Hey there - my name is Dawn, and I'm glad you're here at Landscape Barn!

My parents are originally from Jamaica, but I had the opportunity to grow up in New England, where I saw them turn everything green - flowers, vegetables, plants, you name it! I still loved gardening, but for a while I was a teacher, so that took precedence. I returned to it after we moved into our first home with a yard. In my spare time, I played with rocks and planned what to plant when. We later purchased a marina, where I continued to plant by the water to improve the aesthetics and prevent erosion. I now divide my time between the marina and my home garden, constantly considering design and complementary elements. I'm the person to call if you work in the media and need someone to give you gardening or landscaping advice, particularly regarding stone or when to plant. 

What Dawn Is Doing in Spring (Gardening at Home)

Spring is my favorite time 'cause I get to wake up my garden! Around March and April, I tidy up all the dead leaves and stuff from winter, water the ground and prune the plants that grow back each year. I like making little stone paths between my plant beds with small stones. They not only look good, but they also help water drain. I also like planting early flowers like rhododendrons, tulips, and daffodils. For the sunny spots, I mix compost, slow-release fertilizer, and gravel into the ground. Also, before it starts raining a lot in the summer, I fix the stone borders and big rocks around the beds to keep everything in place.

What Dawn Is Doing in Summer (At the Marina)

In summer, much of my work shifts to the marina grounds. I plant durable, salt-tolerant species near the waterline and maintain rock armor (riprap) or boulder walls to buffer waves and prevent shoreline erosion. I might re-arrange decorative stone beds around seating nooks and shade trees. I also oversee aquatic or bog gardens near docks, where I use river rock and crushed stone to border water features. Midday heat demands regular watering, mulching, and monitoring plant hydration. I check the integrity of stone steps, retaining walls, and drainage outlets - summer storms test every joint, every stone.

What Dawn Is Doing in Fall (Back to School & Transition)

When autumn arrives, I shift back to my home garden and prepare it for dormancy. I plant bulbs (daffodils, tulips, alliums), divide perennials, and move tender shrubs. I also apply that “last feed” fertilizer - especially to beds near hardscapes - to strengthen roots. I tidy up rock gardens, reposition any stones that have shifted, and top off paths or gravel beds. Meanwhile, I often return to the marina to adjust shoreline plantings, regrade slopes, and reinforce rock retaining walls in advance of winter storms. Between school leadership duties (I still lean on my teaching roots), I consult on magazine pieces, plan winter content, and sketch next year’s garden maps.

What Dawn Is Doing in Winter (Gardening at Home)

Winter slows growth, but it’s far from idle around here. I clean and sharpen tools, review plant catalogs, and plan next year’s hardscape and stone additions. I monitor snow load on rock walls, check for frost heave beneath stone features, and shovel paths lined with decorative rock to protect edges. I often experiment indoors - propagating favorites from summer, sketching garden elevations, and testing stone placement virtually. I also prepare articles and pitch topics (for example, stone selection, erosion control, seasonal plant strategies) for publication.

Get in Touch

I hope this gives you a glimpse into how I weave my passion for plants through seasons of design with stone and landscaping. If you’re a journalist, editor, or content creator of any kind looking for expert commentary, seasonal tips and custom stories based on gardening, I’d love the opportunity to work together. Please connect and let's draw some true garden magic into your next written story.