out there enjoying her new space.
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#reneewilkinsonlandscapes #residentialdesign #plantnerd #plantingday #plantingdesign #landscapearchitecture #womenindesign #womeninlandscapearchitecture #landscapedesign

Digging out ivy roots + adding a simple retaining

Digging out ivy roots + adding a simple retaining wall on this slope at my MIL's garden project. Tough, but satisfying work 💪🏼

The Azara and Moonglow Juniper planted at the bottom will get tall and hide the grade change. The Royal Carpet Lonicera will spread wide, but stay low, creating an evergreen carpet that will also hide the weird grade change.
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#reneewilkinsonlandscapes #residentialdesign #plantnerd #plantingday #plantingdesign #landscapearchitecture #womenindesign #womeninlandscapearchitecture #landscapedesign

Who will win in the battle between landscape desig

Who will win in the battle between landscape designer vs. upright conifer? This is how you do it on your own folks... slowly! With back still in tact 💪🏼

This Juniper joins others along a fence line to create a privacy screen. More to share soon as this garden comes together for my MIL. It's looking fabulous + I'm getting some great workouts.
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#reneewilkinsonlandscapes #residentialdesign #plantnerd #plantingday #plantingdesign #landscapearchitecture #womenindesign #womeninlandscapearchitecture #landscapedesign

Peek into this planting install of mine! This is a

Peek into this planting install of mine! This is an unofficial job for my MIL with lots of soothing, cool toned plants.

She's a retired art history professor in her 80s + more "indoorsy" than out. So I've designed a peaceful, therapeutic garden she can enjoy from a window or with limited access outside. There's a Japanese influence with some gorgeous asymmetrical conifers, boulders, + "water" areas.

Note: I've closed up my residential design practice after accepting my dream job at MIG last year. But I'll keep sharing design inspo here for my fellow landscape architecture nerds 😊
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#reneewilkinsonlandscapes #residentialdesign #plantnerd #plantingday #plantingdesign #landscapearchitecture #womenindesign #womeninlandscapearchitecture #landscapedesign

Merlin Hellebore shivering in the wind, with tulip

Merlin Hellebore shivering in the wind, with tulip greens surrounding it. Every day closer to spring, but winter still feels at my doorstep.

About 30 Hellebores were just installed on one of designs from last year - a mix of Merlin, Connie, Rome In Red, and Rose Fire & Ice. Hoping to get a picture soon of the post-install 🌸
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#reneewilkinsonlandscapes #pdxlandscapedesign #landscapedesign #gardendesign #landscapedesigner #pdxdesigner #residentialdesign #curbappeal #plantingday #plantingdesign #plantnerd #wintergarden #winterflowers #wintergarden #hellebore #christmasrose #landscapearchitecture

Ann Bettman used to say "we've got big, BIG trees

Ann Bettman used to say "we've got big, BIG trees out here", referring to our beautiful Pacific Northwest. This giant conifer was at the Japanese Garden at Bloedel Reserve. I put my hand on its trunk + felt that energy 🌲
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#pnwonderland #bloedelreserve #bigtrees #japanesegarden #treespirit

Winter blooming Witchhazel at Bloedel Reserve. It

Winter blooming Witchhazel at Bloedel Reserve. It looks like Arnold Promise and smelled divine.
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#winterflowers #wintergarden #landscapedesign #plantnerd #witchhazel #bloedelreserve

Waves of winter grasses 🌾 Karl Foerster Feather

Waves of winter grasses 🌾 Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass, Fountain Grass, and Japanese Forest Grass. Living the mossy boulders 🪨
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#bloedelreserve #wintergarden #wind #ornamentalgrasses #karlfoerster #fountaingrass #japaneseforestgrass #gardenporn #gardendesign

That sweet smell you notice on a walk might be com

That sweet smell you notice on a walk might be coming from Fragrant Sarcococca. One of my favorite plants, this evergreen has glossy leaves and adds excellent structure. The inconspicuous flowers bloom in late-Jan/Feb and are incredibly fragrant. It's a quiet, hardworking plant that thrives in shade.
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#reneewilkinsonlandscapes #gardendesign #winterflowers #wintergarden #winterwonderland #sarcococca #fragrantflowers

Frozen beauty ❄️ . . . #reneewilkinsonlandsca

Frozen beauty ❄️
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#reneewilkinsonlandscapes #gardendesign #winterflowers #wintergarden #winterwonderland #pdx #pdxsnow #icestorm

Hellebore season 🌸 No garden is complete withou

Hellebore season 🌸 No garden is complete without a little collection of these. I have a half dozen varieties already, but I've added more Merlin (first here) + a new variety called Shooting Star (shown second). Do you have a favorite Hellebore?
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#reneewilkinsonlandscapes #plantingdesign #wintergarden #winterflowers #hellebore #helleborus #favoriteflower #plantnerd

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