This Spring, Keeyla created a stunningly colorful and water wise garden for our home in Berkeley. The garden is full of life with a constant parade of butterflies, native bees, and hummingbirds. Keeyla is knowledgeable about California native plants, creative in her design of color and shapes, and a pleasure to work with.

When we bought and moved into our home, there were many things that we wanted to change, but none so front-and-center as the crooked, somewhat damaged front staircase leading to our unit. We considered replacing them with a brand new wooden staircase, but the cost was exorbitant. Keeyla used her extensive knowledge of materials, her artististic sensibility, and her keen sense of space, color, and arrangements to produce a beautiful solution at a fraction of the cost. We covered the steps and patio with an elegant granite layer, straightened and supported the stairs, and added a contemporary corten steel planter with an explosion of flowering plants on the landing. At the bottom, Keeyla installed these gorgeous granite stepping stones with Dymondia growing between them. The whole staircase was transformed! Along with this change Keeyla designed and installed entirely new landscaping in the front, side, and backyard. We love our garden; neighbors and passers-by stop for a chat, marvelling at the various flowering plants, and rock installations. The garden is a source of joy and peace for us and our kids and gives us something different to enjoy in every season.

We had a small project with just enough funds to cover the costs. Keeyla handled our needs very professionally.
First things first. Remove years of piled up junk! A swift transformation to a Garden!
Large pavers make for a nice patio with seating. Also keeps maintenance down. Good for working people like us. The plants add pleasure to my life I hadn't expected. Curb side appeal an added benefit. People stop all the time to express their pleasure at seeing the garden.

Keeyla takes an artist's approach to creating a garden, painting and sculpting with natural materials. Using her keen eye for color and shape and a palette of plants, rocks and art, Keeyla's garden designs are original and create lasting beauty in the garden. After the 2017 Sonoma fires, she transformed our charred landscape into a stunning and waterwise garden filled with flowers, birds and pollinators.

says “with Keeyla you get two for one: an artist and a gardener.”

This message will serve to recommend Keeyla Meadows, a consummate gardener and artist. Her abilities run from straightforward plantings or pruning to complex garden design or installations requiring a crew. She brings a high level of professionalism to her work, but it is her passion for all things related to the garden that really make us love her.

Keeyla has installed several extraordinary gardens for us over the past thirty years. Our current home is in the Oakland Hills across from regional park open space. The view is terrific, but the gardening conditions are challenging: deer, gophers, heat, cold, fog and wind. Keeyla designed and installed a contemporary garden that has year-round color, is water-conscious, and is compatible with the oaks and redwoods on the property. It attracts pollinators and plenty of compliments. Many neighbors have remarked on the variety and beauty of the garden and thanked us for the gift it is to the neighborhood. When we first moved here, I thought I might have to give up gardening. I’m so glad Keeyla proved me wrong.

We have a large back garden that is overwhelming. We needed help in getting started. Also we needed to save costs and do a lot of the work ourselves.
Keeyla listened to what we wanted from our garden.One thing we were certain about is that we wanted fruit and vegetables. Also we wanted to enhance the presence of a large shading Native Oak tree. She did a sketch instead of a full design drawing which was enough for us and saved money, I was surprised by how easy and even fun it was to work with her on the project. She always has creative responses to situations like screening from neighbors, where to put the vegetable beds, buy dwarf fruit trees for smaller spaces. For the Oak tree she got us into native plants. Selecting iris that give beautiful blooms and are low water usage. Necessary for the Oak. We did a lot of the construction ourselves with her coming on site when we needed her advice. We like doing things ourselves. She gave as a great start.

I attended a class Keeyla gave on color; a revelation. I contacted her for a consultation that turned into a complete garden make over.

I wanted more color. I got it way beyond anything I imagined. Colorful tiled garden steps, custom garden benches and gate, and ceramic sculptures. We did the project in stages, as budget allowed over several season's. Keeyla even helped me with the colors for repainting my house. The garden offers a secluded place for me to enjoy the sound of water, birds, and bees. I can view the garden from the house which adds to the pleasure it offers. Also enjoy sharing the bright colors of every season with friends I have over for visits, meals, and conversation. Added pleasure and peace to my life. Note: Keeyla is available to answer questions and assist with maintenance or updating when needed. That is important to me.

When we bought our house we knew our garden needed work, but didn’t know where to start. Keeyla was the answer to our prayers! Keeyla was an amazing partner in creating our new garden oasis. After listening to our hopes and needs, she came up with a design better than we could have dreamed up to maximize our small space - colorful, modern, high utility, pollinator-friendly, and low maintenance. We get so much joy from our new garden and patio!

Keeyla has not only been instrumental in the growth of the Open Days program in the East Bay area but also a strong advocate for pollinators and beneficial garden insects. Long before the national trend toward native gardening, Keeyla devoted her career to educating about, advocating for, and installing gardens to support pollinators. She modeled the Garden Conservancy’s “Nibbled Leaf” initiative, showcasing the beauty of native plant and organic gardening long before the program’s inception. Personally and professionally, she is committed not only to sustainable gardening practices but also to creating beautiful safe havens benefitting both fauna and humans and creating spaces where both can coexist joyfully.

Molly
The Garden Conservancy garden tours are some of my favorite weekends of the year! The gardens are always spectacular--each creatively unique and full of inspiration and pure delight. I also love the day spent with other gardeners and plant enthusiasts. Friends made there have become community. The plants and ideas nurtured on these tours have had a defining influence on my garden life. I am truly grateful to the Garden Conservancy for connecting people to Nature and to each other.