About Nautilus Garden Designs
Mark and Rachel met in school and realized that with their passion for organic gardening, and their sixteen years experience in horticulture in the Tidewater area, they should create a truly different company. Their knowledge and passion provide an intimate relationship between client and their garden/sacred space. The distinctive interest and creativity Nautilus Garden Designs holds, allows us to listen to the client and design a one of a kind living art form. We practice sustainable, organic principles in our process.
Meet the designers who make it happen
Rachel Griffith, AAS
A Norfolk native, Rachel has been in the horticulture community in Hampton Roads for twelve years. Her career began at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens where she worked for 3 years. After that Rachel worked for a year in Seattle, Washington for an established and highly profitable organic maintenance and design, build company. That job opportunity made a profound influence on her career, refocusing in organics and creating a living, breathing environment devoid of harsh chemicals. Since then she has worked for The Chrysler Museum of Art and Historic Houses and the Virginia Zoological Park in Norfolk, Virginia. She is a member of the Arbor Day Committee, Certified in Project Wet, Wild and Project Learning Tree, POW! The Planning of Wetlands (Environmental Education Programs). Rachel has completed Norfolk Master Gardener Classes and has her AAs- Associate in Applied Science-Horticulture- Design and Maintenance- from Tidewater Community College.
When Rachel meets people that desire a garden or a new landscape, she loves listening to their thoughts and goals of what they would like achieve with their creation. Colors, textures, and smells are all taken into consideration in the design. Sometimes clients may even have a story about a garden or an outdoor experience that can be recreated in their own personal garden. As unique as we are as individuals, so can be the garden. Rachel aims to connect her clients to the balance, harmony, abundance, joy and divinity in the Natural world. She was featured in the June 2009 issue of Tidewater Women for her spiritual approach to landscape design.
“Through connecting with Nature one can find peace, reverence for all life, beauty, and purity.”
Mark Griffith VCH #2232, ISA Certified Arborist MA-5032A
Mark Griffith is a Virginia Certified Horticulturist and an ISA Certified Arborist. A board member for Hampton Roads Nursery and Landscape Association, A member of International Society of Arboriculture, the Virginia Society of Landscape Designers, and VNLA. Mark started out with a truck and trailer in Virginia Beach. He traveled to Florida in 2004 to do storm clean-up and help with Disaster Relief. He has been an area manager for one of Hampton Roads largest design/build firms, and a Director of Operations for a local maintenance/design firm.
Mark has grown up in Virginia Beach and knows the challenges faced by plants living in our transitional area. His goal is to help clients discover their “Outdoor Rooms”. Places to make the yard an enjoyable place for the family to spend time together, do restorative designs to create Certified Wildlife Habitats, or just help make the Joneses a little jealous.