Twenty nine years ago, Diane Smith started The Perennial Professionals, Inc., as a natural extension of her of love color in landscapes. It has blossomed into a landscape design and installation business for the renovation of existing landscapes and the design and installation of landscapes for new homes and commercial sites. Perennial Professionals is among the most esteemed, and recommended on the North Shore.
Diane holds a Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants and Shrubs from the Chicago Botanic Gardens. She is teaching several classes at the Chicago Botanic Gardens:
- The Power of Color in Landscape Design, Saturday, March 21, 2026, 9 a.m.- noon
- Home Garden Design Workshop, 5 Wednesdays, April 15-May 13, 2026, 6;30-8:30p.m.
- Adding Native Plants to Garden Designs , July 11, 2026 9am-noon
- Harmonizing Design and Plant Selection, 2 Thursdays,July16 &23, 6-8p.m.
- The Business of Landscaping, Fall 2026
An interview with Diane and two of her installations were featured in the Chicago Tribune article, “Street sense: Creating a good 1st impression starts with checking the view from the curb”.
Diane was also interviewed in the November/December 2015 Chicagoland Gardening article, “Landscaping Do’s and Don’ts”. Also, one of her gardens was featured in “Let’s Take It Outside”, Lake Magazine, April 2006.