Rachel Blistein spent enough time taking orders from her boss. Now she makes her living taking orders from her clients.

The Ypsilanti resident started her own business, Veris Land Design, three years ago after working for other landscaping architecture firms for a number of years.

"I just felt I was ready to strike out on my own," Blistein says.

She has done the big-company gig, designing streetscapes and campuses, as well as similar-yet-smaller projects with smaller firms. Now she focuses on working for local residents, mainly on the appearance of their yard.

"Most of my clients are in Ann Arbor," Blistein says. "I'd like to see more Ypsilanti people take advantage of my business."

The landscape designer is already is working on one big project in Ypsilanti – Luna Lake. She is quarterbacking volunteer efforts to turn the stagnant swamp area of Prospect Park into a sustainable rain garden, decked out with native plants.

Source: Rachel Blistein, owner of Veris Land Design
Writer: Jon Zemke