Mike Garcia, founder of design and build firm Enviroscape LA, has transitioned from a chemical-intensive industry standard to a philosophy of partnering with nature. His journey began with an ornamental horticulture education focused on “chemicals, chemicals, chemicals—chemicals on everything,” but shifted after encountering organic methods in the 1980s.

“I got much better results, partnering with nature, not putting the chemicals on it,” Garcia says.

A pivotal realization about pollinators cemented his mission. “Human beings need to eat to have a future,” Garcia states, “and food only happens because of pollinators—the little things that run the world.” He critiques practices that harm them, recalling ads for genetically modified trees: “Bugs eat this, they die. But I realized—it doesn’t discriminate. It kills the bees, the pollinators, everything.”

Now an advocate for permaculture, Garcia believes landscapers have a critical role. “The true superheroes protect our food security. Pollinators depend on native plants to survive and reproduce. Planting a native garden isn’t just landscaping—it’s preservation.”

He finds clients receptive to both the ecological and practical benefits, especially in drought-prone California. Native plants drastically reduce water use and maintenance costs compared to traditional lawns.

Garcia also champions efficient technology, like advanced filtration systems for water features, which he studied in Germany. For him, a successful landscape provides a multi-sensory experience. “How do you soothe the soul?” he asks. “If you put in plants that attract pollinators… nothing calms you down more than to have a butterfly land on your shoulder.”

His holistic view connects landscaping to broader ecosystems, like preventing fertilizer runoff that harms oceans. “For me, landscaping isn’t just a job, it’s a mission,” Garcia concludes. “Landscapers who do it right are the real superheroes.”

Read the full interview in the latest edition of Pro Landscaper USA.