About Us Our Staff

Dennis Dykstra, founding partner and owner

Dennis is one of three founding partners at Iowa City Landscaping and Garden Center. An avid outdoorsman, he has been in the nursery business for more than 35 years. If you ask the staff about Dennis they will promptly tell you that he is a walking encyclopedia of information when it comes to identifying plants. And while Dennis is well versed in all varieties of annuals and perennials he makes no bones about the fact that it’s the plants, trees, and shrubs that hold a special place in his heart. Whether he is hunting, fishing or camping, he is always aware of the plants and trees around him. When he is not helping to identify plants in the store nursery, Dennis oversees the retail area and is known for his grilling prowess at company-wide potlucks. Dennis is married to Lorna Dykstra; and they have a son and a daughter. Contact Dennis at 337-8351.

Dennis’ Favorite: Blackhaw Viburnum, also known as Viburnum prunifolium

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Linda Dykstra, founding partner and owner

After 25 years as a founding partner, Linda still thrives on seeing the new varieties of plants that emerge each spring. Linda grew up the oldest of five children on a farm in Northwest Iowa where planting the garden was a family event. She fondly recalls using string lines to keep the planting rows straight—one of many early moments in the garden that sparked her lifelong love for growing things. Linda’s husband, Ed, and their three daughters moved to Iowa City in 1978, and five years later Linda and Ed’s two brothers started the family gardening business. Linda, whose current responsibilities include human resource and finance, says, “I am grateful for the loyal following of customers throughout the years. And I enjoy working with the dedicated people that are a part of our staff.” Contact Linda at 337-8351.

Linda’s Favorite: Bur Oak, also known as Quercus macrocarpa

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Paul Dykstra, founding partner and owner

Paul brings a unique perspective to the landscaping business. Before helping to found the family business, he worked in commercial construction where for several years he built bridges. Now as an owner he helps to oversee all facets of the business, including providing commercial estimating and community outreach services. But deep down Paul loves to operate big equipment and to work with big trees. That’s why he’s the happiest when he is involved in a large commercial project. Paul, who is known to enjoy a good practical joke, also loves to play golf and is a great mentor to his nephews and grand nephews in the great outdoors. They love hanging out at Uncle Paul’s place. Contact Paul at (319) 688-3022 x 104.

Paul’s Favorite: European Larch, also known as Larix decidua

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Landscaping Design Staff

Melanie Schweitzer APLD, landscape designer

While studying Design and German at the University of Iowa, Melanie stumbled into the Horticulture department at Kirkwood Community College and a love affair was born. She began her career at ICL as an intern in 1986 and has been around ever since. Melanie’s early years were spent managing the Garden Center; she has since moved into a position as Landscape Designer. She enjoys all aspects of design and construction, providing design and estimates to both our residential and commercial clients. An area of special interest is swimming pool and paving design. Mel serves on the Advisory Board at Kirkwood Community College and has been a certified member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers for many years. Melanie and her husband farm in Washington county where their spare time is spent maintaining a turn of the century farmhouse and several acres of gardens. Contact Melanie at (319) 688-3022 x 105.

Melanie’s Favorite: Russian Sage, also known as Perovskia atriplicifolia

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Andy Swartzentruber, landscape designer

Andy’s love for landscaping began in the sunny south trimming palm trees and maintaining large public properties for a landscaping company in Sarasota Florida. After moving back home to Iowa, he earned a degree in horticulture from Kirkwood Community College. In 2002 he began working for Iowa City Landscaping assisting customers at the garden center and installing plant material. Andy has been providing our residential clients with design services since 2004 and is a member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers. He specializes in planting design and patio construction projects. He enjoys working with natural stone products, designing low maintenance gardens, and combining plant material and hardscaping to create interesting outdoor living spaces. Call Andy at (319) 688-3022 x 106.

Andy’s Favorite: Bur Oak, also known as Quercus macrocarpa

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Camille Dykstra, landscape services

Camille grew up in Iowa City immersed in her family’s landscape and gardening business. She jokingly says that she loved to mow the lawn as a teenager because it was one of the few jobs that paid at her house. She attended Central College in Pella, Iowa where she graduated with degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies. After college, she went to work for the family business. Currently, she works at the farm on Herbert Hoover Highway, a space dedicated to Iowa City Landscaping and Garden Center’s landscape and design services. She orders plant material for landscaping projects, grows plant material from bare root stock, and maintains the plant material at the farm. Camille enjoys working with plants and being outdoors She also loves the perk of bringing her dogs Nikka and Bruce to work with her. Contact Camille at: 688-3022.

Camille’s Favorite: The White Oak, also known as Quercus alba

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John Wilkins, project manager

John began his career at Iowa City Landscaping more than 20 years ago as an installation team member and over time became a team supervisor and eventually project manager. In this role, John ensures the company’s five installation teams run smoothly. John has a degree from Kirkwood Community College in parks and recreation. He loves plants and enjoys transforming spaces into places families can use and enjoy. John has a wife, Sarah, and three sons.

John’s Favorite: Shagbark Hickory, also known as Carya ovata

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Landscaping Design and Installation Teams




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Our Garden Center Staff

Chuck Porto, retail manager

Chuck’s horticultural roots began during his childhood in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he helped his family cultivate a 1.5-acre garden, ultimately selling the vegetables out of the family’s garage as well as to local restaurants. Chuck received a B.S. in biology from the University of Iowa in 1987. Today he is an Iowa Certified Nursery Professional and Past President of the Iowa Nursery and Landscaping Association. Besides his family business, Chuck has worked in the Greenhouse and Floral industry, taught a biology class at the University of Iowa, been the retail manager at ICLGC since 1991, and teaches Integrated Pest Management at Kirkwood Community College. Chuck also has been the host of the KXIC Lawn and Garden Show since 2003. In 2005, he was the “local expert” in a book titled Best Garden Plants for Iowa from Lone Pine Publishing. Chuck has a particular interest in: vegetable gardening (tomatoes, heirloom peppers and eggplant); adding all-season interest to the landscape; and incorporating edible plants into the landscape. Chuck lives in West Branch with his wife Mary, and is a proud father of Amanda and grandfather of Aiden and Owen. Contact Chuck at 337-8351.

Chuck’s Favorites: Unusual shrubs and ornamental trees such as hornbeam (Carpinus species), katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum), and viburnum

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Dena Davis, retail store manager

Dena has a talent and a passion for creating a warm and inviting space in the gift shop, a place she fills with an inspiring blend of contemporary and traditional lawn and garden gifts and supplies. Dena grew up on a horse farm in southeast Iowa, and earned her B.S. degree in horticulture from Iowa State University. She joined ICLGC in 1995, and earned her Iowa Nursery and Landscape Association certification in 2001. Her horticulture and farming background give her a unique ability to provide customers with high-quality gardening supplies, tropical plants, and a distinctive collection of gift and holiday items. Today, Dena and her husband and their three children live on an acreage that is part of her grandparent’s original Century Farm. Her favorite plants to add to her own landscape are unusual conifers, perennials, and ornamental trees. Contact Dena at 337-8351.

Dena’s Favorite: Cucumbertree Magnolia/Yellow Magnolia, also known as
Magnolia acuminata

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Laura Schmitz, nursery manager

Laura’s curiosity for gardening emerged at an early age in her grandmother’s and mother’s gardens. Her deep love of gardening spurred her to earn a B.S. degree in horticulture at Iowa State University. While at ISU she worked in the greenhouse learning about plant care and production, and one summer she interned at Disney World in Florida. Disney gave her first-hand experience in keeping plants looking their best even in conditions that are not always ideal. Laura then went to work for Bailey Nurseries in St. Paul, Minn., a fourth-generation family-owned nursery. Laura spent five years in the inventory control department. Since 2000, Laura has been at ICLGC. Her gardening interests include pruning and trimming as well as experimenting with new plants and pushing the limits on what varieties can tolerate shade. Contact Laura at 337-8351.

Laura’s Favorite: Coralbells (Heuchera) and Hostas (Hosta)

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Mike Baker, nursery sales/horticulturalist

Mike is crazy about trees. In fact, his real aspiration in life is to become an arborist. After earning his degree in social work at the University of Iowa, Mike realized his true calling was “anything and everything to do with trees and plants.” He went on to earn a degree from Kirkwood College in landscape, nursery, and garden center management. He is also certified in core pesticide applicators and handlers and continues to explore his interests in propagation and water gardening. While he was at Kirkwood, he owned a small landscaping business with his brother in his hometown of Albia, Iowa. After interning at ICLGC, he joined the staff full time in 2009. Mike lives in North Liberty with his wife, Ashley. Contact Mike at 337-8351.

Mike’s Favorite: Amur Maple, also known as Acer ginnala

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Rosanne Latcham, nursery sales/horticulturalist

Rosanne has a world of knowledge about gardening—and not just Midwest gardening. Rosanne grew up tending to a very large vegetable garden in Iowa before she moved to Montana to work for a small garden center. From there her love of all things gardening grew even bigger. The next 25 years Rosanne worked in garden centers in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Illinois before returning to Iowa where she has been a horticulturalist at ICLGC since 2004. Rosanne enjoys helping customers combine the color of annuals and perennials with the structure and character of trees and shrubs. She still has her own vegetable garden at home, but now she’s added flowers and shrubs too! Contact Rosanne at 337-8351.

Rosanne’s Favorite: Unique Hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata) and White Moth Hydrangea (Hydangea paniculata)

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Our Garden Center Team