As a young girl growing up in Newfoundland, one of Jeannette Pope's favourite pastimes was gardening with her family, taking pride in the sustainable vegetable garden that quite literally put food on their table. She was inspired by the allure of her father's entrepreneurial lifestyle and made up her mind very early on that she was going to follow in his footsteps. Upon graduating from Memorial University in St. John's with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, Pope took her dreams and creativity westward, deciding to pursue business and landscape culture in Mississauga, Ontario.
One husband, two young sons and a world of experience later, Pope ended up back where it all began: the east coast of Canada. Challenged by the ever-changing industry--and climate--her passion and dedication has gracefully blossomed into Daisy Design, the landscape design firm, she now proudly owns and operates out of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Focusing on utilizing Canadian products, locally grown plants and eco-friendly options, Pope takes a conscious effort to incorporate her Canadian roots into each and every project. Leveraging local talent and expertise, she strives to surround herself with professionals who focus on unique landscape design concepts and exceptional customer service, both pillars of her own business beliefs and practices.
In recent years, Pope has taken home awards from Landscape Newfoundland and Labrador on two separate occasions, and her incredible designs are becoming an industry standard for originality. She has previously served as a judge and past Committee Chair Member for the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA), and is a former President for Landscape Newfoundland and Labrador (LNL), keeping her active and engaged in the landscaping community. This connection to her peers has given her the ability to travel throughout Canada, experiencing different lifestyles, facing new challenges and finding new inspirations every day.
While recognition and success are certainly appreciated, Pope's ultimate goal is to provide every customer with a unique, functional and sustainable design experience. She wakes up every day with unmatched enthusiasm and passion, and it is this ability to make a difference in the lives of people that continues to motivate her. Pope has seen her own life come full circle since her early days growing up on the East Coast, and with a beautiful family now in tow, she has truly shown us what it's like to work hard and stay true to your Canadian roots.
This article was published in the Fall/Winter 2016 edition of Outdoor Lifestyle and has been edited for accuracy.
