About Renee Clermont and Second Nature Designs
“A beautiful landscape begins with an innovative design” has been Renee’s philosophy since she planted her very first professional garden in 2003. She could envision what it was going to look like in a few months; the infused colors, textures and shapes would fill the space in nicely.
Garden Design was very similar to the design principles she had learned from attending the Floral Design Institute in Seattle, Washington to become a floral designer. Principles, that she had been practicing in the 6 years prior to starting her gardening business. The most challenging part of gardening, which she learned very quickly, was that the gardens were ever-changing. They evolved and morphed into an entity that her earlier vision didn’t grasp. Some plants thrived and some well, just didn’t. She spent the next 5 years up to her neck in compost, attending every class and seminar she could find on Gardening. She developed a style of gardening that even if she were to try to mimic one garden to the next, she couldn’t. It was all about the space she was in, how it felt and how it played a roll in the rest of the property. Renee’s eyes would quickly gaze over to the path leading to the garden, or the mulched area with a few uninspiring shrubs, the undefined lawn area and the potting shed plopped right in the middle of everything with no rhyme or reason. Every single time that would happen on a property, she got the urge to merge all the spaces and create a cohesive design that made all the elements intertwine with purpose.
In 2008, Renee headed back to school and attained a dual certificate in Landscape Design at the acclaimed Landscape Institute of Harvard University (formally Radcliffe) and The Boston Architectural College. Her study focused on Landscape Preservation and History, Horticulture, Design and Construction Management.
Since graduation in 2012, she has expanded her business and followed through with the same design intents she did in 2003, but with an eye on the whole picture rather than just a space. A design that truly feels like, Second Nature. Second Nature Designs now has clients throughout Martha’s Vineyard and includes Landscape Design / Design-Build, Fine Gardening, Container Design, and Garden Coaching for residential or commercial clients on the island of Martha’s Vineyard.
