Through The Garden | Meet our Staff

Welcome to the Through the Garden family!

Our philosophy was inspired by owner Michael Yeoman's love of the beautiful and creative in landscaping. We have a hands-on approach in all aspects of our business. We always strive to offer the best quality in our designs, installation work, guarantees and customer service. To this end, we have assembled a wonderfully effective group of people who genuinely care about their clients, co-workers and responsibilities.

Our design staff

Michael Yeomans – Landscape Architect / Designer / Owner:

Michael earned his degree in Landscape Architecture from Texas Tech University and started off working for a Civil Engineering firm to provide landscaping and planning design. Before too long, Michael's creativity could not be design. Before too long, Michael's creativity could not be contained in the office, so he took that leap of faith into the environment he loved - Landscape Design and Installation. In his mind there is nothing more satisfying then actually overseeing the implementation of your own designs. Mike started his own company in 1989 and has won many awards for his design work. Michael has been featured on HGTV'S Curb Appeal and has had his work featured in Frederick Magazine and Washington Home and Garden.

Brenda K. Bohan – Landscape Designer

Brenda earned her Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Wisconsin -Madison. Her passion for art, nature, and functional landscapes is expressed by her interlacing of these components in her designs. She believes that constructed and planted materials have equal importance within a well-planned project and looks forward to helping each client obtain their vision of the ideal outdoor space.

Jane Luce - Landscape designer / Fine Artist

Jane brings to our team an artist's eye for design and over 18 years of 'hands on' experience installing her own landscape designs. Although she began her career as a painter, with a degree in Fine Art from the University of Georgia, Jane has found herself constantly drawn outdoors to work with the more multi-dimensional, interactive world of landscape design. She loves to create 'living paintings' for people to actually walk into, interact with, rest in and restore themselves deeply. This has become her great life passion. Jane is known for her distinctive naturalized gardens that her clients lovingly refer to as their own personal sanctuaries. She has a Certificate in Herbaceous Plants from George Washington University and works side by side with the rest of our staff to create beautiful and sustainable Edens.

Julia Summerhill – Horticulturist:

Julia, our resident state certified nursery consultant lives, breathes, eats and sleeps plants! Julia treats each and every plant with the utmost care. She trains our crewmembers in the proper installation techniques for plant material, soils and additives. In addition, she assesses established gardens for our clients and determines what seasonal maintenance, treatments and pruning needs to be done to maximize the gardens health and beauty.

Sarah Knezevich - Landscape designer:

Sarah is passionate about landscape design and takes great pleasure in connecting this appreciation of gardens with people. She enjoys developing projects through collaboration with clients and fellow professionals. Sarah has a degree in Studio Art from American University and a Graduate Certificate in Landscape Design from George Washington University. Planning and creating designs that are beautiful and sensitive to the needs of our environment is also very important to her and she is completing her Sustainable Certificate from GWU. Her experience in graphic design, studio art, art education and lifelong love of gardening combined with the GWU certificate provides a sound foundation for landscape design

Olga Sokolova - Interior and outdoor living space designer:

Olga has a degree in Interior Design and is an ASID allied member. She has a passion for creating magical outdoor living spaces. With a wide assortment of accessories from furniture, benches, planters, umbrellas, etc. she creates both formal and very informal environments, making your garden a great outdoor room to enjoy, relax and entertain. Olga's focus is what she calls "Healing Environments", creating a tranquil oasis in your garden to recuperate from your daily hectic schedule and feel re-energized.

Our field operations staff

Scott Floyd - Field Operations Manager:

Scott has worked in the construction field his entire career and has been in various positions, such as foreman, estimator and project manager. His fast knowledge and experience provides the necessary foundation for executing larger and complex projects.

Morris Rivas – Field Operations Foreman:

Morris has been with Michael since the beginning. Coming aboard in 1989, Morris has the rare gift of the artisan combined with a structural knowledge that is unsurpassed. Since Morris' minimum quality standards exceed most landscapers' excellent standards, a hardscape installation is never 'complete' until Morris gives his nod of approval. Morris has a well-earned reputation of excellence in the stone industry and we rely on him to find the best crewmembers for us, as well as insure they are trained to his high standards.

Installation crews:

We currently operate with 4 installation crews. Our crewmembers are trained in the proper installation techniques for hardscaping and planting. The appropriate foreman is assigned to each phase of the installation, utilizing their individual talents to insure your landscape is perfect! The work ethic and dedication to excellence our crewmembers display is quite remarkable.

Our office stuff

Crystal Boyd – Office Manager: Crystal manages the office. She has many years of experience in management, sales and marketing. She brings all this expertise to our office and our customers. You can expect courteous and friendly answers to your inquiries regarding scheduling, fees, billing and payment arrangements, or any concerns or questions you have. It is our mandate to provide the highest quality of work and the best customer service. Crystal lives by this motto and reminds us of this on a daily basis.

Henk Sterenberg – General Manage/Owner: Prior to joining Through the Garden in 2004 as a partner and general manager, Henk worked as a senior project manager/civil engineer with a large consulting engineering firm. As former colleagues Henk and Mike have had a long professional partnership. Henk is mostly involved with the day to day business operations but lends his engineering expertise to projects as necessary to address grading, drainage and retaining wall issues.

Drafting:After your design is sketched, it must be drawn out to scale, formalized and blueprinted. The blueprint must be an accurate interpretation of the designer’s vision to enable you to visualize the concept. Since the plan may need to be approved by a homeowner’s association or permitting office, the drawing will show existing items (the home, sidewalks, patios, decks etc.) as well as property lines, downspout locations and so on. The installation will be done based on the drawing. Our draftsman is not only meticulous in scaling the drawing properly; as a gifted artist, the drawing you receive will come to life for you. Together with pictures showing the plant material proposed, you will have all the tools you need to understand the design and make an educated decision.

Our staff can be counted on to give their utmost efforts to insure your satisfaction. We wish to exceed your expectations in quality of product and service, as well as develop a lasting relationship with you!