Gavin Boyce-Ratliff

Founder & Principal Designer

With a background in landscape construction and environmental humanities, Gavin’s love for garden design grows out of long days in the dirt. He creates award winning, immersive gardens with the belief that plants have the power to make our lives better.

Growing up on a sheep farm in the green mountains of Vermont, Gavin has always had a strong appreciation for native New England flora and the historic landscapes found in both town and pasture. He has worked in landscape architecture offices in Vermont, Connecticut, and Maine, and holds a degree in landscape architecture from Cornell University. A certified horticulturist in several New England states, he strives to create landscapes grounded in their environment, culture, and circumstance.

Read more about Gavin’s ethos around garden design here.

Emma Tower

Project Manager

Emma brings a diverse skill set to project management: an MS in Ecology from Tulane University, a background in studio art and public health, and eight years delivering complex, multidisciplinary projects. She brings a systems-thinking approach to project scheduling and resource coordination.

Raised on a freshwater marsh in rural Connecticut, Emma grew up finding wonder in the overlooked edges of the natural world, and that early intimacy with wild places has never left her. Outside of the office, Emma gardens, forages, and paints. She lives in Central Maine with her husband and their young son and believes deeply that sensory-rich encounters with nature are where our relationship with the living world begins.

Hailey HErring-Newbound

Associate Designer

Hailey’s design work is rooted in the importance of environmental stewardship and the positive impact that time outdoors has on mental health. Having designed gardens from California to New England, and with a background in graphic design and illustration, Hailey brings a thoughtful, creative approach to outdoor spaces. 

Raised in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, Hailey developed an early connection to rural landscapes, time spent in the garden, and changing seasons. A graduate of Williams College, Hailey also earned a degree in Landscape Architecture at Merritt College. Outside of the office, Hailey enjoys cold-water swimming and exploring the islands of coastal Maine.

Paige Lyons

Associate Designer

Paige comes to landscape design with a special interest not only in the ecological and aesthetic qualities of gardens, but also in their power to connect people to land. She approaches each project with optimism, curiosity, and a strong sense of care.

Previously working in an interdisciplinary firm, Paige brings in-depth knowledge of the permitting and construction process across residential, commercial and public projects. In her free time, you can find Paige exploring Portland with her playful dog, Fran, or on stage performing improv. Paige holds a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Environmental Science with a minor in Studio Art from the University of Wisconsin.

ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS

Maine Certified Horticulturist

Vermont Certified Horticulturist

Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist

American Society of Landscape Architects - Member

Boston Society of Landscape Architects - Member

Vermont Natural Shoreland Erosion Control (Certified)

Perennial Plant Association - Member

Ecological Landscape Alliance - Member

GBR_LANDSCAPE ON INSTAGRAM

Home meadow at dusk. Summer arrived!
Framing the view on our island project with @whittenarchitects Something special brewing!
Grateful and energized by the interesting projects we get to be a part of. And looking for the right person to join us. If you’re passionate about creating gardens, have a strong background in project management, and like a healthy mix of tim
We’ve been working with @stepheniewatts over the last year to breathe some new life into this 1840’s church and meeting house. We’re still scheming, and putting pencil to paper, but I’m always glad for an opportunity to paus
The way life should be. A classic late summer day in coastal Maine. 📸: @erinlittlephoto
1850’s farmhouse is getting a 2026 landscape!
Late winter shadows on our new orchard at home. A bit of deer damage from December, but overall remarkably untouched for how little protection I gave them this year. Now, time for some pruning to set them on the right track.
Throwing another voice out into the ether. I enjoy connecting with people on all sides of this aisle, and think it’s important we continue to have these discussions in a productive, collaborative way.
When @decormaine reached out this year about showcasing a project for the spring Landscape issue, I said “how about this instead?” There isn’t a shortage of pretty garden precedents out there. But I do think there’s a shortag
How does it go? The cobbler’s children have no shoes? The irony of getting the privilege to design such exciting gardens for our clients is that our own spaces are last on the list. Looking forward to a big year of changes at our place in Br
A whirlwind day en route to Manchester for the @wildinggardens conference. Jet lag, narrow roads, and a Shropshire sunset.
28 degrees felt balmy yesterday after a stretch of colder weather. Almost makes you want to look ahead to greener days like this…
Grateful to be going into another year as a featured designer at @archdigest Looking ahead at an exciting slate of projects and collaborations in ‘26. Have a restful holiday season, and see you in the garden soon!
Bio retention ponds should be an attractive piece of the landscape! We used large drifts of grasses, ferns, and shrubs here to create something both functional and beautiful. Instead of a grassed over swale in the middle of the new cottages at @a
It’s impossible to have an enjoyable project without enjoyable clients. Considering ourselves lucky to do this work, and collaborate with people like you every day.
Colors of fall.
All but a few oaks have dropped their leaves by now. We had a wet year. We had a dry year. We’ll see if we have a snowy year. But this old apple tree’s still hanging on and telling me keep things in perspective. It’s seen it all.

  • “We had the pleasure of working with Gavin after competing significant renovations of our home. Gavin skillfully guided us through an extensive process that included visioning, designing, planning, implementing, and following up. He used excellent subcontractors for hardscaping, sourcing and installing plants, and maintenance; provided a detailed budget for the proposed work and came in within budget; and, at completion, shared extensive documentation of our plantings and instructions for ongoing maintenance. Gavin has vast knowledge of plants as well as excellent communication, interpersonal, and listening skills for brainstorming and collaborative work. We could not be more pleased with the process and results.”

    — J.C. (Hanover, NH)

  • “We’ve had the pleasure of working with GBR Landscape and Design for over a year, and the experience has been wonderful.

    Gavin has been an invaluable consultant, helping us maintain our existing garden and grounds while guiding us through the planning and execution of a multistep home renovation and landscape revitalization design project.

    From the beginning, Gavin has been an excellent collaborator and communicator. His expertise and care has created a plan that is both whimsical and sustainable and his thoughtful approach and attention to detail has given us confidence at every step.

    Professionally, Gavin exemplifies practicality, flexibility, and responsiveness, which have made the entire process seamless and enjoyable. Importantly, Gavin has teamed well with the architect, GC, and subs to coordinate design and execution.

    We wholeheartedly recommend GBR Landscape and Design to anyone looking for a creative, reliable, and collaborative partner.”

    -E.F. (Norwich, VT)

  • “Gavin listened well to my vision, and came up with beautiful and creative solutions for a somewhat challenging site. He paid attention to practical matters including cost, easy care, and use of native plants. It was a delight working with him to create the garden that I have always wanted.”

    – N.P. (Norwich, VT)

  • “Gavin was an absolute pleasure to work with on a moderate-sized landscaping job earlier this year. He was completely professional, thoughtful, conscientious, and got the job done on budget and on time (no small feat). He has great vision for landscape design and gave us helpful suggestions, which were greatly appreciated! I would gladly have him do other projects with us in the future!”

    – G.D. (Hanover, NH)

  • “Gavin was instrumental in providing options on how to move forward with our project, and helped us determine a scope and budget. He also supported us in the selection of and communication with a contractor. He is extremely knowledgeable about landscape design and is a responsive and organized project manager!”

    -M.A. (Falmouth, ME)

  • Gavin created a beautiful palette that transformed our shoreline garden into something very special. He did exactly what he said he would and when he said he would. We love the result!

    -J.S. (Harpswell, ME)

  • “Gavin provided us with an excellent resolution to our garden drainage problem in a timely and cost efficient manner…On time and within estimated budget. We highly recommend him.”

    – P.M. + J.G. (Norwich, VT)

  • “Gavin did a terrific job with our landscape. He was exceptionally professional, personable, and responsive throughout our work together. We’re very pleased with the result, and we would work with him again in a heartbeat”

    -D.H. (Hanover, NH)

  • “I have worked with Gavin on two major projects and found him to be knowledgeable, friendly, and reliable. He worked with Hanover High School’s Environmental Club along with 150 students and teachers to replace several of the school’s gardens with native plants. His incredible patience with the students and willingness to share his knowledge with them was evident throughout the project. I was so impressed I asked him to design a garden at our home in Norwich. His selection of plants and their placement shows layers of color throughout the season, and attracts a host of pollinators. Gavin is a professional who is easy to work with, thoughtful in his planning, honest and responsive. I highly recommend Gavin if you are interested in pursuing any gardening project. He is top notch!”

    -J.K. (Norwich, VT)

JOIN THE TEAM

Gavin is always interested in connecting with people passionate about plants and place-making. To learn more about job opportunities at GBRLD, read more here.