Chris H. Olsen – Owner/Master Designer

Landscape Designer Chris H. Olsen attended Oxford University in England, studying landscape architecture, landscape principals, and philosophy and also graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in business. Chris has over 25 years of landscape architecture and interior design experience. In partnership with his father, Chris obtained a landscape maintenance company called Doramus and established the Horticare Landscape Company. After only ten years, the company grew into five divisions: chemical, maintenance, landscape, nursery, and irrigation. In 2003, Chris opened his second home and garden store called Botanica Gardens on Rebsamen Park Road. In September of 2005, Chris chose to pursue other endeavors in his life and sold Horticare.

Chris is now working solely at Botanica and Plantopia and working as the master designer. Chris has been active in the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation—designing and installing the landscape for the “Build for a Cure” Projects in Little Rock and the first “Build for a Cure” house in the United States. In addition, he is active in the Multiple Sclerosis Society, American Heart Association, Wildwood of Performing Arts, the Hope Foundation, Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, and the Arkansas Lung Association – just to name a few. Chris’ design works have been featured in several of the Symphony Design Houses, At Home in Arkansas, The Arkansas Times, AY Magazine, Health and Living, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Real Living Magazine, Soirée, Inviting Arkansas, the Abode Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, and several times in Better Homes and Gardens. Chris is a regular contributing writer for the Arkansas Gardener Magazine and At Home Arkansas. He writes with flair, wit and a bit of humor. He has also written for the Fine Gardening Magazine. Chris was also featured in Arkansas Business 40 fewer than 40, representing businesspeople that are on the move in their respective fields.

Chris’s exceptional designs were the recipient of the People’s Choice Award and numerous other honors at the Arkansas Garden Show for over 10 years running. Outstanding use of color is a trademark of Chris’ talents. Chris dares to be different with his unique designs. He has been associated with KTHV Channel 11, where he is featured on the morning, noon, and evening home and garden segments in the Weather Garden. He has been a part of this team for over 12 years. Chris has his own weekly segments called “Today’s Home” with Chris H. Olsen. Never sitting still, Chris also appears in “Arkansas Living: Holiday Style with Chris H. Olsen”. Prior to his work at Channel 11, Chris was featured on Arkansas View on KKYK WB22. Besides just TV, Chris has years experience on radio as well.

You can keep up with Chris on his website, chrisholsen.com, his monthly blog in At Home Magazine as well as his weekly appearances on the THV-11 Morning Show, just recently named #1 every Wednesday morning. Chris currently speaks nationally – and his segments called “Today’s Home with Chris H Olsen” are featured on THV-11 every Friday and Saturday and in over 158 nationally syndicated markets. His book called “Five Seasons with Chris H Olsen” was released in December of 2011. You can order the book today!

Linda Sue Sanders – CMO

Phone: 501.920.9999
Email: lindasueplantopia@yahoo.com

Linda Sue Sanders, a native Arkansan, has made a career out of helping to turn visions and dreams into realities. With over 30 years of experience in the non-profit, corporate, government and healthcare sectors, her skills in marketing, communications and development have led to many success stories. She holds an MBA in Management and BFA in Acting Performance that make doing business fun! She is a nationally certified Volunteer Manager and has served on numerous non-profit Boards and committees. She loves finding solutions by thinking outside the box and is extremely detailed oriented.

Through effective communication and outrageous customer service, she has never met a stranger. She makes coffee nervous with her energy, has an engaging sense of humor and can twirl fire batons!

Meredith Sharpe: Manager and Master Merchandiser

Meredith grew up in Northeast Arkansas and then attended Lee University in Cleveland, TN where she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. Before moving back to Arkansas and working at Botanica Gardens, she lived in Knoxville, TN and yes, she is a TN VOLS Fan. Her hobbies are shopping, traveling, cleaning, organization, and of course gardening. Meredith is very family oriented and has two beautiful daughters, Maddie and Sophia. Meredith loves to make people laugh, corny jokes and instigating crazy shenanigans with her co-workers. She is very dedicated to the many jobs she has been entrusted to manage at Botanica. A managers job truly entails so many “hats” and Meredith wears them all proudly and willingly. If you need a laugh or need something done, she’s your go to person!

Sherri Booe: Houseplant Specialist / Garden Center Yard Manager

Sherri was born in Little Rock and grew up in North Little Rock, and has lived her entire adult life in the Hillcrest neighborhood. She has worked in the horticultural field continuously since, in 1974, she was briefly employed by the now-legendary Joe Hocott at the establishment which still bears his name. Her specialties are indoor plant care and maintenance, design in its various forms, and the cultivation of cordial customer relations. She has an extensive and well-rounded knowledge of annuals, perennials, and shrubs, and takes particular pleasure in creating beautiful potted gardens, each with its own unique composition.

Sherri enjoys cooking, reading good books, and watching the timeless and ageless movies of the thirties and forties, and she and her musician husband of many years like to spend lots of time outdoors, much of it on their bicycles. She loves all animals, especially cats, and as a result of this feline affinity resides in a household ruled by the spirit of a small, black, furry monarch who, when in the mood, answers to the name “Stella.”

Allen Lewis: All Purpose Guy

Allen was and raised in North Little Rock, AR in Pulaski County. Allen loves sports and enjoys playing basketball, football, and baseball. He has nine kids and prior to becoming part of the team at Botanica Gardens he was a full-time dishwasher as well as a delivery driver. Allen’s creativity and perspective on many different outlooks of life is what makes him unique, funny, and loveable.

Tammy Hales: Indoor Extraordinaire

Houseplant expert who can tell you the do’s and don’ts on how to grow houseplants indoors with great success.  Tammy is super creative if you need any container planted with the right combination of interior plants whether live or silk.  Looking for the perfect gift, then Tammy will show you what Botanica Gardens has to put a smile on anyone’s face.    Always smiling….Tammy is ready for your visit.

Pat Isbell: Office Assistant

Pat was born and raised in North Little Rock, Arkansas and eventually settled in the Hillcrest area of Little Rock. With an extensive background in business, Pat worked at AT&T for about 27 years before eventually finding Botanica Gardens after experiencing retirement boredom. She is now retired again but works one day a week here at Botanica.  Pat is always working in her yard and garden and loves to socialize, visit, and chat with friends.

Federico Martinez: Irrigation, Landscape and Lighting Expert

Federico is one hard worker. He is an on the job foreman who loves to work along side his landscape crew. He is extremely knowledgeable in irrigation and equally in lighting. Federico runs the crew that does all this and so much more. He also installs most of our hardscapes such as retaining walls, patios, and stone or brick columns and fencing. Extremely conscientious, Federico is a major asset to the Botanica’s landscape team.

Lisa Moody

Lisa totally client oriented and super knowledgeable when it comes to plants and so much more at BG. She is also equally wonderful in the back office making sure that Chris stays in line…:). Any questions with billing or receiving then Lisa is your gal.

Emily Rankin

Full of fire and always busy, Emily manages the outside yard here at BG. She is so talented with our outdoor displays and makes sure that our tables are full of vibrant plants that will make your garden and/or containers shine with color and texture. As a Master Gardener, she is full of plant knowledge and will answer any plant question. Emily is the perfect tour guide and will show you what plants and garden accessories will make your neighbors jealous. According to Chris H. Olsen. Jealousy can be a virtue!

Baldwin Saer

Baldwin is one of Botanica Gardens’ lead landscape designers. His approach to landscape design is all about beauty but function as well. From residential to commercial landscapes, Baldwin is Chris’ right hand design person. The both of them together have helped make Arkansas properties shine with beauty. If you are looking for a fresh take on landscape design then Baldwin is your person.