Suzanne Nicksic

Landscape Design Portfolio

After designing gardens for twenty-five years, my focus now is solely on native plantings. Natives are low-maintenance and attract beneficial insects which in turn attract wildlife. I see this in my yard all year long.

This is my first all-native garden design and installation in 2009. A lot of time went into research and ordering plants that weren’t readily available either. The plan allows for birds to enjoy the fall berries of the serviceberry and viburnum.

Native sun garden design for a Montessori school in Chicago.

This design is called “native options”. It pits standard nursery finds against native plants.

2000-2003 Stonework and Gardens

2000 was the first year I started designing gardens. In no time, I fell head over heels with natural stone and always encouraged my clients to use it in lieu of prefabricated blocks. Most agreed.

2005 - 2007 Garden Designs

During this time, I worked for a landscape company and focused only design and sales.

2007-2019 Seasonal Planters

Garden care was my main focus during these years. Along with annual planters, I tended gardens and fertilized organically. My goal now is to add natives in all my planters mixed with old-fashioned annuals to attract pollinators.

Before

After

Gardens I designed and/or tended

The Ever-Changing Garden

This particular garden was designed and installed in 2006 and tended until 2019, two years after I moved to Atlanta. Yes, I drove up to Chicago four times a year!

My client didn’t have a budget and just let me do my thing. One year, we took a walk around my favorite Chicago nursery, and from that point, everything changed. Not only did I finally understand her style but a trip to the nursery was what I did for every client from that point forward.

This garden changed seasonally and was different every year.