Focus on rebuilding landscapes with salt-tolerant native plants to mitigate future storm risks.
Arnie Rutkis
Landscape Designer
Arnie Rutkis takes an artist’s approach to landscaping, from the initial consultation to the finished work, with the goal of creating a garden masterpiece for Wilcox’s customers. As a practicing artist, having completed his MFA from the University of New Orleans, native plants have been a focus for over 18 years and allow him to take a fresh new perspective on landscape design. In addition, he has over 25 years of trade experience to help facilitate a smooth process from start to finish. He is GI BMP certified and has also completed the Certificate of Native Plant Studies at Birmingham Botanical Gardens which were all about native horticultural subjects. He also values community outreach and has lectured on a variety of topics relating to native plants across the southeast US, including the Central South Native Plant Conference and was part of the team that created a native plant growing operation for Ruffner Mountain Nature Center and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve . He continues to experiment with growing and propagating native plants. He learned masonry from his family and continues to enjoy hardscaping and its many applications. A longstanding member of FNPS and FANN-two organizations that promote the use and propagation of native Florida plants and designs-he focuses on native plants with curb appeal, grassy and wildflower meadows, coastal wildflowers and shrubs. He specializes in pollinator-specific designs, water features, rain gardening, landscape lighting and all-native designs.
Arnie Rutkis takes an artist’s approach to landscaping, from the initial consultation to the finished work, with the goal of creating a garden masterpiece for Wilcox’s customers. As a practicing artist, having completed his MFA from the University of New Orleans, native plants have been a focus for over 18 years and allow him to take a fresh new perspective on landscape design. In addition, he has over 25 years of trade experience to help facilitate a smooth process from start to finish. He is GI BMP certified and has also completed the Certificate of Native Plant Studies at Birmingham Botanical Gardens which were all about native horticultural subjects. He also values community outreach and has lectured on a variety of topics relating to native plants across the southeast US, including the Central South Native Plant Conference and was part of the team that created a native plant growing operation for Ruffner Mountain Nature Center and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve . He continues to experiment with growing and propagating native plants. He learned masonry from his family and continues to enjoy hardscaping and its many applications. A longstanding member of FNPS and FANN-two organizations that promote the use and propagation of native Florida plants and designs-he focuses on native plants with curb appeal, grassy and wildflower meadows, coastal wildflowers and shrubs. He specializes in pollinator-specific designs, water features, rain gardening, landscape lighting and all-native designs.
Recent Projects
The Driftwood neighborhood in St. Petersburg has long been known for its beautiful canopy trees like Pines and Oaks. However, it also wrestles with a host of invasive species, which can pose many problems for the average homeowner and their landscape. This project in particular involved a lot of invasive removal, but included a planting of incredible diversity across the entire property. From coastal zones close to the bayou to more inland gardens around the foundation, this yard is a prime example of the diversity that a native yard can achieve. Design, demolition and installation by Arnie Rutkis.
More About Arnie
Having completed both a BFA and MFA in sculpture allows a unique perspective infused with a creative approach while completing programs like Florida’s GI/BMP certification help to ground decisions in a practical horticultural basis. His artwork is also in many private collections.
With over 22 years of practical experience in the horticulture industry as a greenskeeper, installer, designer & plant propagator among other things his blend of science and art lives on in his gardens big and small.
For 10 years he worked with the BSC Southern Environmental Center in Birmingham AL designing and co-creating Eco-scape gardens with other artisans. These community gardens were used to beautify, educate and provide a sense of habitat restoration within the confines of the urban areas of greater Birmingham. Several helped preserve valuable habitat for Darters, small freshwater fish in imperiled waters others focused on art and rethinking public spaces.For more info refer to https://www.bsc.edu/sec/ecoscapes.html.
He has presented lectures focusing on native plants & edibles to various conferences including
- Florida Wildflower foundation,
- FANN,
- FNPS Pinellas chapter
- Master gardener meetings in Florida and Alabama
- Central South Native Plant Conferences.
Currently residing in St Petersburg Florida, he hails from Connecticut. Find his work on Facebook or Instagram @stonehut and his website www.stoneshovel.com.
Schedule Your Consultation Today!
We will provide the expert guidance to help you select the right plants to achieve your vision and at your level of care and upkeep so that your garden or landscape thrives.
The price for a residential consultation varies based on size of the property and scope of the project, but typically start at $105. Commercial consultations are quoted based on size of the property and scope of the project, and are given by the designer before the consultation. Our designers will inform you of all fees prior to the appointment. We look forward to delivering a new sustainable landscape design that fits your needs, timeline, and budget.