by Valerie Hebert
If you were fortunate to work with landscape architect Greg Hebert during his successful residential landscape architecture career, you may have heard him talk about the following:
“There is a way to approach the landscape with thoughtful intentions, paying attention to the history of the place, while listening to the client’s desires for their space. Look for clues to the way they live their lives in the design of their home and interior spaces.”
“Even though you may not always agree with their desires, work with them and be open to the possibilities of educating them about local plants that thrive in the San Diego environment, talk about the architectural style of the place, intrigue them with history of their location. In turn, you will probably learn a lot from them, too!”
At the peak of his career, ASLA-SD mourns the passing of Gregory James Hebert, ASLA. Greg passed away peacefully on January 21, 2022, at the age of 62, following a 7.5-month battle with glioblastoma stage-4 brain cancer. He is survived by his sons Andrew and Kyle, and his partner, collaborator, inspiration, and wife of 30 years, Valerie.
Greg earned a BA in Environmental Conservation and a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of Colorado. He came to San Diego in 1987 and practiced with DeWeese Burton Landscape Architects, working on the Rancho Valencia resort and Spa and other notable projects. The residences at Rancho Valencia resort best exemplify his brand. In 1992 he established his own firm, Greg Hebert Landscape Architect. Over the years he developed several specialties: plant knowledge and plant palette design; historic landscape restoration; and excelled at and especially enjoyed hardscape design.
Relocating in his mid-20s from Colorado after owning a design/build business, he had to learn a whole new California plant palette; desert plants were very exciting to him. While learning all about new horticultural specimens, Greg would consider the plant, its texture, the level of drought tolerance, its flower shape and colors, how the flowers’ color will complement the other plants around the rest of the home and environment. He considered size and scale and how they would add a sculptural element to the garden.
He loved the challenges of pulling a myriad of plants together and how they would grow to create a sort of artist’s palette in the garden. Favorite nurseries in San Diego include Walter Anderson Nursery and Rancho Soledad Nursery. Day trips visiting nurseries in Fallbrook, Los Angeles county and beyond were not uncommon.
Greg had a wonderful design eye for both inside and outside the home and thoroughly enjoyed designing exterior hardscape environments to offer the best outdoor living experience San Diego climate is famous for. He was a big believer in enjoying a cup of coffee outside each morning and a glass of wine on the patio in the afternoon.
Even though he preferred to keep a low profile, his work was featured in a number of magazines and newspapers, highlighting numerous awards. As time went by, he became well known for his craft, and his special niche of historic preservation. Restoring historic gardens and homes, inside and out, was his passion.
With his education in environmental design, he thoroughly researched historical homes and historical elements in their landscape. He constantly studied books on architecture and exterior design, and visited gardens designed by master landscape architects wherever his travels would take him. He enjoyed local gardens planted by Kate Sessions, and when the opportunity arose to restore a Kate Sessions landscape project, he stayed consistent with the original elements and structure of the garden as closely as possible to retain the original character intended within the landscaping.
One of Greg’s greatest strengths is that he would really listen to people in a kind and respectful manner. Even when he didn’t readily agree with the design ideas of a client, he would put together a set of design options, and through the design process he would build trust and eventually they would come together with a united vision for their project.
This collaborative project-building process is one that made Greg stand out in the residential field. He always considered his clients wishes and gently offered guidance to mutually create a design that they both would be pleased with. He was most excited when he was working with clients who had a sense of artistic design because it showed him that they had an appreciation for beauty.
He regularly donated his skills to causes he was passionate about including Generate Hope’s historic garden renovation in Coronado, St. Thomas Moore Catholic Church in Oceanside, and Church of the Nativity, Valerie’s and Greg’s home church in North County during the time they lived there.
People came from all walks of his life to attend Greg’s memorial mass at Church of the Nativity and the following celebration of life: lifelong friends and family, clients, fellow landscape architects and work contemporaries from all the different landscape trades.
Everybody spoke of how kind and generous of spirit he was to everyone, he treated everyone fairly. A special landscape installer who Greg had befriended and who worked for Greg and Valerie on their property said to Valerie, “Greg was so kind. He speaks to us (the installation crew) the same as he speaks to the owner of the property.”
Several of Greg’s clients said, “Greg will always live on in our beautiful garden he designed. His spirit will always be with us.”
“Greg was an amazing, sweet, caring man. He was lovely with everybody. He had a wonderful life and he did such good work during his time here. His work was his passion, sa joie de vivre.”
