bellandflourish@gmail.com

Julia has worked in ecological landscape design and restoration in the Santa Cruz and Monterey areas for the past 20 years. Her background in fine art, design and botany fuse with a love for California wild-lands, and she sees her work as living sculpture as well as part of the greater ecosystem. The name Bell & Flourish reflects the rich collaborative process among Julia, her clients, and fellow workers, horticulturalists, contractors and craftspeople that propel each project through to a successful ecological landscape.

Formal education from UCSC (BA Art, BA Biology), Cabrillo and West Valley College (Landscape Design & Architecture, Horticulture, Engineering Technology, Graphic Design, etc) has provided a solid backdrop for continual ongoing studies. Working for many years at San Lorenzo Garden Center, one of the best retail nurseries on the central coast also enhanced her horticultural knowledge, customer service, and network within the local landscape community.

Julia is passionate about the dynamic fields of landscape and floral design and is currently involved in many exciting projects that fuse fine art with horticultural design in residential, educational and commercial settings. Special interests include: California native plants, pollinator attraction (birds, butterflies & bees), edible/ usable gardens, succulents, Permaculture, traditional Japanese and art-gardens.

As Creative Director of Succulent Gardens, a retail & wholesale nursery in Castroville, CA, Julia helped transform the grounds into an impressive destination of display gardens, living sculpture, shopping, and succulent inspiration. Currently, Bell & Flourish is a collaborative partner with Succulent Gardens on custom projects ranging from living murals to DIY workshops and floral design. We aim to educate and inspire gardeners, florists, landscapers and artists in the use of succulent and drought-tolerant plants!

Julia is currently working with Wild Earth Art on projects around the greater Bay Area, raising an incredible little nature-appreciating baby, and stewarding land in the Soquel Hills. Available for consultation and design in the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas.