Hi, I’m Erin a.k.a. The YYC Plant Lady
I’m a landscape designer and I get to use my fine art and construction backgrounds to make beautiful, functional spaces for homeowners in the Calgary area.
EMG used to be my initials, Erin Marie Graham.
(Now that I’m married, I go by Erin Friesen.) I named my company EMG because I bring everything I am to my designs. Construction experience, fine art and design, as well as an appreciation for the local environment and vegetation.
The result? A unique and beautiful space customized to you and your family.
Your yard is personal to you. Getting to design it for you is personal to me.
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My Story
I grew up loving the outdoors - hiking, gardening and working summers for landscape construction companies.
After many summers in the landscape industry, I gained experience in both garden maintenance and construction prior to pursuing a career in design. I loved seeing the beautiful and some times unexpected shapes used in each design. I noticed that the lines of the gardens or paths created the movement and the feel of each space. This in combination with the right material choices and the use of colour and texture through plant material could transform any yard on any budget into a unique outdoor oasis.
While operating in the field I saw how important a well thought out and accurate design is. Once the materials and crews are on site it can be a very expensive time to make changes on the fly. I’ve been there when something that looked great on paper did not work best in reality. I bring this experience to every project; through my consideration of the maintenance needs, longevity of the material choices and the right plant material for our zone and each individual client.
The result? A unique design that works for the environmental conditions of the property, that matches maintenance requests, and considers what means of construction are required. And of course a finished product that looks beautiful.
If a design does not address function first no one will ever get to appreciate its beauty.
One acreage in specific required these types of site changes while I was still in the field. It helped shape my design style and consideration for all the details on future projects. The clients were a lovely family with young kids who spent most days asking questions about the plants and other materials we added to their space. They started referring to me as the Plant Lady and it stuck.
Shortly after, I launched EMG Studios and have been taking the same client focused, function first approach ever since.
