Founded in 1999, Alex Smith Garden Design, Ltd. has designed and implemented notable gardens and landscapes in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast. Alex Smith Garden Design, Ltd. prides itself on creating engaging environments that are sustainable, appropriate to place, responsive to architecture, and most importantly, that exceed client expectations. Combined with his passion for plants, artistic sensibilities, and an eye for detail, Alex is known for delivering distinctive solutions for his clients. His signature landscapes evoke a sense of unforced grace and cohesion. Alex’s projects have been featured in Southern Living, Coastal Living, Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles, Atlanta Style and Design, Atlanta Magazine, Better Homes and Gardens, Flower Magazine, Macon Magazine, and Trends. His work is also featured in Veranda: The Art of Outdoor Living and Inspired by Tradition: The Architecture of Norman Davenport Askins, and in Summerour: Architecture of Permanence, Scale, and Proportion. Twice his work has been the subject of the long-running PBS gardening show, GardenSMART.
About Us
About Alex
From the mountain and lake regions of the Carolinas to the low country of Coastal Georgia and Florida and the rugged Ozark Mountains, Alex has worked on diverse projects in eleven states. Such projects span formal estate gardens, public parks, historic garden restoration, new construction landscapes, and home garden renovation. In each locale, Alex Smith Garden Design, Ltd. applies the same design rigor to plant and materials selection and sensitivity to place. For the last five years, Alex has lead the landscape design and implementation efforts at a major resort property and golf course in the heart of the Missouri Ozarks. Recently, he was commissioned to design the Olga Goizueta Memorial Garden at the Atlanta History Center and an exhibition garden in the Levy parterre at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Alex graduated from the Art Institute of Atlanta with a degree in Landscape Design. He began his career as a lead designer under renowned garden designer, Ryan Gainey. During his eight years working with Ryan, Alex was an integral part of creating diverse landscapes throughout the eastern United States. Alex also spent two summers in the Cotswolds of England working under the tutelage of famed British garden designer Rosemary Verey. He later returned to England to collaborate on a project with Mrs. Verey for a commission in the United States.
Alex is a founding member of the Southeastern Horticultural Society and served on its Board of Directors for 12 years. He also served on the Board of Trustees of the Institute of Classical Architecture, Southeast Chapter. Alex currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Cherokee Garden Library and is a member of the American Horticultural Society. He is a native of Macon, Georgia. In his free time he enjoys traveling, cooking, fishing, golf, and following Georgia Bulldogs football. He lives with his wife and three daughters in Dunwoody, Georgia.
Our Office
Our Chamblee, GA design studio and surrounding land serve as both inspiration and trial grounds for the team’s elegant gardens. Housed in a renovated 1920s farmhouse, the studio sits on what was once a kudzu-covered property with abandoned buildings. Rather than demolishing the decrepit house, Alex and a team of craftsman gutted it, elevated the ceilings and converted it to a spacious light-filled studio with heart of pine floors and walls. They cleared and graded the entire property, allowing for space to garden, space to stock and nurture specimen plants and space for the outdoor teams to operate. Today the property features a greenhouse and cold frame for cultivating choice plants, a wildflower meadow, brimming vegetable plots and perennial borders. Nostalgic foundation plantings frame the farmhouse. Throughout the year seasonal cut flowers from our favorite plants brighten the studio. The grounds reflect our passion for horticulture, creativity, and love of land and place. Over 10 years ago Alex and his late father Cathey Alexander Smith envisioned the potential for the derelict property; we are proud to now occupy the realization of that vision.
ROB BUFFALOE
Installation Foreman
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Rob graduated with his Bachelor of Business Administration in 1992 from the University of Georgia. It was there that he met his now long-time friend Alex Smith. Rob has been with Alex Smith Garden Design, Ltd. since its opening in January of 1999. His years of experience in landscape installation and fine gardens are instrumental to translating plans from the design studio into reality. Rob is an avid Georgia fan. He and his wife have two daughters and are members at the Roswell Presbyterian Church.
CATHERINE HAWKINS
Landscape Designer
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Catherine graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s degree of Landscape Architecture in 2010. From there, she has lived and worked in New York, Florida, and Georgia designing water features and greenwall systems while also assisting in the design of various Sandals and Beaches Resorts. Prior to coming to Alex Smith Garden Design, Ltd., Catherine worked for an Atlanta design firm where she specialized in corporate office courtyards and campus design. Her passions include spending time outdoors camping, playing disc golf, as well as music where she plays the bass guitar with her fiancée.
KRISTIN LANDFIELD HOWE
Maintenance Manager/Designer
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Holding degrees in Philosophy and Psychology, Kristin moved to Atlanta in 2006 to continue those studies, but returned to horticulture for her love of plants and nature. Kristin joined Alex Smith Garden Design, Ltd. in 2013 after having worked in local horticulture since 2007. She has worked on diverse gardens and proffered a number of talks and workshops on horticultural and floral subjects. She views landscape design not only as an avenue for creating engaging outdoor spaces, but as a living art form at the intersection of nature, architecture and human culture. Kristin divides her time between Atlanta and the mountains of Western North Carolina and North Georgia.
JAMES KELLY
Landscape Designer
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Growing up in the Colorado Mountains, James formed a love of the outdoors at an early age. He graduated with honors from the University of Georgia with a degree in Landscape Architecture. Prior to joining Alex Smith Garden Design, Ltd. in January of 2016, James worked in the Founders Memorial Garden for two years. He enjoys spending free time with friends and family and exploring the city on his motorcycle.
TAMI LARSON
Maintenance Manager/Designer
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Tami’s horticultural journey started in 1995 and she has been working in the local garden and floral industry for over 20 years. She joined Alex Smith Garden Design, Ltd. in the summer of 2010. Tami received her Associate degree in Horticulture from Gwinnett Technical College. In addition to creating beautiful planting schemes in the field, Tami also creates stunning floral arrangements which are showcased inside the company office, in the homes of our clients, and at special events.
SCOTT LEWIS
Installation Foreman/Landscape Architect
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Scott graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in 1993 with a focus on landscape and grounds maintenance. Four years later, he received his Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, also from the University of Georgia. He is a licensed Landscape Architect in Georgia and has over 20 years’ experience in the industry. Scott has worked in offices in Winterville, Watkinsville, and Atlanta before joining Alex Smith Garden Design, Ltd. in 2008.
ANDY SLACK
Landscape Designer
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A native of Sautee, Ga, Andy lives in Roswell with his wife and 2 daughters. The Slack family can be found frequenting the Children’s Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on the weekends. Andy graduated with Honors from UGA with a BLA. Before joining Alex Smith Garden Design, Ltd. in 2017, Andy worked for a local pool and landscape design company.
LEE ANNE THOMPSON
Office Manager
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Hailing from Savannah, GA Lee Anne holds a degree in English from the University of Georgia. Following graduation, she spent 15 years working in various Human Resources roles for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. Lee Anne joined Alex Smith Garden Design, Ltd. as the office manager in 2010. She enjoys spending time with her husband, two daughters, and four dogs.