Meet Giancarlo Gierse Del Grande, Design Install Leader

I was born in Brazil and have been a designer since 2001 when I graduated from the Sao Paulo School of Fine Arts. I have had the opportunity to work on many projects in a variety of fields, including shoe design, furniture and interior design, fashion accessories, and product creation.

From 2006 to 2010 I lived in Jerusalem, Israel, where I studied jewelry design, which is another one of my passions. During my 20 years working as designer, I became enchanted with landscape design and since 2021, I have been working in this field. I have always been passionate about nature and plants; I have a beautiful collection of indoor plants at home, and I spend hours taking care of them. My work in landscaping and gardening inspires me and teaches me as well. I learn about the multiple species of plants and their individual properties. I have found that the creative process is ongoing in this field, from the conception of the landscape design to the final installation of plants and other finishes. As the Design Install Leader I get to execute the project which energizes me creatively and then I get to see the finished result which is always so satisfying.

I’ve always been inspired by the tropical nature of Brazil and the deserts of Israel. Each is special and unique; however, since I moved to Ann Arbor in 2013, I've experienced for the first time how nature and landscape change throughout the year, according to well-defined seasons. For me, this is a priceless experience and a privilege to observe. It's also a unique learning experience, allowing me to learn about new plants and environments. Each and every day I get to advance my knowledge.

One of my hobbies is visiting nurseries and greenhouses in Ann Arbor and the surrounding areas. My goal in landscaping is to bring a design as close to nature as possible. I'm passionate about integrating the elements of light and shadow, color, dimension and texture into each design. This, I believe, is the beauty and creativity of my profession. Regarding style, I appreciate the elegance of the modern landscape as well as the tranquility of Japanese inspired gardens, but at the end of the day, it is the wild tropical gardens that are my favorite, with their exciting climbing plants and the many wildly colorful species.

Meet Head Gardener Emily Edwards

My name is Emily Edwards and I am one of the Head Gardeners here at Atzinger Gardens. I began my work as a professional gardener last July and have been having a blast ever since! I’m having a wonderful time planning out new gardens, teaching coworkers, and sharing my plant knowledge.

I have a Biology degree from Eastern Michigan University with a focus on Ecology, Organismal Diversity, and Evolution and a minor in Plant Biology. I have been very interested in studying plants and gardening for the majority of my life because of my family. When I was a kid, my parents taught me about tending a garden and homesteading. I spent a lot of my childhood standing in my grandma’s veggie garden waiting for her to hand me vegetables. She showed me how she cans things and I learned how important it was for them on the farm to have canned vegetables for the winter season. My family members have always had green thumbs, and they have heavily influenced my love for gardening and my passion to pursue biology and botany at EMU. I also have gained botany experience through my jobs at the EMU greenhouse, Lucas Nursery, and a botany internship at the Huron-Manistee National Forest. These jobs have given me a better understanding of Michigan native and invasive species as well as skills in plant identification and identifying pests.

My favorite plants to see blooming are Anemone, Lavender, Yarrow, Dahlias; or anything with a wonderful scent. The inviting sights and smells have given me a passion for the outdoors, and I can’t imagine working anywhere else.

Essential Iris Care for Better Blooms

September is the month for iris care. Atzinger Gardens crews will typically lift, clean, divide, and transplant irises for garden care clients every other year. Your plants will be relieved of pesky iris borers and overcrowding by our work. Click to expand the article below, featured in Michigan Gardener magazine.

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Iris Care

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