’burg and Beyond

Homer, Alaska
After intense careers with leading-edge technology companies in California, Brenda Crouthamel Adams ’68 and her husband retired early and sought a location that would be less frenzied and have lower taxes. Thirty years later, she runs a boutique garden design and maintenance business outside the scenic coastal town of Homer, Alaska, with three international garden design awards to her credit.

Why She Chose Alaska
A friend said they couldn’t decide where to retire without visiting Alaska first. On a long drive south from Anchorage, they stopped at a popular overlook, with a sweeping view of Homer and Kachemak Bay.

“It was a warm, sunny May day with puffy clouds. The water was cobalt blue, and the mountains still had lots of snow,” she says. “We said, ‘This is the most beautiful place we’ve ever seen on earth.’ ”

How Her Garden Grew
In year two of building her own garden in Alaska, a local nursery owner visited. “She said, ‘You need to consult for people, because you’ve got a real eye for design and how to put plants together.’ ”

“I said, ‘I don’t want to work. I’m doing this for myself.’ ” But with her new friend’s steady pushing, Adams took the plunge and started her business, Gardens By Design.

“Gardens can bring people so much joy and pleasure,” she says. “It’s immensely rewarding to spend your time helping folks surround themselves with beauty.”
— Matt Zencey