Who we are
Our team
We're a small group of women who met through years of working in Bay Area gardens and eventually decided to do it ourselves.
The people
Meet the team
Every client works with the same people from the first conversation to the last visit. No handoffs, no strangers at your door.
Natalie
Co-owner
Originally from Switzerland, Natalie has enjoyed gardening for as long as she can remember — working professionally in the field since 2013. She is currently taking Horticulture courses at Merritt College in Oakland, expanding her knowledge on plants, insects, pruning, and more. Her style of gardening is organic and reflects Yarrow's goals of sustainability and earth-friendly priorities. She is detail oriented and has an eye for making the garden look top notch while making sure the bees, butterflies, and insects haven't lost their habitats. On her free time, she enjoys photography, spending time with her daughter, her dog, and adventuring to beautiful places.
Fluent in German @close_to_the_pollen ↗
Astrid
Co-owner
Born and raised in Berkeley, Astrid has been gardening since 2013 before partnering with Natalie to form Yarrow Gardening in 2022. Inspired by her grandmother's love for plants and design, she grew up understanding the impact of a well-designed space. She is completing her education in Interior Design and Interior Architecture at UC Berkeley Extension — working towards combining her two passions of interior and exterior design. With her expertise in organic and timeless style, Yarrow Gardening is a one-stop shop for all things design and decor. She loves indoor plants, floral design, pots, seating arrangements, and nurturing plants. During her free time, Astrid loves to play guitar and sing, redecorate her house, and spend time with her cat Olive and dog Bayou.
Fluent in French @chezstrid ↗
Virginia
Team Leader & Lead Gardener
A California native who grew up in the mountains of Costa Rica, Virginia has been a lover of nature her whole life. A traveler at heart, she has worked as a gardener and farmer in many countries. Her passion for plants led her to study medicinal herbs at the Elderberry School of Botanical Medicine in Portland, OR, and she now creates healing balms and oils from California native plants. She has been with Yarrow since 2019, advancing in garden installations, pruning, soil health, and native plant knowledge. She loves to create a balance of wild yet neat gardens that promote native plants and edibles. She is also a new mama!
Fluent in Spanish
Kahyela
Gardener
A Bay Area native beginning her horticulture journey with Yarrow Gardening. Before joining the team, Kahyela completed a permaculture course focused on designing sustainable and regenerative gardens. She lets nothing go to waste — she is passionate about Mother Earth and a lover of all living organisms. Her optimism and determination while learning, combined with a natural eye for potted arrangements and aesthetically pleasing plant design, make her a valued part of the team. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying time with her dogs and family, and playing the occasional guitar.
Fluent in French
Special appearance gardener
Erica
Gardener
Erica grew up in the English countryside, where she developed her deep love of gardening in her parents' fruit, vegetable, and flower garden. She is trained in Occupational Therapy and has used gardening as a therapeutic medium for people with physical and mental disabilities. She fell in love with Berkeley's incredible weather, year-round gardening possibilities, and the smell of flowers. She studied permaculture at the Occidental Arts and Ecology Center and manages her family's mixed fruit and nut orchard in Sonoma County. She is studying at Merritt College to obtain her garden design certification.
Has a British accent — huge plus
Special appearance gardener
Amber
Gardener
A California native whose love of gardening was passed down from her grandparents, who both worked in the fields and tended their own gardens. She holds a Bachelor's in Anthropology from San Francisco State and is a Certified Nutrition Assistant, currently pursuing her Associates in Landscape Architecture at Merritt College. Amber is particularly interested in habitat gardens for butterflies, bees, and birds, and loves working with wild, California-native, Mediterranean, and edible plants. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking and camping with her dog Lupe.
How we work
How we actually work
Organic and earth-friendly
We don't use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Everything we do is aimed at building healthy soil, supporting pollinators, and creating gardens that work with local ecosystems rather than against them.
Plants that belong here
We prioritize California natives and drought-adapted plants that thrive in Bay Area conditions — through dry summers, coastal fog, and the occasional cold snap. No high-maintenance imports that'll struggle in July.
Small enough to care
We evaluate each project individually to make sure it's a good fit for both sides. We'd rather work with fewer clients and do it well than take on more than we can give real attention to.
Stay in the loop
Garden Tips & Tricks
Seasonal planting advice, garden care tips, and a behind-the-scenes look at what we're growing. No spam — ever.