The Grass Girl Interview with Lebanon City Lifestyle Magazine

We were so honored when January, the editor of Lebanon City Lifestyle Magazine, reached out to us for a feature in their March publication. To view the online version of the print magazine, please visit Lebanon City Lifestyle’s website here.

Lebanon City Lifestyle, March 2025 Issue

1. Confirming you are from Lebanon, now in Gordonsville on a farm? Tell us how growing up in Lebanon guided you toward becoming such an amazing landscaper!

I was raised in Lebanon, and it’s where my family’s roots run incredibly deep—my grandparents, Joe and Patsy Vance, both grew up on large family farms dating as far back as the late 1800’s. That sort of history and connection to the land has always been central to who I am. My grandad, in particular, is this brilliant, self-taught, jack-of-all-trades who showed me the meaning of dedication and love of being outside. He’s truly a mind only a farm could produce! But my mom inspired my love for art, design, and fabulous flair. It’s most likely this blend of practical, farm-based wisdom and artistic freedom that shaped my perspective from the start.

When I say “landscaper,” I really think of myself as an artist who uses nature as the medium. Growing up here cultivated a genuine appreciation for the land—and for the stories each space can tell—so when I eventually pursued fine art and got interested in large-scale installations, it felt natural to bring those big, imaginative ideas back home. Lebanon’s openness and its sense of community grounded me, and it’s where I learned that there’s always room to push creative boundaries, even in familiar terrain.

2. Tell us about your farm!

My farm in Gordonsville is a dream realized: it’s my own living studio and a kind of open-air laboratory for The Grass Girl’s design concepts. I walk it daily with my dog, Pickles, noting the interplay of sunlight, shifting shadows, and how each season transforms the landscape. Rather than a traditional working farm with crops or livestock, I’m cultivating ideas—testing plant palettes, experimenting with sculpture, and figuring out innovative ways to fuse art with nature.

Eventually, I want the farm to function as a large-scale outdoor art studio, where I can host gatherings, showcase new concepts to clients, and invite people to experience the seamless blend of landscape and fine art. Every inch of this land is part of an ongoing creative dialogue. My experiences installing art in extreme conditions taught me that any challenge—from unpredictable weather to ambitious design dreams—can become an opportunity for radical creativity. My farm is where all of that energy and experimentation take shape.

3. Have you worked with any local stars we can brag about?

I’ve definitely worked with some high-profile folks in the music scene, but I’m not a big name-dropper. It just doesn’t feel true to who I am. My focus is on the art of garden design, and I deeply value my clients’ privacy—so I’d rather celebrate their gardens than their fame. That said, one fun piece of my story is that my second-ever client was the manager for a major country star, and that early partnership propelled my business forward in ways I never could have imagined.

But as special as those projects are, my absolute favorite will always be my parents’ home in Lebanon. There’s something so meaningful about transforming my childhood home and the place they live every day. Bringing them joy is worth more to me than any spotlight or headline.

Lebanon City Lifestyle, March 2025 Issue

4. When you are driving around, what are some things that catch your eye and inspire your design creations?

I’m an artist first and foremost, and my mind is always tuned to the shapes, colors, and textures of the world around me—whether I’m wandering through a museum, traveling, or even just taking a quick drive around town. I’m constantly looking for unexpected or daring color combinations, architectural details, and the interplay of organic forms with man-made structures. I also draw deeply from my own experiences installing large-scale art at the Nevada art festival, Burning Man, where the harsh desert environment forces you to be radically creative, resilient, and resourceful. That spirit of pushing boundaries—from building giant sculptures in dust storms to experimenting with light and shadow—fuels every project I take on.

Beyond the visual sparks, though, what truly inspires me is the story behind each design. It’s the personalities, family histories, and aspirations of my clients that shape the heart of every project. My own background and experiences give me the “how”—the technical and artistic approach—while my clients provide the “why.” Their passions and personal narratives are what drive me to create spaces that feel deeply authentic and uniquely theirs. Every garden or outdoor space becomes a sculptural expression of who they are, fused with the sense of wonder and curiosity I’ve cultivated throughout my artistic journey.

5. What are some spring and summer suggestions for sprucing up the yard that readers can implement?

1. Start Indoors
   Before you even step outside, look through the windows of your home. Observe the shapes, colors, and textures inside your space, and imagine how your outdoor garden could echo—or play off of—those elements. The goal is to create a visual flow that calls you to get outside! If your living room has a vibrant accent color or interesting architectural lines, try incorporating similar hues or sculptural plant forms in the area of the garden you see from that window. That way, you feel a sense of continuity and invitation every time you gaze outside.

2. Embrace Non-Conformity
   Great garden design doesn’t try to match the neighbors. In fact, a good garden is deeply personal—it should celebrate your own tastes, history, and lifestyle, rather than trying to blend in. Whether you’re drawn to bold, avant-garde statements or prefer a wild, whimsical cottage feel, embrace your instincts. Remember, your outdoor space can be a living art installation unique to you. If it sparks joy, curiosity, or contemplation for you and your family, it’s serving its highest purpose—regardless of how it compares to next door.

3. Create One Cozy Nook (If Budget is a Concern)
   If you’re not ready to tackle the entire yard at once, start with a single, intentional space you truly love. It might be a meditation nook, a prayer bench, or a reading lounger tucked away under a favorite tree. Invest in comfy seating, add a few potted plants that speak to your sense of color and style, and create a bit of refuge for your spirit. Once you have that one magical corner, it’ll naturally inspire you to build out the rest over time. This way, your yard evolves at a pace—and budget—that’s comfortable for you.

6. Anything else you’d like readers to know?

Think of your property as the one place on earth where you can shape your surroundings entirely on your own terms. The outside of your home is just as essential as the inside—maybe even more so—because it’s what greets both you and the world every day. I see garden design as the earliest form of art: it has the power to uplift spirits of anyone who passes by and reflects the innermost parts of who you are.

Over the course of my creative journey, I’ve found that every design—whether it’s a small courtyard or a sprawling landscape—is an invitation to reimagine what’s possible. A garden truly is a living, breathing piece of art, with each bloom and branch telling a chapter of your story.

If there’s one thought I’d love to leave you with, it’s this: your garden is an extension of you. Tending to it means tending to yourself—and in that beautiful exchange, both you and your surroundings can flourish.