Casey Boyter, Austin, TX

“Green roofs can help ameliorate the urban ‘heat island’ effect and other urban environmental issues, while also improving water quality and flood control.”

Casey owns Casey Boyter Gardens, a multidisciplinary landscape design/build firm that collaborates with clients to create beautiful outdoor living spaces that integrate seamlessly and respectfully with both architecture and the natural world. Green roofs are integral to her practice. Casey believes they provide effective answers to many of Austin’s environmental issues, so in 2006 she also founded Growers, a nonprofit green roof education and networking group for professionals and the general public. On her own bunkhouse, she created a 250-squarefoot intensive green roof, incorporating soil deeper than usual to support more diverse plantings, provide better insulation, and more drought resilience. This roof boasts waterwise cascading roses, perennials that attract wildlife, and even a tiny lawn. Casey worked on Austin Open Days with Patrick Kirwin, a former regional ambassador, and became our regional ambassador in 2019. Several gardens she designed have been featured in Austin Open Days.