In the seven years since she launched Phyllis Warman Landscape Design, Phyllis Warman has won designer awards, appeared on national television and been profiled in several publications while her own garden and certified wildlife sanctuary has become a favorite for local garden tours.

Phyllis specializes in custom residential landscape design and she’s an expert in the design, mechanics and installation of self-contained water features.

“I grew up near the ocean and live near a lake with a creek running through my front yard. Heck, I’m even a Pisces. Water is my favorite of Earth’s four elements and I manage to include it in all my designs.”

Translated from Greek, “Phyllis” is “green leaf.” Perhaps it was this self-fulfilling prophecy that led Phyllis to a unique 3-year Horticulture program at Venice High School in Southern California where she grew up. In high school she joined the Future Farmers of America and won honors for her work propagating evergreens and groundcovers. At the time, she also worked in a bustling Los Angeles floral shop.

“From the moment that store opened in our neighborhood, I dreamed of working there. It was one busy little shop. On holidays the line of people went practically around the block. Folks always looked so pleased as they came out, arms overflowing with flowers or plants. I just couldn’t wait to be a part of that. So I went in at 15, lied about my age and got one of the happiest jobs I’ve ever enjoyed.”

Following graduation, Phyllis left Los Angeles for another innovative program where she spent one college semester trekking through the Sierra Nevada back country studying wildflowers. From there, she moved to Northern California to complete her Journalism degree at Chico State then on to the Seattle area where she enjoyed a successful, 15-year career as an advertising copywriter.

Designing and developing campaigns during the pre-digital days of the ‘80s and ‘90s, Phyllis worked alongside some of Seattle’s most celebrated photographers, designers, artists and stylists.

In 1999, Phyllis retired from advertising and returned to her first love: plants. She spent two years at Molbak’s Nursery in the indoor plants and container design departments. This led to side jobs designing small gardens and constructing indoor garden displays. Realizing she’d found the perfect career that combined her skilled designer’s eye with her love of plants, Phyllis returned to school, this time to study Landscape Design.

Today Phyllis enjoys giving her clients personal attention throughout the design process as well as supplying and installing the trees and plants that will bring their landscapes to life.

Professional Affiliations:

  • Director and Founder of the Kirkland Gallery of Gardens Tour
  • Certified Gardener, Plant Amnesty
  • Associate Member, Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD)
  • City of Kirkland Design Review Board, 2003-2008

Awards, Appearances & Publications:

Photo by Bridgett Ezzard.