Fran’s philosophy is that by creating a world of beauty and becoming more connected to nature, individuals will tend to place a greater emphasis on community and kindness towards others; ultimately living healthier and more joyful existences. Fran also wants to pass on her conviction that it is the responsibility of all of us to become the stewards of the environment. She believes that it is to our advantage to become knowledgeable about how to keep the earth’s vegetation healthy through preventive and organic practices.
Fran's Academic and Horticultural Training
Fran received a B.A. with Honors in Psychology from The University of Chicago where she studied creativity and altered states of consciousness with Dr. Erika Fromm, a world renowned psychologist, researcher and psychoanalyst. Fran was one of the first, if not the first, women nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship by The University of Chicago. She also has completed post-graduate studies at Harvard University's School of Medicine on 'Healing and Spirituality'.
Fran's horticultural training has been a long and varied one. Although she took classes at Longwood Gardens and other horticultural institutions in Philadelphia, it is the apprenticing with two great gardeners that facilitated most in her development as a garden designer. Chris Woods, the visionary behind Chanticleer Gardens and presently the Executive Director of Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens and one of America's most celebrated gardeners, was Fran's teacher for several years.
Fran also apprenticed at Sir John Thouron's garden in Unionville, Pa., Doe Run. Jock Christie, the Head Gardener, taught her much about the 'hands on' pragmatics of gardening as well as passing on his 'intuitive' design sense that he developed over his close to 50 years of gardening, starting in his homeland of Scotland.