Tracie McIntyre

Tracie McIntyre has been practicing landscape design since 1993. She is a graduate of the Landscape Design and Horticulture program at the University of Guelph and also studied at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, bringing a strong foundation in both plants and visual composition to her work.

Over the years, Tracie has designed gardens in a variety of settings—from urban lots in Vancouver and Victoria to coastal properties in the Gulf Islands and Salt Spring Island. Her work reflects a deep sensitivity to place, an artistic eye, and a commitment to creating landscapes that are both beautiful and meaningful.

Paul Grandin

A graduate of the Niagra Parks School of Horticulture and co-founder of Grandin & McIntyre Landscape Design, Paul has been involved in Commercial and Residential Landscape Construction since 1976. He specializes in site planning, site supervision and natural water feature design and supervision.

Salt Spring Island

In 2009, we began a deeply personal project: the creation of our own country garden on Salt Spring Island. It was the realization of a lifelong dream to shape a rural landscape in a way that reflects both place and spirit.

We’ve been gradually transforming a 10-acre site nestled within Salt Spring’s coastal forest. While friends and family often remark that we’re moving quickly, the pace feels anything but fast compared to urban projects. Rural landscapes invite a slower rhythm— one that’s more about listening and less about controlling.

The true magic has been in the shift of perception: the transformation of the eye that beholds beauty. Working within the vast scale and natural power of the coastal British Columbia landscape is humbling. And yet, it has deepened our relationship with nature, refreshed our sense of balance, and continually renewed our creativity.

Now, more than 15 years later, we are still here—growing alongside the garden as it matures. This evolving space continues to teach us about time, change, and the quiet joy of cultivating something with care.