Gardening and landscaping have always been part of my life. Growing up in a restored farmhouse in rural Connecticut, I would be out in all seasons picking vegetables and berries, cutting grass, and weeding the flower beds at our 15-acre home. I’ve always enjoyed garden spaces and the work that goes into creating and keeping them beautiful.

Moving to Washington, DC after college, I started a career in government, working on Capitol  Hill before joining several PR and lobbying firms. Following an unexpected breast cancer diagnosis, I worked while in treatment and then made the tough decision to leave that world and spend time recovering. And that recovery brought me back to the garden.

This is when I also started doing small projects for friends - containers for front doorways, discussions about reconfiguring an existing garden, offering tough love about bidding farewell to a sad shrub. With much encouragement and support from family and friends, Stoneleigh Home & Gardens gradually took shape and it now allows me the opportunity to share my love of gardening and design with others.

Gardening can be overwhelming, intimidating and frustrating, leaving us unsure of what to do. We want to make changes to our outside spaces but don’t know how or where to start. I enjoy helping people work through these roadblocks so they can feel more confident about moving forward. Sometimes a client is stumped by a particular project and simply needs a new set of eyes. Sometimes a complete makeover is in order. Taking the mystery - and sometimes fear - out of gardening, I believe, translates into recognizing more fully the beauty to be found in our own spaces and that a little bit of work can produce many, many years of enjoyment.

My goal for any project is for a client to love and take pride in their home. It could be as simple as creating two beautiful urns for their front steps or a newly designed front flower bed. Whatever form it takes, I am grateful to be able to share my enthusiasm with others and to those who entrust me with their homes and gardens.

Happy planting….

Karin Hudson 

Founder & Owner