CHRIS H. OLSEN/OWNER/DESIGNER

chrisheadshotA force to be reckoned with Chris is not only an award-winning landscape architect , he is known for his risk taking designs that incorporate the unexpected and unusual as he has created some of the most recognized designs and locations in the state of Arkansas.  Chris H. Olsen has nearly 30 years of landscape and interior design experience.  The author of Five Seasons, Unique and Stylish Ideas for Your Home and Garden, he has been featured in numerous national publications, such as Better Homes and Gardens, Southern Living, and Fine Gardening, and is a popular speaker that focuses on creating design pizzazz and expressing your personality in everything you do.  He blogs on many lifestyle and landscape topics, gives presentations around the world, and his television segments, Today’s Home: Living the Good Life with Chris H. Olsen, are currently seen in more than 33 states.  He’s appeared in numerous Arkansas publications, such as At Home Arkansas, AY, Arkansas Life, Arkansas Gardener, and Arkansas Times, Soirée and Inviting Arkansas.  His home is featured prominently on all local landscape tours.

Landscape Designer Chris H. Olsen attended Oxford University in England, studying landscape architecture, landscape principles, and philosophy and also graduated from the University of San Diego with a degree in business. Chris has over 25 years of landscape architecture and interior design experience. In partnership with his father, Chris obtained a landscape maintenance company called Doramus and established the Horticare Landscape Company. After only ten years, the company grew into five divisions: chemical, maintenance, landscape, nursery, and irrigation. In 2003, Chris opened his second home and garden store called Botanica Gardens on Rebsamen Park Road. In September of 2005, Chris chose to pursue other endeavors in his life and sold Horticare.

Active in numerous charities, such as The American Heart Association, ASPCA, The American Diabetes Association, Hope Lodge, and Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Chris also opens his home and gardens throughout the year for private tours and parties.  As the face and spokesman for the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau, he spreads his enthusiasm for design and living life to its fullest everywhere he goes.  His ideas, like his life, are heartfelt and real, and can be seen in his boutique/nursery, Botanica Gardens, as well as any place where a little bit of personality infused into an otherwise ordinary project can make a very big and delightful difference.

LINDA SUE SANDERS

Administrator & CMO, Plantopia and Chris H. Olsen Enterprises

Linda Sue, a native Arkansan, has made a career out of turning visions and dreams into realities. With over 30 years of experience in the non-profit, corporate, government and healthcare sectors, her skills in marketing, communications and development have led to many success stories. She holds an MBA in Management and BFA in Acting Performance that make doing business fun! She is a nationally certified Volunteer Manager and has served on numerous non-profit Boards and committees. She loves finding solutions by thinking outside the box and is extremely detailed oriented. Through effective communication and outrageous customer service, she has never met a stranger. She makes coffee nervous with her energy, has an engaging sense of humor and can twirl fire batons!

WILLOW

Customer Distraction Specialist

Willow is a native of North Little Rock and has grown up at Plantopia. With advanced degrees in cuteness, chasing mice, batting things off the counters and stalking insects, Willow can be seen on patrol strolling through the greenhouses or upstairs helping Linda Sue with administrative duties.

LILY

Customer Distraction Specialist

Lily is also a native of North Little Rock and has made Plantopia her “furrever” home.    With a background in napping, pouncing, playing with toys and eating kitty treats, Lily can often be found helping Dana design and create arrangements or potting plants. . . or napping in the sun.