Brooke Gwendolyn Safford

Owner/Chief Creative Officer

Growing up in beautiful Bozeman, Montana, Brooke has always had a love and kinship for the natural world. This admiration has shaped her life in many positive ways and was what ultimately led her to pursue a career in landscape architecture.

Although she always knew that she wanted to devote her life to caring for the natural world, it wasn’t until she lived in São Paulo, Brazil in the early 2000s that she realized the urgency and need to commit to this path. Every day en route to work, Brooke would pass by the Rio Tietê (Tiete River), – a major tributary that, over time, had been damned, channelized and polluted to the extent that it no longer harbored life or natural vegetation along its banks. Every day, Brooke would imagine restoring that river back to its natural state and converting it into a linear park for São Paulo residents to enjoy and through that enjoyment cultivate a love and appreciation for this ribbon of life meandering through their city.

She was so inspired by these visions, that by 2002 she enrolled into a 4-year Master’s program at the University of New Mexico. In 2006 she graduated with distinction with a Masters in Landscape Architecture and a Graduate Minor in Natural Resource Planning.

As Brooke was finishing up her thesis on Green Roofs, she was granted the opportunity to work for the National Park Service (NPS) in Santa Fe, New Mexico and eventually Great Basin National Park in Baker, Nevada. She worked for the NPS as a Landscape Architect and Outdoor Recreation Planner for 12 years. She also freelanced as a landscape designer on the side creating beautiful landscapes for residents.

She now resides in Durango and works full-time as a landscape designer in the Four Corners Region. When Brooke is not creating beautiful landscapes, you can typically find her enjoying the plethora of outdoor activities that Durango has to offer.

Devon Hayes

Administrative Assistant/Management Team

Devon Hayes provides Administrative Assistance including help with community outreach, developing a plant database for our region, and assisting with client estimates. Devon is an avid gardener and after working a season on an organic biodynamic farm, she earned a certificate in Ecological Design with her Master’s of Arts in Environment and Community. She brings experience working in environmental science planning and overseeing clean up of hazardous sites. Devon moved to Durango seeking sun and snow after living in the Pacific Northwest and growing up in the Northeast. She is excited to learn more about regenerative landscape installation and maintenance, and to contribute to keeping Blooming Landscape and Design running smoothly behind the scenes. In her free time she enjoys hiking with her dog, skating, snowboarding, vermicomposting, and exploring this beautiful and historic region.

Eric Roig

Crew Leader/Permaculture Designer/Management Team

Eric is a passionate enthusiast for life sustaining designs and systems. With a degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Eric has always had a knack for problem solving and observing scenarios from a wide variety of angles. After feeling unsatisfied with the typical options for engineering students upon graduation, he traveled and began a deep dive into permaculture and community living. He interned at a permaculture education farm, worked for two seasons at a high production regenerative vegetable farm, volunteered at farms and ranches overseas, and developed more and more of an understanding of living systems and the numerous webs and ways they interact. Over the past two years, he has been an integral part of the Turtle Lake Community Farm here in Durango. He has supported the creation of a market garden, facilitated community events, and helped foster a deeper connection to the land. These days, if not working or tending the land, you can find him spending time with his baby son and partner, hiking, or building his qigong practice. He is excited to continue being a part of a company that strives for ecological balance, and is eager to get out in the field!

Henry Boyd

Assistant Crew Leader/Regenerative Researcher

Born and raised in Breckenridge, Colorado, Henry spent much of his childhood skiing, camping, and learning to appreciate the natural world. His love for the mountains and deserts of Colorado brought him to Fort Lewis College where he is pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies with a focus on regenerative farming and gardening. In addition to helping with general landscaping maintenance and installations, Henry is working with Blooming Landscape and Design to conduct a number of soil health and compost studies this summer to better understand best gardening practices in Durango’s unique climate. When not digging in the soil, Henry enjoys mountain biking, trail running, skiing, and camping.

Mary Claire Jennings

Assistant Landscape Designer

Mary Claire was raised in Thornton, Colorado, where she discovered her love and appreciation of the natural world. She is currently pursuing a degree in Landscape Architecture at Utah State University. The beautiful Logan Canyon is where Mary Claire hikes, skis, and camps in her free time. Living in such rich natural landscapes has broadened her perspective of the built environment’s relationship with the natural world. She continues to expand her scope of inspiration with Blooming Landscape and Design as an Assistant Landscape Designer. Her passion for sustainability, equity, and improving life for both speaking and non-speaking populations align with  the mission of BLD.

Pippa

Blooming Mascot/Stick and Rock Retriever/Morale Booster