ndm naturescapes

About Us

Nicole D. Martins

1993 - Docent Program, Strybing Arboretum, San Francisco, CA
1994 - Buena Vista Park, San Francisco
1993 to 1995 - Merritt College, Oakland, Ornamental Horticulture
Strybing Arboretum - Internship. Worked side by side with the head gardener responsible for the Rhodedendron Dell and Primitives Area

The start:

After graduating Indiana University in 1988 with a B.A. in Art History and Psychology, two things were certain, I knew nothing about plants or gardens. The path to horticulture effectively began after completing a Docent Program at Strybing Arboretum (now called: San Francisco Botanical Gardens) in 1992. With a newly discovered interest, I then sought to gain greater knowledge in the field. This led me to pursue the following:

San Francisco Botanical Gardens, Internship - Worked side by side with the head gardener responsible for the Rhododendron Dell and Primitive Planting Area
Friends of the Urban Forest, (FUF) with Frank Fredericks - Apprenticed for a period of time, worked side by side with Frank, who generously mentored me on arboriculture, diagnostic tree-care and pruning
Merritt College, Oakland - Ornamental Horticulture Certificate Program (1993 - 1995)
Merritt College, Oakland - Aesthetic Pruning, Classes and Training (ongoing)
Certified Arborist - 1998 - 2002

Memberships:

California Horticultural Society
San Francisco Botanical Gardens
Mendocino Botanical Gardens

Launching a Business in Horticulture:

NDM Naturescapes has been offering a full range of horticultural services since 1996 in San Francisco, but also provides garden design services in Marin, Berkeley and the Peninsula. Nicole and business partner Judy Kokura together continue to pursue residential garden projects as well as other horticultural services.