Matt left a successful career on Wall Street in 2008 to pursue his true passion for garden design as an artform. He holds a Master’s degree in Landscape Design from Columbia University, a BA from College of the Holy Cross (Economics, Studio Art), and had extensive coursework in Landscape Design and Horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden. He wrote his thesis paper at Columbia on the effects of inspired landscaping on the market values of suburban residential properties, graduated first in his class, and was awarded an academic scholarship. Over the years, the scope of Matt’s design process has grown to reflect his extensive plant knowledge, as well as his deep appreciation of natural biological systems. Many of his gardens reflect the idea that birds, pollinators and other wildlife greatly enhance how we experience our outdoor spaces. Matt specializes in “New Perennials” influenced and natives-intensive design layouts as well as large tree plantings and more traditional formal arrangements.
Matt designed his first garden professionally in 1992, and has worked as Lead Designer on projects from South Carolina to Nantucket, and out to Palm Springs, California. He designed his first garden professionally over 20 years ago and has been working exclusively in this industry since 2010. Prior to forming McMillan Garden Designs in 2020, he worked at several high-end nurseries in Fairfield County, including Sam Bridge in Greenwich. He has worked as Lead Designer on Projects ranging in scope from micro-beds and containers to over 600 acres. He interned for Michael Van Valkenberg on the design and horticultural construction of the brand new Brooklyn Bridge Park, and he considers Mike, Piet Oudolf, and the etymologists E.O. Wilson and Douglas Talamy among his greatest modern influences. His designs have been selected for tours by The Garden Conservancy, the Greenwich Botanical Center, Hotulus, and other garden societies. He has been an invited speaker at the New York Botanical Garden, the Untermeyer Conservancy, and NPR radio programs.
Email info@mcmillangardendesigns.com to inquire about speaking engagements.