Ruskin Gardens has been designing and managing award-winning gardens up and down the Peninsula for over 30 years. We are trusted by some of the most respected landscape architects and designers in the area to uphold their aesthetic vision as the garden matures over time. We provide our clients horticulturally informed feedback about what is working and what can be improved, always with an eye for the original design intent.
Amy Palmer, CEO
Amy joined her mother in the family business as a landscape design apprentice in 2000. She started the maintenance side of the business in 2001 after seeing so many of her mothers gardens falling apart from a lack of care. Amy is a licensed landscape contractor, certified irrigation manager, yoga instructor, has a B.S. in Physics from UCLA, and is fluent in Spanish. Her background in business systems and software development gives the business a technical edge.
Michele Chandler, Director Operations
Before beginning her professional career in landscaping and estate maintenance, Michele worked summers at an organic, biodynamic farm in Oregon, where she gained deeper, holistic knowledge and practical experience in the science and art of designing and managing small, diverse, sustainable biomes.
Debby Ruskin, In Memorium
Debby Ruskin started Ruskin Gardens Co. in the 1970s as a young mother. She has designed hundreds of gardens in Silicon Valley and is beloved by clients and colleagues. Her gardens are people centric, typically traditional in style, with an emphasis on regionally appropriate water-wise planting. Debby completed a certificate in Landscape Architecture from UC Berkeley in 1990 and in Ornamental Horticulture from Foothill College in 1992. She served on the region and national boards of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD).
Rene Hernandez, Maintenance Manager
Rene has been a dedicated employee, Supervisor, and Manager since 2005.
Alfredo Gonzalez, Irrigation Manager
Alfredo joined us in 2008 and is lead for enhancement projects and irrigation.
Our Crew
We are so grateful to this hardworking and dedicated group of people! Us, as of 2019...