Seed Sparrow
&
Ecological Landscape Design
Resilient, biodiverse, connected to place
OUR APPROACH
Example: Climate Resilient Landscape
We approach every landscape as a living system, considering the relationships between people, plants, wildlife, soil, water, and climate. By layering everyday use with ecological function, we aim to create dynamic landscapes that grow richer with time, becoming more diverse, complex, and self-sustaining as they mature. Ecological function doesn't need to come at the expense of beauty or human experience. Our approach brings together scientific pragmatism and artistic expression, working with natural processes to create moments of beauty, curiosity, and delight.
Principles for living landscapes
Design for Diversity
Diversity creates resilience. We design for diversity at every level—from plant species and functional layers to topography, habitat types, microclimates, and sensory experiences. By creating layered plant communities and landscapes where each element can serve more than one function, we build richness, complexity, and adaptability into the landscape.
Example: Edible + Medicinal Planting
Respond to Place
Example: Wildfire Adapted Landscape
Context Matters. Every landscape belongs to a larger ecological context. We look to local reference ecosystems, native plants, climate, and site conditions to inform design solutions. In the Okanagan, ecosystems such as Ponderosa pine forests, shrub-steppe grasslands, riparian corridors, and rocky outcrops help guide our decisions around planting, water use, habitat, and wildfire-adaptive design.
Work with Natural Systems
Example: Water-Wise Landscape
Start from the ground up. Soil and water are the foundation of a thriving garden. Water is essential to life and in the Okanagan’s semi-arid climate, it is a precious resource. By understanding soil conditions and how water moves through the site, we can design with natural processes rather than against them—creating healthier landscapes that require fewer inputs over time.
Invite life In
Example: Pollinator and Habitat Garden
Healthy landscapes are shared landscapes. Gardens provide food, shelter, and nesting opportunities for pollinators, birds, insects, and other wildlife - who all depend on healthy landscapes just as we do. Ecologically generous gardens can also function as refugia, places where species can persist through heat, habitat loss, and other environmental stress, while creating cooler, healthier, and more restorative places for people too.
* Illustrations in this section are adapted from original drawings created by Seed and Sparrow Design in collaboration with Eva Antonijevic for the South Okanagan Real Estate Board.
Services
ECOLOGICAL GARDEN CONSULTATION
For professional advice to create a healthier, more resilient garden
Together, we look at your landscape as a whole—considering existing vegetation, water use, soil conditions, microclimate, maintenance practices and opportunities for greater biodiversity. Recommendations are tailored to your site and may include strategies for drought and wildfire resilience, reducing water use, improving plant establishment, supporting pollinator habitat, and working more effectively with natural systems.
Consultations typically consist of a one-hour site visit and discussion, with practical recommendations provided as we walk through your landscape. This is an advisory service intended to provide ideas and direction; drawings and detailed design work are not included.
LANDSCAPE RENEWAL
For existing landscapes that aren’t working, or could be doing much more
As our climate changes, conventional landscapes are increasingly challenged by heat, drought, wildfire and water limitations. Landscape Renewal re-imagines existing spaces to better respond to the Okanagan’s semi-arid climate and natural systems, while building on what is already working.
Renewal strategies may include lawn-to-meadow conversions, naturalization, planting renovations, water-use reduction, habitat enhancement, wildfire adaptation, erosion management and long-term landscape management strategies. Depending on the project, services can range from targeted strategy documents and planting plans to more comprehensive design and implementation support.
Landscape Design + Planning
For creating a cohesive vision and plan for long-term success
Comprehensive design services for new and evolving landscapes, from early concepts and master planning through detailed planting design and implementation. Each project begins with an understanding of the site: its natural systems, existing conditions, opportunities and constraints - alongside the needs and vision of the people who will use it.
The result is a thoughtful, site-responsive landscape that balances ecological function, beauty and everyday use. Services may include master planning, conceptual design, planting design, grading and site planning, cost planning, contractor coordination, and project management or implementation support. The scope of services is tailored to the needs and complexity of each project.
WORKING TOGETHER
The relationships we develop with our clients are much like the landscapes we design: collaborative, responsive, and evolving over time. We begin by listening to you, your goals, and the land itself, then work together to shape a clear direction for the project. Because living landscapes continue to change, we value ongoing relationships that allow us to observe, adapt, and support the landscape over time.
Our Design Process
Not every project requires a full design process, but for those that do, much of the work happens behind the scenes. Design involves gathering information and context, understanding the site, researching, problem-solving, testing and refining ideas, and making hundreds of interconnected decisions. While much of this process is invisible, it is what allows for a clear, cohesive plan to emerge and helps create better outcomes over the long term.
1. Listen + Learn
We get to know you, your goals, and the opportunities and constraints of your site
2. Explore + Design
We test ideas and refine them until a clear design direction emerges.
3. Develop the Plan
We translate the concept into the plans and details your project requires.
4. Bring It to Life
We can support implementation, contractor coordination, and landscape establishment.
PORTFOLIO
Shrub Steppe Meadow
Urban ecological design
Woodland Play Garden
Residential landscape renewal
Landscape Renewal
Climate resilience for a strata landscape
Foreshore Restoration
Foreshore enhancement
About US
Our Story:
Founded in 2018 by Stephanie Aitken and Christopher Szymberski, Seed & Sparrow began as a collaborative landscape design and arboriculture practice focused on bringing climate resilient design to the Okanagan. Pat Hoppe joined the practice in 2021, adding his design-build expertise to the team. Through the care and diligence of the original team, Seed & Sparrow was able to design and build unique landscapes that truly reflected the character of the Okanagan.
Today, Seed & Sparrow is led by Stephanie Aitken. As the next chapter unfolds, the firm remains rooted in ecological and regionally adapted design. Moving beyond conventional horticultural practices, Stephanie works with native and xeric plants, seed-based strategies, and ecological processes to create contemporary naturalized landscapes that are resilient, biodiverse, and connected to place.
Vision:
Landscapes that deepen our connection to nature and enrich life through diversity and beauty.
Mission:
To help people and communities create beautiful, resilient landscapes that respond to the natural systems of the Okanagan.
Meet Stephanie
Stephanie Aitken, MLArch
Owner + Urban Ecology Designer
Inspired by local ecologies and systems thinking, Stephanie approaches landscapes as living systems. By using diverse plant communities and nature-based design strategies to support biodiversity, she creates beautiful, meaningful places for people. Her work is informed by specialized knowledge of xeriscape and years of experience developing planting strategies suited to the Okanagan’s semi-arid climate.
Stephanie holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts in Art and Design. Her educational background has shaped a practice at the intersection of art, design and science, combining creative expression with an understanding of ecological systems. She is committed to continued learning, with recent studies in wildfire ecology and pollinator habitat.
Contact Us
Kelowna, BC
