Garry L. Menendez ASLA - Portfolio

ABOUT ME As is the case with many other landscape architects I have always loved being outside. I have also long held a passion to create and I feel extremely blessed to have chosen a career that allows me to do both of these. My undergraduate degree was earned at West Virginia University in landscape architecture. Shortly after graduating I found myself employed as a designer and landscape division manager with a Knoxville based garden center and landscape contracting company. I attribute this experience to my extreme love for horticulture and more specifically native plants. After approximately eight years in this role I found myself desiring a greater challenge and somehow lucked into a temporary teaching position in Orna- mental Horticulture and Landscape Design at The University of Tennessee. I soon discovered that teaching was my new passion but also realized that it would take more than a bachelors degree to stay on the faculty. This led me to pursue and earn a Masters degree in Ornamental Horticulture. During more than 25 years teaching I have been keeping current by practicing as a registered and licensed Landscape Architect whenever I find the oppor- tunity. I also love to travel as I have led students on study abroad adventures throughout Europe and Japan. I also enjoy writing for popular press and speaking about travel, plants, and Earth-friendly landscape design opportuni- ties. Whenever my schedule allows it gives me great satisfaction to donate my time and talents to local schools and civic organizations where design needs and environmental consultation is concerned.