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Three Decades of Regeneration and Rewilding
Howard Formby Garden Design emerged from a simple belief: that the finest gardens require both artistic vision and deep horticultural knowledge. Founded after Howard's tenure as a Senior Design Associate with Nancy Goslee Power & Associates, our studio maintains a deliberately small, bespoke practice.
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Meet Our Team
We maintain a small, dedicated team that shares our philosophy: gardens are never finished, they are constantly becoming. Each member brings specialized expertise—from native plant systems to the fine art of textural composition.
HOWARD FORMBY
Owner, Lead Designer
ANNABEL SMITH
Assistant Office Manager
SARAH SOMEONE
Architect
EMILY LASTNAM
Assistant Designer
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Howard's Path
Howard's journey into garden design began thirty years ago, apprenticing with mentor Steven Suzeman. After studying at UCLA, San Francisco State, and Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden, Howard joined Nancy Goslee Power & Associates as a Senior Design Associate, leading projects including Kidspace Museum's plant palette and InterCity Arts (now a designated wildlife sanctuary).
Today, Howard chairs Petaluma's Tree Advisory Committee and holds certifications in Permaculture and Sustainable Landscape Design. He continues to work hands-on—teaching maintenance crews to see gardens as living art, collaborating with construction teams, and maintaining decades-long relationships with gardens and their stewards. The Belvedere project, featured in Veranda Magazine's "Top 5 Gardens in the World," exemplifies this commitment to ongoing refinement.
Let's Begin
The Conversation
Every project begins with a conversation. We'll talk about your property, your vision, and how we might weave your garden back into its natural systems.