The Valley Club, Moose Grill (2024)

ABOUT JULIA

After adventures in global travels, college, and beginning a family and business in Portland Oregon, Julia felt called to return to her native landscape in the Wood River Valley.  Her and her family created a home in Hailey in 2014.

Julia graduated with degrees in both Landscape Architecture and Spanish, with a focus on printmaking and the fine arts.  In 2005, Julia moved to Portland Oregon.  There she worked for several firms including Macdonald Environmental Planning and Murase Associates.  Working mainly in the public realm, she dove into researching urban planning, ecological planning, park design, wetland ecology and Japanese inspired gardens.  Two notable projects in Portland she was able to help create are the Vera Katz Park at the Portland Armory, and the Multnomah County Green Roof.

Locally, she worked at local firms Gardenspace Design and BYLA.  At these design firms she grew her knowledge from more of a public design perspective to that of residential design.  She is forever grateful to have the excellent mentorship she had at these local firms.  After almost twenty years of being in the field of landscape architecture in many capacities, Julia became a licensed Landscape Architect in the State of Idaho, and started Larkspur Landscape Architect in 2024.

FORMATIVE LANDSCAPES

Julia’s grandmother, Cynthia introduced her to wild areas on hikes around the Wood River Valley as a child.  Cynthia’s favorite wildflower was the Sego Lily, and Julia never forgets the first time she experienced being a field of them.  Cynthia brought bits of the wilderness magic into her garden by having orderly raised beds full of wildflower madness.  Her garden was always part of the Hailey Garden Tour, and Julia was an enthusiastic host.

The year she discovered Landscape Architecture was 2003.  That year she studied abroad in Northern Spain and fell in love with Europe.  She loved how central plazas created spaces elderly and youth gathered together in.  Everything felt walkable.  The narrow cobbled streets, courtyards, public art, and delicious pastry shop below her flat inspired her to discover the field that encompasses all exterior spatial design, Landscape Architecture.

CURRENT WORK

Julia delights in this practice of listening to people, and helping them make their spaces feel like home.  Whether the goal be a healing garden, entertaining one, relaxing space or just a shady retreat, she loves helping clients connect more to the outside world around them.  She wants to create non-formulaic, plant focused gardens and outdoor rooms, whether they be formal or strewn with wildflowers and boulders.  As a client, you can expect detailed design using layers, textures, and well thought out color schemes that fit within the skeletal structure of a well defined and laid out hardscape plan.

Inspired by her grandmother who brought wilderness magic into her garden by having orderly raised beds full of wildflower madness.

Ettinger, Portland OR (2014)