With over 20 years of gardening experience, Lauren is the founder and owner of Lauren’s Garden Services. She has the experience to ensure that your project is installed according to specifications.  You can be certain that your project will be completed in a timely manner, and with care and respect for your property.  Lauren has a BS in Horticulture from Pennsylvania State University and an MS in Herbal Medicine from Tai Sophia Institute for the Healing Arts. She has studied landscape architecture, sustainability, native plants, medicinal plants and permaculture practices. She has experience working on high-end landscapes, installing and maintaining beautiful gardens, hardscapes and ponds.

Alex graduated from CCBC with a Certificate in Sustainable Horticulture through the American Landscape Institute.  She has a level one certification from the Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professionals.  Alex also earned an AA in History from Harford Community College.  She loves being out in nature and it was that love that got her to completely change her career field and go back to school. Her happiness in this decision shows in her work. Alex is an avid reader and loves to sip tea while reading a good book. One of her favorite native plants is mountain mint, but she loves them all! She joined our team in spring 2020 as a crew member.  Her dedication to client satisfaction and knowledge of plants make her a great addition to the LGS team.

Carla  joined our team in April 2024, bringing a lifelong love of nature and gardening. Growing up, she was inspired by watching her grandmother care for her garden, which sparked Carla’s own passion for plants. Carla’s favorite native plant is Mountain Laurel, and she enjoys hiking and traveling in her free time. With her deep appreciation for nature, Carla is a wonderful addition to our team.

Darlene fell in love with the outdoors during college while spending a summer working on an organic farm through WOOF. After 10 years, lots of travel, and a career change she came back to farming and then decided to enroll in a horticulture program. She joined Lauren’s in 2022 to learn more about native plants. After some time away working for parks she returned in 2025 as a project manager, in order to bring nature home and get even more people excited about native plants. In her free time she loves spending time in the woods, especially in winter in search of her favorite native plants Hamamelis virginiana (Witch Hazel). Otherwise you can find her doing all kinds of cozy crafts (painting, sewing, knitting, etc.) or on the dance floor!

Cianna’s love of nature started early with family camping trips and helping in the garden. After graduating in 2014 with her Bachelors in Fine Art, it was hard to find a job that combined all of her passions. Fast forward to 2020, she got started at Lauren’s by watering plants during the pandemic. Then transitioned to working the weekend plant sales, to nursery assistant to Cultivate’s manager to now being the Nursery Manager. In her spare time, Cianna loves to hike, garden, and paint. Her favorite native plant changes with the seasons but she loves Mayapples, Milkweeds, Asters, and Coneflowers. Cianna is an amazing, hardworking individual who brings so much joy to our team!

Ari has a passion for wildlife and is dedicated to sharing her excitement and passion with others. She has a background in zoology and was a zookeeper for many years. Her love of educating others about wildlife is where her excitement for native plants comes from. In her spare time, you can find her quilting, felting, watching horror movies, enjoying the natural world, hanging out with her cats, caring for her fish, or tending to the jungle she’s growing inside her home (she has a lot of houseplants). Some of her favorite native plants include Jack-in-the-pulpit, pawpaw trees, and columbine. Ari’s scientific background and sensible approach to eco-friendly landscaping and nursery care makes her a valuable member of our team.

Blythe joined our Nursery and Store team in August 2025. She has a degree in Biology and Environmental Science from William & Mary, which taught her the scientific specifics of conservation and the role of native species. Blythe’s love of nature and the outdoors started when “I was growing up in the foothills of the Blue Ridge just 40 minutes from Shenandoah National Park, and spending every minute I could outside, from ‘Mud Camp’ during the summers to 4H Junior Master Gardeners club at school.” Her favorite native plants are Virginia Bluebells, Goldenrods, and Spicebush. In her free time Blythe likes to read, hike, exercise, and she is learning how to knit!

Brennan joined our nursery team in March of 2026. He graduated from Washington College in 2022 with a BA in English Literature. Since then, he has worked as a woodworker, a gardener, an invasive plant remover, and now, happily, as a nursery assistant at Lauren’s Garden Services. Brennan always loved the outdoors, and he spent most of his time as a child exploring the fields and forests around where he grew up in Carroll County, Maryland. Now, Brennan hopes to continue to learn about and deepen his connection to the plants and animals that grow and live around him. He wishes to share with others the beauty of the natural world that is so close to us, but so seldom noticed. Brennan’s favorite native plant is Erythronium americanum (yellow trout lily). In his free time he likes hiking, reading, writing, and practicing classical guitar. Brennan’s passion for nature makes him a great fit for our team.

Lexi joined our nursery team in March 2026. She has a particular interest in how interacting with our environment impacts us and our mental health. This led her to develop a love for plants because it’s the perfect opportunity to build a connection with nature. Lexi hopes that educating people about the world and plants around us inspires them to spend more time in it! When Lexi is not at work she enjoys cooking, sewing, and playing Dungeons and Dragons. Lexi’s favorite native plant is Lilium superbum – Turk’s Cap Lily. Her enthusiasm about plants and nature makes her the perfect addition to our nursery crew.

Trevor joined our nursery team in April 2026. He graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in environmental science. He went on to work for the US Forest Service in West Virginia and in Wisconsin, fostering his interest in plant ecology and ecological restoration with native plants. His favorite native plants are Opuntia humifusa- eastern prickly pear and Aquilegia canadensis-red columbine.

In his free time you can find Trevor taking care of his two aquarium goldfish as well numerous shrimp and snails in his paludarium. He also likes to get outside to garden, hike, and kayak our local rivers. We’re excited to have him on the nursery crew.

Na’ava joined our team in March 2024. Her love for nature began as a young child with her dad teaching her the art of planting a vegetable garden and raised her to love the outdoors. Na’ava finds her peace in nature and thinks the natural world is not only beautiful but sacred as well. Her favorite native plants are pycnanthemum and southern magnolia, but she loves them all! She believes that “we are so lucky to be in a world filled with such beautiful things as plants and such intriguing creatures as animals!” We couldn’t agree more! Na’ava’s passion for the environment and her deep connection to nature make her an inspiring and valuable addition to our team, bringing both expertise and enthusiasm to everything she does.

Bridget joined our team in March 2025. She spent many years studying and doing research as an environmental engineer and now she is excited to work every day with native plants in the field! Bridget is passionate about protecting and supporting the environment especially through ecosystem restoration and sustainability. Her favorite native plant is the Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata). In her free time she likes cooking, gardening, and going hiking with family. Her passion for sustainability and excitement for working with native plants makes her a great addition to the team.

Heather joined our team in March 2025. She has enjoyed gardening since she was a teenager, and developed an appreciation for “foodscaping” and edible gardens after working on the campus farm in college. Heather has a degree in Environmental studies. This has made her more conscious of sustainable gardening and the importance of native plants. Heather’s favorite native plant is the Black Walnut Tree (Juglans nigra). In her free time she enjoys planting, drawing and spending time with her cats Kevin & Mochi. Heather is a wonderful addition to our crew due to her passion for sustainability and native plants.

Alisa joined our landscaping team in March 2026. Born and raised in Montana surrounded by beautiful lakes and mountains, she fell in love with the outdoors. Her parents owned a landscaping company in Montana so from an early age she learned to operate heavy equipment and worked for them several years. This background helped shape her passion for working in natural environments and the landscaping field. Alisa’s favorite native plant is the Water Lilly (Nymphaea odorata). Outside of work, she enjoys reading, being involved with church community, doing anything outside in God’s creation, riding motorcycles and exploring the world! Alisa has visited 9 countries and counting! Alisa’s love for nature and experience in landscaping makes her a great addition to our team.

Caroline joined our team in March 2026. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with an environmental science focus. After college, Caroline gained experience in conservation/habitat restoration projects and outdoor education. She is passionate about environmental restoration and is interested in using plants to improve water quality, restore native habitats, and help wildlife. In her free time she likes spending time outside, playing guitar, and indoor rock climbing. Caroline’s native plants are Chamaecyparis thyoides – Atlantic White Cedar and Acer rubrum – Red Maple. With her education in environmental science and her passion for environmental restoration makes her a great fit for LGS!

Gillian joined our team in March 2026. She holds an Ecosystem Restoration Certificate from AACC, Basic Horticulture Technician Certificate from CCBC, and CBLP-A Certificate. Gillian is fascinated by how our local estuary illustrates the interconnection between people, water, and habitats. Her favorite native plants are Matteuccia struthiopteris – Ostrich Fern and Echinacea purpurea – Purple Coneflower. When she is not working Gillian enjoys kayaking, traveling, & concerts. Her excitement for boosting local biodiversity and stormwater resiliency while contributing to the valuable work at Lauren’s makes her a great asset to the team.

Koal joined our team in August 2025. Their background in plants and nature came from spending the majority of their time in the outdoors throughout their life. Koal then gained an interest in supporting the local inhabitants of our area. Koal’s favorite native plants are skunk cabbage (symplocarpus foetidus) and joe-pye (eutrochium). Koal’s love for joe-pye is from finding the bees sleeping on them in the morning. As for skunk cabbage, Koal found some emerging in a swampy area while hiking years ago, and was so intrigued by their look and to learn about their ability to generate their own heat. They are the plants that piqued Koal’s interest in native plants and got Koal wanting to learn more about other varieties! In Koal’s free time they enjoy hiking, photography and paper making. We are excited to have Koal on our team because of Koal’s passion for nature and natives.

Tyson joined our landscaping team in March 2026. His background in horticulture and plants stemmed from Tyson attending an environmental school during high school where he learned a lot about nature and conservation. As Tyson got older he got into gardening as a hobby at home and the interest of plants specifically took off. Tyson has attended horticulture shows and workshops that he really enjoyed that kept him coming back for more plant knowledge. Tyson’s favorite plant is Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal flower). When Tyson is not at work he likes to cook, create cocktails at home, play video games, enjoy a morning cup of coffee, and go on walks with his wife and dog. Tyson’s passion for nature and conservation makes him a great addition to our team.

Christine joined our Cultivate Garden & Goods team in September of 2025. Her passion for plants came from a lifetime of building a huge houseplant collection and learning how to take care of them properly. Christine’s favorite house plant is any kind of Calathea (prayer plant). When Christine is not at work she enjoys reading, the outdoors and crafty hobbies- hiking and camping; and she does cross-stitch, sewing, and woodworking.