Joseph Hillenmeyer - Principal

For Joseph, a landscape design is an exploration; it’s the culmination of his many passions—horticulture, fine arts, science, craftsmanship and design.   Authenticity to place and architecture is essential in Joseph’s approach to design; his landscapes translate the built environment to the natural world and connect people with the land.  Creating gardens is a vocation for Joseph, not merely a profession—one that continually excites and inspires him.   

Hailing from a family with a horticultural tradition dating back to the 1700’s, Joseph’s passion for plants is his Hillenmeyer birthright. It was clear from an early age this lineage would pass through Joseph as well.  Shadowing his father Louis in the family nursery, he learned the value of work and begun experimenting with plants on his own.  This robust heritage set a foundation from which Joseph could depart and define his own career in horticulture.   He spent time in Tennessee working with renowned horticulturalist Don Shadow, then sought unconventional opportunities for a rich and varied education.  After two years of college, Joseph left to travel extensively throughout Europe, New Zealand, and Turkey. In New Zealand Joseph worked in a perennial plant nursery and as a gardener on a horse farm, then spent a year at the Karaca Arboretum in Turkey, a 33 acre sanctuary just south of Istanbul. During these years abroad, Joseph began formulating his own aesthetic, gathering wisdom from classical design and diverse microclimates and mentors before returning to his horticultural heritage in Lexington.

Today those seminal experiences help shape each project, in which the principal intent is to create innovative yet timeless gardens for his clients.  In 2013, Joseph reoriented his business away from a conventional landscaping model to a design-centered firm, marshalling his strong relationships with nurseries, artisans and craftsman to develop and manage the creation of fine gardens. He’s since been the recipient of the David E. Laird Award and his work has been featured in a number of local and national publications.  Joseph’s projects are rooted in tradition, those of his family and of his craft; however, just as a landscape evolves and grows, always responding to new input, so does his vision and love for the landscapes in which he works.