I AM…
…mother, leader, aerial acrobat, gardener, poet, artist, and cook

I BELIEVE…
…that our overall health as a species depends on our willingness to form a deep and thoughtful connection with all of the other species that share our home habitat.

BIO
Rachel is the lead landscape designer and project manager and has over 20 years of experience in natural history education, landscaping, and botanical illustration.  She is the head of CUH’s native landscape department and specializes in natural plant community modeling methodology. She works directly with clients and partners to ensure strategies and goals are being implemented and accomplished. Rachel also writes and edits for the Education Department, contributing her unique perspective and story-telling skills to communicate scientific information to the general public. Her other skills include native flora propagation, material sourcing, research/analysis, and organizing/streamlining. Rachel’s talent, intellect, skill, and professionalism are critical for CUH to accomplish its goals and mission.

When Rachel is not at work for CUH, she is an aerial acrobat with Moonlight Circus in Charlottesville, VA. After over a decade of homeschooling her two children, Rachel rediscovered her passion for botanical illustration and spent two intensive years in close contemplation of the profound beauty of natural forms. After completing her training with the Virginia Master Naturalists, she led the Little Naturalist program at Ivy Creek for 9 years, guiding large groups of young children on natural history expeditions in the Piedmont. Rachel inspires people with her deep knowledge of natural history, gardening, strong work ethic, and her high-flying stunts in the circus.