Kelley Clark Art

07/31/2026

Busy summer with lots of help, lots of mess and tons of joy 🌻
Oak + Echo
Kelley Clark Kristen Hettinga

07/28/2026

Native Notes | Clethra alnifolia (Summersweet) 🌿
There are plants that look beautiful...and then there are plants that make you feel something.
For us, Clethra alnifolia is one of those plants. In midsummer, just as many spring-flowering shrubs have finished their show, clethra begins to bloom. Its fragrant white flower spikes fill the garden with a sweet scent that stops you in your tracks, while bees, butterflies, and countless other pollinators gather around its nectar-rich blooms. But what we love most isn't just the fragrance. It's what clethra teaches us about good garden design.
Rather than asking every plant to do everything, we let each one have a purpose.
🌿 Clethra brings fragrance, midsummer bloom, and pollinator value.
🌸 Bee balm adds bold color, vertical height, and supports native bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
🌺 Rhododendron anchors the composition with evergreen structure, spring flowers, and broad-leaved texture.
Each plant contributes something different. Together, they create a garden that changes with the seasons instead of peaking all at once.
That's one of the principles we return to again and again at Oak + Echo:
Design isn't about collecting beautiful plants. It's about composing a landscape where every plant has a role to play.
What's one plant in your garden that you look forward to every year?
—
🌿 Native Notes is an ongoing series where we share the plants we return to again and again—and, more importantly, why we choose them.

07/24/2026

A little garden surprise…eggplants are flowering!! 💜🪻🍆🌱
While we often think of veggie gardens as productive spaces, the magic is in the in-between moments - flowering and buzzing pollinators signal something delicious is coming!!

07/02/2026

For years, this family struggled with the south side of their home. Moisture collected after every rain, grass refused to grow, and the space became one they simply avoided.

Instead of fighting the site, we embraced it.

A simple garden path, a new focal point, and a palette of shade- and moisture-loving plants transformed this forgotten side yard into a cozy sanctuary—one that invites you to slow down, wander, and actually enjoy the space.

One of the most overlooked elements in garden design is the path.

Paths do far more than connect Point A to Point B. They shape how we experience a landscape. They can encourage exploration, create moments of pause, reveal new perspectives, or simply make a space feel welcoming. By guiding movement across the ground plane, they invite us to notice the layers above us—the texture of foliage, the movement of grasses, the canopy of trees, and the changing light throughout the day.

Sometimes the most meaningful transformation isn’t creating something grand—it’s giving a family a part of their yard back.


Oak + Echo

06/30/2026

06/30/2026

Concept drawings for a Midwestern Mid-Century Modern oasis, inspired by the iconic landscapes of California—but thoughtfully adapted for life in the Midwest.

We’re recreating the clean architectural forms and sculptural planting style using a hardy, climate-appropriate palette. Think yucca, eastern prickly pear cactus, stonecrop, native grasses, and euphorbia, arranged in bold, repeating patterns that keep the design feeling intentional, tidy, and timeless.

Movement comes from the graceful sway of native grasses, while crisp spikes of white speedwell and salvia add seasonal rhythm and color without overwhelming the simplicity of the design.

A modern landscape doesn’t have to sacrifice resilience. With the right plants, you can capture the spirit of Palm Springs while creating a garden that’s built to thrive in Illinois.

Stay tuned—we break ground this July, and we can’t wait to share the transformation.