Ms. Spafford teaches 5 courses; advises approximately 40 undergraduate students; and serves as a chair on several graduate student (MHS) projects. Her book with colleague Helen Kraus, Rain Gardening in the South: Ecologically Designed Gardens for Drought, Deluge, and Everything in Between, has received several awards, including the Gold Medal from the Garden Writers Association (2010). When not in the classroom, she travels the Southeast lecturing on rain gardens, and works with communities and individuals in the design and installation of gardens. She has appeared on "In the Garden with Bryce Lane" multiple times, and UNC-TV's broadcast of Will Hooker's Permaculture Course (rain garden episode). She has been heard on several NPR-affiliate radio stations across the Southeast, and even a California-based garden radio show, which has listening audiences in Canada and Northern Europe. She is the recipient of numerous teaching awards, including the induction into the Academy of Outstanding Teachers at NC State University (2007). She is a Certified Rain Garden Professional and Adjunct Faculty Member in the Department of Landscape Architecture at North Carolina State University.

Teaching

HS342-Landscape Horticulture (3 credit hours, Fall and Spring)
HS 400-Residential Landscape Design (6 credit hours, every 3rd Summer)
HS 416/590-Principles of Ornamental Planting Design (4 credit hours, Fall and Spring)
HS 493-Senior Project Experience (3-6 credit hours, Fall and Spring, co-taught with Will Hooker and Julie Sherk)
LAR 582-Planting Design Workshop (3 credit hours, Summer Session II, co-taught with Julie Sherk)

Education

M.L.A., Landscape Architecture, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Environment/Behavior Track 1997 (Master's Thesis: "The Prison Landscape and the Captive Audience: Is Nature Necessity or Amenity?" First Place Winner, ASLA National Student Design Competition)
B.S., Ornamental Horticulture, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign 1991
H.S., International School, Bangkok, Thailand 1987

Interests

Landscape Design
Landscape Info (Leaflets / Turf)

Member

American Society of Horticultural Science
American Society of Landscape Architects
Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture
North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture

Publications (Scholarly Publications Repository)