Our Team


“She is a gardener. She works with her hands. She plants seeds. She waters the hedges. She understands the seasons. She follows the sun. She believes in nature. She knows about life. She affirms the living. She sees poetry in each flower. She reads meaning into each leaf”.

DEBBIE STAVISH. Debbie Stavish is the owner and designer of Deb’s Gardening. She began her landscaping career in 1999 working with a very special and talented gardening crew. She received her BA from UCCS in 1993 and in 2001 began on her landscaping educational path by receiving a Master Gardener Certificate from El Paso County, Colorado.

Debbie’s previous employment history with Colorado State Parks, USDA Forest Service, and a California winery additionally reveal her love of Nature. Debbie’s passion and talent drive her to successfully create and care for clients’ gardens. She has pledged to abide by industry ‘Best Management Practices,’ by honoring the existing landscape and environment with a sensitivity towards the existing environment.

Credentials:
Deb’s Gardening has won 4 Grand Awards of Excellence and 1 Award for Excellence in Landscape for their landscaping projects “These winning landscapes provide a snapshot of the most innovative landscape designs and cutting-edge trends seen in Colorado landscaping today,” said Kristen Fefes, ALCC executive director.
She believes that these awards are not only a reflection of her talent to achieve her client’s landscape goals, but also a refection of the company’s success as a whole. “The sum is only as great as its parts”.

Seal of Knowledge
Feb ’06 Deb received her “Seal of Knowledge” for Best Management Practices which recognizes her professional knowledge and commitment to water conservation and water quality protection in Colorado. This includes what Governor Owens has officially recognized and proclaimed as “state-of-the-art practices for water conservation and water quality protection that help to ensure the future viability of our great state.”

In addition to running her business, Debbie is Mom to Aidan. She is dedicated to sharing her gardening knowledge and education with her community and acts as Ruth Washburn Cooperative Nursery School’s Gardening Chairperson. She loves mountain biking and hopes to someday race.

ELAINE PERKINS is a professional gardener with Deb's Gardening. Deb met Elaine in 1999 when they worked together on a small but special gardening crew. Deb thought often how lucky she would be to once again work with someone as hard working, knowledgeable, and sincere as Elaine, who is now in her fourth season with Deb's Gardening. Elaine will obtain her Colorado Gardener Certificate this May.

In addition to being a gardener for Deb's Gardening, Elaine is the Lead Firefighter for the USAF Academy Fire & Emergency Services. Elaine's creativity is also revealed in the very unique "Diaper Cakes" she makes for baby showers, gifts, and special events. Elaine is Mom to twins Psymon and Zayne and enjoys life with husband, Travis, who is also a firefighter.

TIP HARRIS has been a professional gardener with Deb's Gardening for three seasons. Tip's enthusiasm, hard work, and true love of gardening is evident in all he does for our clients. Tip attends many educational seminars pertinent to our industry and is always learning and sharing his knowledge.

Tip is the Sensei at Pikes Peak Aikido with more than 20 years of practicing and teaching Aikido. All on our crew aspire to be as full of energy and in the great physical shape Tip possesses (even though he says he is the "old guy" on our team). Tip and his wife LaVonne enjoy their leisure time at their mountain cabin in Grand Lake, traveling the world, and spending time with their family.

MATT SHAW returns to Deb's Gardening for his 5th season this year. Matt is the one on our crew who can do anything- from trimming a delicate flower to laying tons of flagstone for a patio creation. He helps us with our irrigation needs and acts as our handyman. Matt's even-keel personality combined with hard work is most appreciated by many of our clients.
A UCCS graduate with a degree in Recording Arts, Matt is applying his love for media by making music with his band Leftmore. He spends part of his year traveling the country and sharing his passion for music.

LINDA HODGES is a professional gardener at Deb's Gardening. Deb met Linda while working on the small gardening crew (along with Elaine). Linda is our nature girl. In addition to working for us, Linda is employed with the Trails and Open Space Coalition but we are lucky that she gives a couple of days per week to our team. Linda's knowledge of our environment and its value contriubutes greatly to the philosophy and work of our company.
Linda can be found hiking many of the Colorado Springs trails with her dog, Trapper. This is Linda's second year with Deb's Gardening.

JESSICA WENTLING is the Lead Gardener and Vegetable Garden Designer for Deb's Gardening. This is her fourth season with our company. Jess is very involved with our clients and knows each of their gardens like the back of her hand. Jess's years of home vegetable gardening and education allow her to create custom designs for clients desiring to grow their own food. Jess will receive her Colorado Gardener's Certificate from in March of this year. This certificate ensures Jess's gardening knowledge is based on highly researched information in addition to hands-on experience.

On the side, Jess is a 'Martha Stewart'. She has an amazing vegetable garden and provides friends with delicious edibles from her harvests. She enjoys cooking, baking, and entertaining, and has provided wonderous parties and events for company and client functions.