THE STORY BEHIND BOTANY OF DESIGN
Hi there! I'm Lisa Charpontier, the Owner and Principal Designer here at Botany of Design. My wish to understand and shape the land arrived early in life: I was born into a ranching family and raised on a 1500 acre ranchland playground. There, the cycles of life surrounded me at all times. One of my favorite yearly rituals, I remember, was helping my Grandpa in his garden. That garden was grand — close to the size of an alfalfa field — and he was its main caretaker. My brother and I, his loyal shadows, would pitch in with the gardening. When harvest came, my Grandpa would hoist us into the fruit trees to gather our favorite fruit. He'd rinse it and slice it with his pocket knife, and the three of us would eat it right there in the garden. So from childhood on, the garden came to mean love, cooperation, diligence, and wonder. With that foundation of appreciation for the outdoors, I learned early to live in close contact with the land. And as I worked the land, I discovered that the work shaped not only the environment but my spirit too. As I got older and moved into the city, I realized I missed the wide expanse of land from my childhood — yet I found that the City held magical outdoor places too, often shaped through careful thought and planning. During high school, I spent my summers terracing and planting my urban hillside garden. Afterward, I studied Landscape Architecture at UCBX and completed the certificate program. I've now been designing gardens across the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 10 years. As a new mom, I've gained yet another fresh perspective on life and on my work. I've rekindled my childhood sense of wonder and peace in the outdoors, and I bring that into my designs. I firmly believe every design should give the garden's inhabitants a sense of wonder and peace — reflecting family love, bringing tranquility, and honoring the tradition of ritual through the garden's annual passages. The garden grounds us as it puts out roots, and it inspires us with every new sprout that reaches for the sun.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who leads Botany of Design?
Botany of Design is led by Lisa Charpontier, Owner and Principal Designer. Her background spans growing up on ranchland, completing the Landscape Architecture certificate program at UCBX, and designing gardens in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 10 years.
What does “Design in Conversation with Nature” mean?
It's the studio's guiding principle: working with the land shapes both the environment and the designer's spirit. Each design is meant to give the garden's inhabitants wonder and peace, reflecting a love of family and a sense of tranquility.
Where does Botany of Design work?
Lisa has designed gardens throughout the San Francisco Bay Area for more than 10 years. The studio is based in San Jose, California.
What shapes the studio's design philosophy?
A childhood spent gardening with her Grandpa on a 1500 acre ranch taught Lisa that the garden stands for love, cooperation, diligence, and wonder — values she brings to every design. Read more on the philosophy page.
How can I get in touch or see past work?
Head to the contact page to reach the studio, browse the gallery for finished gardens, or explore services to see how a project comes together.
📍 San Jose, CA 95112
📞 408.320.2954