In the Garden has been creating and maintaining lovely, inspiring gardens for more than a decade.  We love to work with clients who trust us to create and maintain wonderful, unique outdoor living spaces.  We are passionate about creating thriving, healthy gardens.

We have many combined years of expertise in horticulture and principles of site-specific design. We are approved by the MSU and OCC Horticulture programs to work with their interns.  We really enjoy working with passionate students and watching them grow along with our gardens.

The Team

Alison Mackinder is the owner of In The Garden. She has more than fifteen years experience in horticulture from soils to plants, from designing to planting and, of course, maintaining lovely gardens. Alison is a graduate of the Horticulture Certification Program at Oakland Community College. With her background of 15 years in appraising, Alison knows the benefits a well designed and maintained landscape adds to a home’s value. She combines this knowledge with her design and horticulture education to create environments that are beautiful, inspiring and serene.

Alison listens to her client’s needs, considers the problems and will suggest possible solutions that best suit their lifestyles and budgets. It is her absolute joy in gardening that compels her customers to refer her to their close friends, relatives and neighbors. Alison holds long-time memberships with the Perennial Plant Association, the American Horticulture Society, Arboriculture Society of Michigan and is a founding member of the Association of the Professional Gardeners.

Sarah Fahy is a British gardener who has been working in residential gardens for many years. She is a certified Master Gardener here in the U.S., and also a member of England’s Royal Horticulture Society in London. As our Head Gardener, Sarah is passionate about maintaining our clients’ gardens to the highest standards, and is constantly seeking ways to enhance their landscapes and bring fresh ideas to the gardens.

Don Molina, Exterior Gardens
When it’s time to get the site prepared, install the patio, walk and other landscaping, set the trees and plants in place and lay the mulch; we partner with Don and his skilled team at Exterior Gardens. Don and his crew always focus on maintaining the integrity of the environment in the landscape installation process.