About
I am a licensed, professional landscape architect and integrative conservation ecologist. Having earned an undergraduate degree in landscape architecture and practiced professionally for six years between NGOs and private practice before pursuing a Master in Science in Integrative Conservation and Sustainability at the Odum School of Ecology at the University of Georgia. I am the creator of the Atlanta Firefly Project, developed to collect data for research exploring how land management affects local abundances of the big dipper firefly. Prior to the Atlanta Firefly Project Kelly worked at Trees Atlanta as the Associate Director of Design and is skilled as a program and project manager. Kelly cares deeply about human experiences with nature, as well as conservation and sustainable design, and pulls from her interdisciplinary experiences to offer unique perspectives with the goal to benefit both people and nature.
Personal Interests
You can often find me growing native perennials or dahlias alongside my fruit trees, herbs, and vegetables or crafting a whimsical project, particularly around Halloween when my home is known as the “Halloween Garden.” When not outside in the garden, I am in the air practicing circus as an aerialist trained on rope, silks, sling, and trapeze. On a fair-weather weekend, you can find me slowly hiking while botanizing with my husband and dogs. When the opportunity arises, I enjoy traveling and have memories from over 25 countries. Some of my favorite international experiences are 1) listening to the sound of over ten million monarch butterfly wings flap in the mountains of Mexico, 2) exploring glow-worm caves in the South Island of New Zealand, 3) swimming through freshwater caves with nothing but a single lit candle in the Guatemala jungle, 4) salsa dancing to live music in Cuba and 5) cleaning fresh sardines with a friend’s grandmother in the Portuguese countryside, 6) climbing trees to pick (and eat) cherries while a farm hand in Champagne, France.
Garden
Halloween Garden
Contact
email : kelly.marie.ridenhour@gmail.com