Our Team
Classic Nursery is the sum of it's parts...and the product of quite an interesting history. Read on to learn more about the Classic team, how we began and some good things that we give back to the community today.
Meet the creative team. They're as talented as they are handsome.
Pick a team member above to learn more about them.
Alan Burke
Alan Burke is a graduate of the University of South Florida as well as the University of Florida. He has a background as a practicing landscape architect in Los Angeles and Seattle. Pacific Magazine, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, Northwest Home+Garden and American Home have featured his design work. A residential garden design that he prepared at the request of the editors of Sunset is displayed on the back cover of the first edition of The Sunset Western Landscaping Book. He developed the presentation "Eyes on Earth from Space" as a keynote address to the national ASLA convention in the late 1980's. He is a contributor to the books Residential Landscape Design and Landscape Design: A Practical Approach. Ed Hume has profiled Alan on his show Gardening in America. As a pioneer in digital imaging, Alan has been profiled by Evening newsmagazine and his design work has been presented on City TV in Toronto, a CBS television special and The ABC Home Show. He has also written for landscape industry publications and lectured at universities and trade organizations throughout the country.
Alan worked for a number of landscape architects and design/build firms before joining Classic Nursery in 1994. With his wife Julie, a former project manager for Starbucks, the Burkes purchased Classic Nursery & Landscape Company in 2001. With over two decades in King County and a staff of up to 50, Classic is a comprehensive landscape and nursery operation on 8 acres in Redmond. Classic performs all aspects of outdoor construction as well as landscape care, consulting, retail garden sales and environmental education.
Classic's outdoor projects have earned numerous Grand Awards and Awards of Distinction from the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals. As host to hundreds of schoolchildren viewing salmon runs at their Bear Creek facility annually, Classic was presented with two King County Green Globe awards for efforts in habitat restoration and wildlife education. Classic is typically installing up to a dozen projects concurrently on any given day as well as caring for a number of properties. The garden center on Bear Creek off of Avondale in Redmond is open daily and provides a colorful shopping environment and a natural alternative for homeowners seeking advice regarding horticultural problems.
Public installations include a number of exhibits created for Salmon Bay Communications and the Northwest Flower & Garden Show. The 2000 submittal, "The Millennium Railway", was the recipient of gold, silver and bronze medals, including a Peoples Choice award and ASLA award. Classic also created "Mirabilia", a medieval garden at the 2002 show entry on the Skywalk over Pike Street. The 2004 Garden Show exhibit marked the bicentennial of the expedition of the Corps of Discovery. Titled "Portage to the Pacific", the garden displayed a mix of ancient Columbia River tribal artifacts and memorabilia from Lewis & Clark's journey in a garden filled with native plants taken from Lewis' journals. Built by the Classic team in three days, this design received the Founder's cup as "Best of Show" in 2004 from a team of international judges. In 2006, Classic completed the Gold medal award-winning garden "La Palabra Pintada" in collaboration with New York Times bestselling author/artist Nick Bantock (Griffin & Sabine, The Artful Dodger).
Alan lives with his wife Julie and three children in Seattle.
Guy Feldman
Guy Feldman brings vast experience to planning and managing a wide variety of landscape construction projects. From small perennial gardens to complex estate projects, Guy can create an outdoor environment that your whole family will enjoy. Guy's clients appreciate his thorough knowledge of materials and consistent communication throughout the process.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
Landscape design and project management background: Designer/project manager, Classic Nursery & Landscape Company, Redmond, WA. Design/project management, Grey Barn Nursery, Redmond, WA, Designer, Land Expressions, Spokane, WA.
Awards: ASLA award for communications, 1996 WALP awards: Dobos, Hart & Smith residences, 5 gardens for NWFGS: Gold medal for outstanding structure NWFGS (1999), Bronze medal for "Mirabilia", a garden of Arthurian Legend (2002), Best of Show at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show for "Portage to the Pacific, a garden inspired by Lewis & Clark's Corps of Discovery" (2004), gold medal for "La Palabra Pintada" (The Painted Word), a garden created in collaboration with Nick Bantock (2006). (Silver medal for earlier NWFGS work). Selected for HGTV's Landscaper's Challenge, 2006.
Professional affiliations: ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects), WALP Washington Association of Landscape Professionals), WSNLA (Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association), MBA (Master Builders Association), King County Envirostars Program. Note: *through Classic Nursery & Landscape Company
Volunteer activities: Adult supervisor for youth group, donating designs for church activities Assistant coach for Jennings Elementary 7th & 8th grade football
Hobbies: Gardening, golf, weight lifting, music, water skiing.
"My design philosophy is to strive to exceed people's expectations. I always try to maximize usable space with good design and well-selected materials. My goal is to create spaces where my clients can entertain and garden, cut flowers, play and relax in a beautiful landscape setting". .
Cameron Roylance
Cameron Roylance has a unique perspective as a designer trained in landscape architecture that has also worked extensively in the field as a landscape foreman. This rare combination of creativity and construction savvy enables Cameron's clients to obtain practical solutions while choosing from a range of materials. Cameron's no-nonsense approach to resolving complex construction issues will ensure that your project is creatively conceived and assembled on budget.
Education: Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Washington State University, Pullman, WA Minor in fine arts (ceramics) Associate of arts, Columbia Basin College.
Landscape design and project management background: Designer/project manager, Classic Nursery & Landscape Company, Redmond, WA. Landscape foreman for Bonds Landscape, Mercer Island, WA, Self-employed by Roylance Landscapes Pasco, WA., Ceramic tile designer and installer for Seasons Custom Tile Kennewick WA., Landscape foreman for Copper Creek Landscapes, Spokane, WA, Landscape design, plant sales for Applegate Nursery, Burbank, WA, Landscape drafting and construction for Gamache Landscapes, Pasco, WA. Landscape and Grounds care for Washington State University Grounds Department, Pullman WA. Landscape Designer for City of Pullman Planning Department, Pullman WA. Landscape Laborer for Heritage Landscapes, Kennewick WA.
Awards: Two Gold medals including Best of Show at the Northwest Flower & Garden Show for "Portage to the Pacific", a garden inspired by the Corps of Discovery (2004), "La Palabra Pintada" (The Painted Word), a garden created in collaboration with Nick Bantock,(2006). Selected as renderer for HGTV's Landscaper's Challenge. 2006 "Merit Award" for Graphic Design Washington State ASLA 2003 Teacher's purchase Award "Metal Sculpture" Washington State University 1997 & 2003 "Honor Award" for Graphic Design Washington State ASLA 2001 Best of show "Sculpture" Columbia Basin College 1998 1st place "Ceramics" Columbia Basin College 1998 2nd place "Graphic Design" Columbia Basin College 1997
Professional affiliations:* ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects), WALP Washington Association of Landscape Professionals), WSNLA (Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association), MBA (Master Builders Association), King County Envirostars Program. Note: *through Classic Nursery & Landscape Company
Hobbies: Gardening, fly-fishing, sculpture, drawing, cooking, hiking, mountain biking
"My design philosophy is to beautify and take care of the environment and use it's characteristics to create unique places for people to enjoy using scent, color, texture, and pleasing forms."
Ken Hadland
Ken Hadland brings years of experience working as a landscape designer and as a construction supervisor. After attending the landscape architecture program at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo, Ken lived in the southwest before moving here to the Puget Sound region. With years of design and project management experience, Ken is able to show a range of options to solve most landscape problems.
Education: Landscape architectural program, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA
Landscape design and project management background: Designer/project manager, Classic Nursery & Landscape Company, Redmond, WA. Santa Rita Landscaping-Tucson, AZ, U.S Landscape, Landscape Services Inc., Valley Crest Inc., all Las Vegas, NV, Suburbia Gardens-Chesterfield, Mo. , Sahara and Frontier Hotels-Las Vegas, Nv., Hadland Nursery Inc.-Las Vegas, NV. Designed residential projects with Santa Rita Landscaping in Tucson, Az. Educated at Cal Poly includes many courses in Landscape Architecture and design. Designed homes and many larger projects, such as redesigns at the Frontier Hotel and Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas. Worked with Architects on installations such as the Bellagio hotel. Co-owner of Hadland Nursery, designing and installing many residential and small commercial landscapes. Extensive supervisory and foreman experience learning the nuts and bolts of the landscape industry. Work with Valley Crest Inc., at the Bellagio Hotel and the Red Rock Golf Course and Country Club including all phases of landscape and irrigation. Worked with Suburbia Gardens in the St. Louis area including installations at St. Louis University, MCI World Com as well as numerous residential installations. Twelve years of Hadland Nursery residential landscape installations. Manager of maintenance at U.S. Landscape. Executive Account Representative for Landscape Services Inc. Head Groundskeeper for over eight years.
Professional affiliations:* ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects), WALP Washington Association of Landscape Professionals), WSNLA (Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association), MBA (Master Builders Association), King County Envirostars Program. Note: *through Classic Nursery & Landscape Company
Tehia Whitby
Education: Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Degree with Minor in Urban Planning and Development, University of Washington, WA, Associate in Arts Degree, Bellevue Community College, WA.
Landscape design and project management background: Designer/project manager, Classic Nursery & Landscape Company, Redmond, Designer/supervisor, Environmental Care, Inc., San Diego, CA.
Awards: Four Grand National Awards for quality while with Environmental Care, Inc., Honor Student of Landscape Architecture, University of Washington.
Professional affiliations: *ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects)
Hobbies: Gardening, small construction projects, quilting and craft projects.
"My design philosophy is to integrate sustainable design while meeting the needs of the client. My goal is to create spaces in which to play, relax, and garden in a beautiful space.”
Kasey Breidenthal
Education: Bachelor of Science, Department of Agriculture. Horticulture major with an emphasis in Landscape Design. Minor in Spanish. Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.
Landscape design and horticultural background: Design support, Classic Nursery and Landscape Company, Redmond, WA. Design assistant, Teufel Landscape Inc, Woodinville, WA. Landscape maintenance technician, Exteriorscapes, Seattle, WA. Greenhouse and nursery sales staff, Johnson’s Garden Center, Wichita, KS.
Honors and Awards: Member of the Alpha Zeta horticultural honor society (2004). 3rd Place, Personnel Management at ALCA (2004), Beckman Scholarship (2003).
Professional Affiliations: ASLA (American Society of Landscape Architects), WALP Washington Association of Landscape Professionals), WSNLA (Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association), MBA (Master Builders Association), King County Envirostars Program. Note: *through Classic Nursery & Landscape Company
Hobbies: Gardening, Reading, Cooking, Traveling, and Learning Foreign Languages.
“Gardening is about enjoying the smell of things growing in the soil, getting dirty without feeling guilty, and generally taking the time to soak up a little peace and serenity.” ~Lindley Karstens
Rebecca Robinson
Rebecca, with over 15 years of experience in landscape design, installation and maintenance, brings imagination and practical problem-solving skills to her projects. Her work is highly personalized, reflecting the desires of her clients and addressing the challenges and potential of each site. A confessed “plant junkie”, her plant knowledge is extensive. With a background psychology and education, she is skilled in forging productive and comfortable working relationships with her clients.
Education: A.A. in Landscape Design and Ornamental Horticulture, Edmonds Community College; M.Ed. in Counseling Psychology, University of Washington; B.S. in Psychology, University of Washington.
Experience: Designer and project manager, Classic Nursery and Landscape Company; Principal and designer, Robinson Landscape Design; Designer and project manager, Dreamscapes, Inc.; Designer and project manager, Cliffords Quality Landscapes; Coordinator and Gardener of Healing Gardens, Cancer Lifeline; Sales and Consultation, Wells Medina Nursery; King County Master Gardener.
Professional Affiliations: Northwest Horticultural Society, Northwest Perennial Alliance, Plant Amnesty, ASLA* (American Society of Landscape Architects), WALP* Washington Association of Landscape Professionals), WSNLA* (Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association), MBA* (Master Builders Association), King County Envirostars Program*. Note: *through Classic Nursery & Landscape Company.
Hobbies: Gardening (of course), reading, hiking, traveling.