While in high school, I decided I wanted to go into the landscape industry because it combined all of my interests in art, science, and human history. I went on to study Ornamental Horticulture at Finger Lakes Community College before completing my degree in Landscape Architecture at Cornell University. Since entering the landscaping profession in 2007, I've had the opportunity to work in New York City inspecting street tree plantings, manage large estates and work on water features in Michigan, explore the incredible plant diversity of Southern California, and eventually planted roots here in Austin, Texas.

I started Michele Fonzi Designs because I wanted the freedom to create landscapes that reflected my own values. I wanted to design spaces that were sturdy, beautiful, and deeply personal to the people who would live in them. One of the most important lessons I learned came from a retaining wall project early in my career. I underestimated the complexity and the budget, and although the finished project was beautiful, I learned some expensive lessons along the way. There was even one section of wall that finished half an inch higher than the adjacent sidewalk. It was a tiny detail that most people would never notice, but I did. That project changed me. It taught me that beautiful design isn't enough. Every drawing has to become reality. Every decision has to respect the budget, the site, the people building it, and the people who will eventually call it home.

This philosophy still guides every project we take on today. One of my favorite landscapes we installed began with what looked like a drainage problem. Instead of hiding it, we transformed it into a dry creek bed that became the centerpiece of the entire front yard. We formed a natural stone bridge to cross the creek, added native plants to soften the edges, and water was allowed to move through the landscape beautifully. Years later, that same family invited me back to redesign other parts of their property as their lives evolved. That's probably my favorite part of this profession. Landscapes aren't finished the day construction ends. They continue to grow alongside the people who live in them. Families get bigger. Children discover new places to play. Trees mature. Gardens become traditions that can last generations.

Today, here at Michele Fonzi Designs, we create residential and commercial landscapes throughout Central Texas with a focus on delivering results, ecological responsibility, and timeless construction. My background in horticulture, landscape architecture, permaculture, and water-wise design allows me to create spaces that are both beautiful and resilient. Outside of work, you'll usually find me swimming, hiking, practicing yoga, tending my own garden, or volunteering to restore native habitat here in Austin. Nature has always been where I go to recharge, and I believe everyone deserves an outdoor space that offers that same feeling. I work to create places where people gather, celebrate, heal, slow down, and reconnect with the natural world. To me, that's what great landscape design has always been about.