Susan Calhoun

Designer, Writer, & Speaker

A “Plantswoman,” by definition, is someone with a passion for plants and their cultivation. Susan Calhoun, president and principal designer of Plantswoman Design, is just that: someone passionate about plants and their cultivation. An avid gardener in her own right, Susan is continually on the hunt for noteworthy and unusual plants that make an otherwise ordinary landscape stand out from the rest. You can see that passion in her designs and her writing.

Susan Calhoun is a certified landscape designer with over 25 years of experience in projects ranging from private residences to commercial and show gardens. She has a strong connection to her community and uses sustainable practices, “green” materials, and recycled products to open new avenues for her business.

When not in her own garden, Susan has been helping homeowners for over 25 years across Puget Sound create stunning green spaces that exceed expectations. Training first in Seattle, then in the UK at Harlow Carr Botanical Garden. She is Certified by WALP and WSNLA. Susan stays up to date on the latest gardening and landscape innovations and employs sustainable gardening principles. Her work has been featured in Sunset Magazine, Fine Gardening Magazine, Monrovia Blog, and many other national and local publications. Susan has been a long-time contributor to the Northwest Flower & Garden Show creating award-winning gardens for seven years.

Susan joined the elite club of garden writers in 2020 with a full 8 page feature about a garden on Bainbridge Island for Fine Gardening Magazine. Since then, several of her gardens have been featured in the print magazine as full-sized articles written by her. Expanding to Regional reports – Northwest Region for the on-line magazine she writes twice a month, as well as numerous contributions to Tool Shed, Plant profile features, and What the Experts are Growing features.

Communicating how important and fulfilling gardening can be is very important to her. One of her highest compliments is when a client says ‘You made a gardener out of me’. By creating outdoor spaces that encourage and calm she wants to reduce the impact our busy world has on clients by immersing them in the natural world. Including spaces for pollinators, animals, and native forest dwellers in the planning and planting of her gardens also offsets our impact on the natural world.
Keeping it that way with ongoing advice on organic solutions for pests and fertilizers ensures that the new gardens continue to contribute to our eco-system.