The Smiling Gardens Team

Tracy and her team of experienced gardeners have been providing high quality garden maintenance and design services to Portland metro residents and businesses since 2005.

Tracy Osborn

Designer & Horticulturist

Tracy Osborn is a garden designer & horticulturist, and the owner of Smiling Gardens. She enjoys plants, people, and working outdoors in the landscape.

After growing up in Indiana and earning her BA from DePauw University in Greencastle, Tracy moved to the Pacific Northwest. Drawn here by its abundant natural beauty and by the horticultural opportunities, the Pacific Northwest has been her home for 30 years. Tracy gained her expertise as a horticulturist over years working at botanical gardens, including The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden (Federal Way, Washington) where she worked for eleven years. She also worked at The Oregon Garden (Silverton, Oregon) managing staff, volunteers, and plants.

Tracy has been designing gardens for over ten years. Her vast knowledge of plants and years of experience in the field lend special insight to the creation of gardens that thrive in our climate.

Tracy is a member of the following organizations:

The Team

Dana Waelde

Horticulture Manager/Gardener

Dana’s journey into gardening began with her background in organic farming, which laid the foundation for her deep connection to plants. She deepened her plant knowledge during a Horticulture Internship at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA. Since relocating to Portland in 2016 she has expanded her skills, earning certifications in Permaculture Design, Herbalism, and Plant-Based Nutrition. She continues to seek out new learning opportunities to hone her skills and knowledge. Nearly a decade into her work with Smiling Gardens, Dana now leads all field operations, bringing both experience and passion to her role. Deeply committed to sustainable living, she can often be found at farmers markets or local food events, if not out connecting with the natural world.

Mahalah Shafer

Supervisor/Gardener

Mahalah is passionate about horticulture and approaches her work with curiosity and care. She got her start working at a garden center and nursery in California, where she built a strong foundation in plant knowledge and soil health. She has worked on both urban and rural farms and is especially interested in regenerative agriculture and permaculture principles. Having worked with Smiling Gardens for the past five years, Mahalah appreciates the unique rhythm of PNW gardens and the way they change through the seasons. In her role as Supervisor, she sees each client’s garden as a personal and meaningful space that deserves thoughtful, individualized attention. Mahalah enjoys traveling, foraging mushrooms, and growing food.

Lily

Gardener

Lily was raised in an environment that fostered her interest in our natural world. She was fortunate enough to attend a Montessori school that emphasized permaculture and facilitated regular, hands-on interaction with various ecosystems. Her experience ranges from cataloging plants in The Children's Eternal Rainforest of Costa Rica to working as a farmhand on Orcas Island. Lily enjoys learning about the local flora and fungi, and has been expanding her knowledge by hiking and foraging.