Get to Know the Visionary Behind Natural Gardens Consulting.
From Roots to Blooms: Carole’s Journey
As the Principal and CEO of Natural Gardens, Carole Edwards is passionate about garden design and helping you create your dream outdoor space. Whether you have a sprawling estate or a cozy garden, Carole takes a personalized, hands-on approach to landscape consulting, transforming and nurturing your property. She guides you in selecting the perfect plants, develops a custom improvement plan tailored just for you, and shares expert care tips to ensure your garden thrives for years to come.
Superpowers in the Garden
Carole Kraft Edwards is a renowned landscape consulting expert and garden design consultant with over 45 years of experience in outdoor space transformation across distinguished estates throughout Northern California. Based in Santa Cruz, she launched her career in 1980 and became one of the first women in her field to earn both a landscape contractor’s license and a certified arborist credential by 1985.
The WOW Factor: My Specialty
Carole's work in garden design has been featured in respected publications such as Sunset Magazine, Architectural Digest, Veranda, Gentry Magazine, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Driven by an early passion for outdoor space transformation, Carole built a thriving landscape consulting practice from modest beginnings, guided by mentorship from industry luminaries including Christopher Lloyd, Fergus Garrett, John Brookes, James Van Sweden, and Barrie Coats. She has since designed, planted, and maintained hundreds of notable gardens across the Bay Area, with a portfolio ranging from lush English perennial borders to striking drought-tolerant landscapes.
Signature Landscape Design Consultant
Shop. Dream. Dig In. Unlock Your Garden’s Potential
Carole doesn’t just design gardens—she sparks your imagination and brings it to life with plants that thrive in your unique space.
Her favorite part? Taking you on a personalized plant shopping adventure—a joyful treasure hunt through blooms and greenery until you find that perfect plant. With expert knowledge and an eye for beauty, she guides you toward choices that inspire your heart and flourish in your garden.
For Carole, this isn’t work—it’s pure passion. Every stroll, sketch, and conversation fuels her mission to create a garden you’ll love for years.
Expert Garden Coaching & Problem Solving
Carole specializes in transforming garden challenges into opportunities for growth and beauty. Whether it’s tackling patchy plants, stubborn weeds, persistent pests, or adapting to changing seasons and evolving garden needs, she approaches each project with creativity, expertise, and a problem-solver’s mindset.
Through tailored coaching and hands-on guidance, Carole equips her clients with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make the most of their gardens. From restoring struggling landscapes to reimagining entire spaces, she delivers practical, sustainable solutions that not only solve immediate issues but also set the stage for long-term success.
Boosting Property Value with Stunning Gardens
More than just aesthetic appeal, Carole garden designs are strategic investments in your home’s value and lifestyle. She crafts captivating outdoor environments that enhance curb appeal, increase market worth, and offer enduring beauty and enjoyment.
Contact Carole
Testimonials
Word on the Vine
"The quality of plant mixes, maintenance procedures, and the consistently excellent health and appearance of her clients' gardens make it easy to identify a Carole Kraft Edwards garden immediately."
-Homeowner, Atherton
From Drab to Fab: My Yard’s Glow-Up!
"I have known Carole and her work since 1980. Her knowledge and business have grown rapidly, to the point that she is now considered the premier garden designer and maintenance company for the Palo Alto, Woodside, and Atherton area."
-From a longtime valued client, Woodside
Recognition from: The Gamble Gardens Historical Home and Gardens
"Carol Kraft Edwards is a professional horticultural consultant and landscape contractor who has successfully run Natural Gardens, Inc. for the past forty years. She specializes in the design, renovation, and maintenance of perennial borders, as well as estate garden management."
-Gamble Gardens
Artistry Among Bay Area’s Legendary Gardens
"Her knowledge, skills, and practices are legendary in the Bay Area. Carol relishes the challenge of redesigning and maintaining older gardens."
-Gamble Gardnes
From Weeds to WOW!”
"Carol is emphatic about letting plants do their own thing—and they thrive, thanks to her careful plant selection, expert layout, and skillful maintenance. Her knowledge, skills, and practices are legendary throughout the Bay Area."
-Home and Gardens
Timeless Elegance: A Garden Renovation
"Carol knew exactly what to do in my backyard to enhance both the patio and the view. The garden she created to surround my patio was simply outstanding. Her plant choices were superb, and her attention to detail was exceptional. Ongoing follow-up with her has been easy and enjoyable. We have formed a friendship for life."
-K.E., Saratoga
Awards & Accolades
everyday sanctuary."
—Carole Kraft Edwards, as quoted in
the San Francisco Examiner
—Carole Kraft, as quoted in the San Francisco Examiner