My dream of owning Himmel’s Landscape and Garden Center started 20 years ago as an employee of Himmel’s. During that time, my gardening and plant knowledge grew along with an interest in sustainable gardening methods. I also discovered a knack for landscape design and soon after leaving Himmel’s as a full-time worker started my own small landscaping business – Sunnyscapes.
As my business grew, my interest in Bay-friendly plants, products and practices grew, and so did a national ‘green’ movement focused on sustainable methods and an environmentally responsible lifestyle. I furthered my practice to include rain, pollinator and other specialty gardens designed with a woman’s touch.
Over the years since I have worked in the corporate non-profit world and in higher education, but my heart was always with the plants, and with Himmel’s.
I love ornamental evergreens and underrated perennials. An exotic evergreen can make an impressive statement in the landscape, and I enjoy incorporating some of the more unusual varieties into my designs. I love the challenge of finding the perfect blend of perennials to add color and texture to difficult areas like deep shade or hot, windy waterfronts. When it comes to working with customers, I love delving in and asking lots of questions to find out specific site needs and stylistic preferences so that together, we can select the best plants for the specific purpose.
A native of Pasadena, Maryland with frequent exposure to the Bay and estuaries, I’m passionate about protecting the precious Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. I view Himmel’s as a platform to serve the greater good by thinking globally and acting locally. Through our Mission and Vision, Himmel’s Landscape and Garden Center will engage in Bay-friendly practices, educate the community about the importance of maintaining the health of the Bay, and engage residents in volunteer activities that will positively impact our neighborhoods and the environment.
Tradition and a sense of community are important to residents of Pasadena and I am honored to have the opportunity to continue a legacy of over 50 years serving the community’s landscape and gardening needs while promoting our mission to help our neighbors build a better, healthier and more beautiful world. I look forward to meeting you!
So, you want to talk to an expert? Just look for the guy with the straw hat and goatee. Tait is Himmel’s expert horticulturist, with decades of experience in research, growing, composting, vegetable gardening and more, and encyclopedic knowledge of all things botanical. Tait has been a professional horticulturist for 30+ years and has worked on weekends at Himmel’s for 10.
Tait loves plants. He will happily share with you more about a plant than you ever wanted to know - how to grow it, where it comes from, who bred it; once he gets rolling he is hard to stop. His knowledge can be overwhelming, but he means well. He wants you to be successful with your plans and love them as much as he does!
Tait says ‘we have not been the best stewards of the environment around us. One of the best ways to become a better steward is through the simple act of planting a garden. Any garden’. So, come visit Himmel’s on the weekend and talk with Tait about how you can be a steward for the environment!
As an accomplished Lead Maryland Fellow, a Certified Professional Horticulturist and Maryland Naturalist, Lisa brings a new wealth of knowledge to Himmel’s as our General Manager. With a love of nature (plants and wildlife), we are sure that she can help you with all your gardening needs. From small gardening projects to fruits and vegetables, Lisa provides a multifaceted level of expertise, and demonstrates the leadership in excellent customer service that Himmel’s is known for.
With many years of customer service experience, and a love for nature, Donna set her sights on joining the Himmel's team to help support the mission of creating a more beautiful world. Donna's gardening experience comes from helping her family with their gardens when she was younger. With a thirst for knowledge, she has enjoyed learning all aspects of the garden center and cannot wait to learn more! Donna is an excellent leader who sets an outstanding example of customer service, friendliness, and courtesy.
Joey joined Himmel’s as the Landscape Manager. He comes with 20 years of experience in the industry. While Joey has a broad knowledge base, he has an affinity for organic lawn care, landscape diagnostics, and backyard habitats, especially monarch waystations. In addition to serving as first point of contact for all Himmel’s landscape and hardscape inquiries, Joey can be found teaching seminars and leading garden center clubs on tours of private gardens. His love and curiosity about the natural world will be a great asset to the team at Himmel’s.
Michele is a senior garden center associate at Himmel's, but in addition to that, she is a registered urban farmer in Prince George's County. Michele grows flowers, herbs, and unusual vegetables and has sold her produce and cut flowers at farmers markets, to other flower farmers, as well as to individuals. Her background is from a family landscaping operation where she helped in nearly all aspects of the business. Himmel's is the third plant nursery she has had the pleasure of working in. Michele hopes are to share her knowledge with others so that they will become successful in their gardening experiences and live a richer life in nature.
Tim recently moved to Maryland from Colorado after 27 years. He has always loved working and spending time outdoors. Tim even owned a small but successful landscaping business in Colorado! He is extremely knowledgeable about our plant material and bulk mulch, stone, and soils, but what he enjoys most is interacting with customers. You can find Tim loading up trucks in the back, moving material around the yard, or managing Himmel’s fun and friendly chickens!
When Mary Jo decided to retire, she knew she wanted to work outside. Mary Jo visited Himmel’s and asked if they were hiring, and it was an instant match! So much for retirement; Mary Jo started working at Himmel’s two weeks after she retired and has been there since. Mary Jo says that working for Himmel’s has been a most rewarding job. She works with some wonderful people and has learned a lot about plants and gardening. It’s like a family for her. We couldn’t agree more! You can find Mary Jo in the main greenhouse making the annuals look beautiful, out on the lot moving plants, or at the register talking with customers.
As a Full Time Himmel’s employee, James works many hours in both the back and front of the lot. He is an expert in managing the daily operations of our bulk mulch and soil services and works efficiently to get our deliveries out quickly. He has been a part of the Himmel’s team for over a year and enjoys sharing his experience with our guests.
James is a very hard worker who brings his strength, energy, and knowledge to our team. His favorite plant is the White Clematis and he would love to help you find a place for it in your garden. When not at work, James stays busy outdoors fishing and mountain biking with friends.
With a varied background of work experiences, Lynette uses her love of helping people and her knowledge of plants to guide customers to that next great landscape addition. Her passion is learning about and promoting the use of native plants to help protect the Chesapeake Bay.
Sam is a student who embodies Himmel’s mission – ‘Helping our neighbors build a better, healthier, and more beautiful world’. She has a love for houseplants and all things green. Growing up, her grandmother would have her water all her plants inside and outside the house. As she grew older, her family bought a house and filled the yard with two veggie gardens, chickens, Meat Rabbits, ducks, and for a short period of time quail. Sam loves being a garden center associate at Himmel’s because she has the opportunity to learn more about plants while enjoying the company of great coworkers.
Natasha is a High School Student who is new to the Himmel’s team this Spring. She is very social and loves helping our guests have a wonderful experience every time they shop with us. Natasha loves all things summer, especially our tropical plants. She would love to talk to you all about our beautiful selection of Hibiscus and help you incorporate them into your landscape.
Her bright personality and passion for customer service exuberates everything we hope to share with our neighbors whenever they come visit us!
Breanna is from Fort Payne, AL, and just moved to Maryland in 2021 with her husband. She is very passionate about her houseplant collection and she is expanding her knowledge of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals.
Melvin is a member of our landscaping team and works hard to help make our community beautiful. When he is not working on landscaping installations, Melvin is on the lot caring for plants and making sure they stay beautiful and healthy.
Melvin is a kind person who is always eager to help his teammates. If you are lucky, you may catch a few notes of him singing on the lot! We are proud to have him on our team. El Habla Español.
Felipe is a leader on our landscaping team, known for hard work and careful attention to detail. He is very professional with a fun sense of humor and brings a positive vibe to long days on the job. Felipe’s expertise includes construction, landscape and hardscape installation, and more!
When not at work, Felipe enjoys time with his family. We are lucky to have Felipe on our team. El Habla Español.
Steve founded Himmel’s Farm and Garden Center many decades ago. The exact year is lost in the annals of history. Through grit, determination, creativity and a wonderful sense of humor, Steve built Himmel’s from a tiny, dusty little produce stand to the grand empire it is today.
His focus on the best quality plant material at the greatest value, along with his industry expertise, ensured Himmel’s success back then and is the foundation for Himmel’s moving forward. Now retired and spending time with his family and hanging out on the beach, Steve is sure to be around from time to time. We sure hope so.