Our Story
It all started...
in 1979 Howard K. Freilich, a young, energetic entrepreneur, and horticulturalist founded Blondie’s Treehouse, Inc. The company, conceived over 40 years ago as a one-man show, has grown to be one of the largest horticultural firms in the United States. Known for its innovative designs and excellent customer care, Blondie's has received over fifty national awards for design and service.
Here we are now
Blondies comprises the best that NY has to offer. Our downtown showroom on 242 West 30th Street houses our landscape design staff and urban horticultural services. On display are the many product lines that Blondie’s offers from furniture and vessels to botanically inspired décor. You will also find a number of model greenwalls, where we test various products, and through their maintenance have a deeper understanding of the systems. It’s a great place to stop in and see what’s going on. Pay us a visit anytime.
Our flower studio is situated in the heart of New York City, granting us access to the unique finds the city has to offer. Blondie’s has established relationships with the best local growers as well as Europe, South America, Israel and South Africa who ship directly to us, providing us with the highest quality and the freshest product available.
Thirty miles north of NYC, in Mamaroneck New York, you will find our greenhouses and corporate headquarters. A renovated, one hundred year old factory provides us with over 35,000 square feet, where we are able to accommodate our one acre exterior yard, greenhouses, interior plant center, holiday showroom and storage facility, special event workshop, replica studio and administration offices, all under one roof. With our fleet of vehicles, housed in Westchester, we can easily reach all of our clients in the tri-state area and beyond.
BTH featured by The Westchester Bank
Testimonials
As the Brooklyn project begins wrapping up, I wanted to make sure to tell you how much the SCAPE team has enjoyed working with Blondie’s. The quality of you guys’ work and attention to detail is not lost on us. Your foremen have also been a pleasure to work with and all excellent at communicating with SCAPE both on and off site. Likewise, their crews executed timely, quality work with a positive attitude even in the dead of summer.
A big thank you to the whole Blondie’s team for helping bring this wonderful final product to Greenpoint. We look forward to working with you all in the future.
DANIEL HERNANDEZ
SENIOR DESIGNER SCAPE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE DPC
SCAPESTUDIO.COM
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We cannot thank you all enough for your incredible work on Saturday! You were all such a pleasure to work with and the room looked absolutely stunning thanks to your creativity and expertise. I lost count of how many guests commented about the gorgeous chupah, vial board and table arrangements!!! When we first spoke over the summer I had high expectations, but you went above and beyond and we will never forget your contributions to our special day. We'll be shouting your names from the rooftops when people ask for recommendations in the future.
— Craig Nadler, Floral Client
We are extremely pleased with how everything turned out! Everything looks beautiful, and it all looks exactly how I originally envisioned it (and actually, it looks much better than I envisioned it would). Eva, Stanley, and Paulina were incredibly professional-they worked very hard and quite fast, and made sure at every turn that the work they were doing was exactly what we wanted. I really commend you and Eva, and Blondie’s, for being so good at your job.
— JEFFREY R. SUNDERLAND, CO-FOUNDER & COO | RJS COMPANIES
“I have worked with Howard for 6 years and I value his partnership. He has been a great friend to The Plaza and I thoroughly enjoy working with him. I have very specific taste and requirements and he listens and is extremely responsive. He is a great collaborator and I like his work very much."
— Kristin Franzese, The Plaza
"With the holidays just around the corner and the craziness of the office move, I would like to express my gratitude to all the staff at Blondie’s Treehouse. I am not alone when I say what delightful people you are….we have made many “Blondie’s friends” over the last 28 years and we will never forget you. Your thoughtful gift was enjoyed by all of us."
— Vicki + Staff at Brown Paper Company
"On behalf of the leadership team at JW Marriott Essex House, I thank you for helping us make the "JW Kid's" program launch a stunning success. Blondie’s understood our floral concept from a simple phone call and the team executed our vision perfectly. Your creativity added visual ambiance and a whimsical touch to the event that matched the corporate program of healthy eating for kids. Thank you!"
— Martin Mariano, Director of Food & Beverage, JW Marriott Essex House New York
"Happy New Year! Just wanted to pass along that the Landlord was very pleased with how the Holiday decorations came out this year. Kudos to you and your team!!"
— Sandra A. Calabro-Lambe, RPA/FMAProperty Manager, Boston Properties
"Blondie's helped us make and maintain a beautiful patio area on the second floor of our office. The hydrangeas were full and changed from blue to white as the summer progressed, but they were always a lovely respite from the hectic pace of our office. Blondie’s not only kept our space looking beautiful, but were always polite and on time during regular maintenance visits."
— Chloe Brown, Libra Capital US, Inc
“The service Blondie’s has provided for us has been excellent from start to finish. We are beyond pleased with the business relationship we share. Raptor could not ask for anything else from this amazing company. Thank you for everything throughout the years.”
— Alexis Sherry, Raptor Capital Management
“I have been using Blondie’s Treehouse for over 20 years. I was first introduced to their service at Cartier in the late 80s, and I in turn hired them for each of the three companies that I have been working with over the years - I have never been disappointed.Their staff is knowledgeable, reliable and loyal. I highly recommend Blondie’s.”
— Catherine Goetschel, Office Manager
“We have worked with Blondies for a long time and they do a great job! When I came to the hotel about 2 years ago, I wanted a new look and they did a super job of delivering. Many of our guests complement our fresh flowers. You will see many photos of our flowers on facebook, tripadvisor. Howard is easy to work with.”
— Peter J. Strebel, Area Managing Director, Omni Berkshire Place Hotel
“Blondie's Treehouse designed, installed and coordinated our garden with great skill and professionalism. We dreamed of creating a natural bluestone patio and lush shade garden. Blondie's got our vision immediately and used their extensive knowledge of plants and landscape construction to develop a constructable and sustainable design. As an architect, I look forward to working with Blondie's on projects for my clients in the future.”
— David Hecht, New York City resident
"Blondie's Treehouse Inc. has provided our hotel with trees, fresh flowers and holiday decorations since we opened the property in 1991. In today's business environment, it is rare to find a supplier who thinks long term, and considers business relations as a partnership. Howard fits that description which is the reason we kept Blondie’s as our horticulture supplier for the past twenty years."
— Michael Silberstein, General Manager, Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan
"I have been working with Howard and Blondie's Treehouse Inc., for over 10 years now at two different properties. In my new position as Director of Rooms at Mandarin Oriental, I have dealt with Howard on a regular basis. He always gets back to me the same day I reach out to him and always handles all issues by the next day. The hotel's plants and flowers always look great."
— Sharmila Tandon, Director of Rooms, Mandarin Oriental NYC
“Howard, Freilich, President, Blondie’s Treehouse, Inc. For ‘growing’ a real Queens success story, the creation of a prestigious commercial interior landscaping and holiday display business, by Queens native son and graduate of John Bowne High School, and for his long-term history with QBG, beginning in his days as an intern in the 1970s”
— Susan Lacerte, Queens Botanical Gardens
Carrol L. Gingold
carrol’s career was off to an early start when she attended new york’s high school for art and design. there she learned how to cultivate her attraction to design and develop a keen sense of style. she continued her interests at new york university and understood that design would be a lifelong career. with over 17 years of experience in horticultural design, she has developed relationships with new york city’s major corporations, financial institutions, real estate firms and non-profit organizations. she has been a member of new york horticultural society, metro hort group, i.f.m.a. greater n.y. chapter and the association of real estate women. arriving at blondie’s in 1995, she quickly developed the nickname of the “queen of christmas”. carrol has taken holiday décor to a whole new level. she delights in the entire process from meeting with clients and brainstorming ideas, to working with blondie’s production team creating holiday decorations. she is on-site throughout her many installations and is always accessible to clients. throughout the year carrol continues to work with her client’s developing custom interior plant programs. botanical design is a creative outlet for carrol and she enjoys working with tropical plant material, fresh floral arrangements and designer containers. when she is not decking the halls, carrol enjoys traveling and seeing the world. when she is at home, she enjoys spending time in her kitchen and taking walks in nature where she finds something to enjoy in every season.
Charles Casanova
charles casanova has worked with blondie’s since 2001 and is a cornerstone of the blondies exterior department. he is a skilled senior project manager and has the ability to schedule and stage multi-phase projects and oversee their progress along the way. charles expertise illustrates his vast knowledge of design, estimating and installation, for rooftop, terrace, greenwalls and greenroofs as well as large scale seasonal design.
Daria Snyder
if you have been amazed by the interior and exterior plant design of a major national brand, there's a good chance that daria snyder was involved. she recognizes that great national brand experiences all have consistency and creativity in common. that type of insight and vision has been driving many well-known brands across the country to utilize her services.
daria is responsible for developing, designing and implementing national consumer sites - including interiors, exteriors and holiday decor programs. she has the uncanny ability to meet with a customer and immediately understand their brand and their vision and can instantly create a solution & plan that best works for them. daria is a great communicator and is a stickler for details and works incredibly fast - without ever missing a beat.
daria holds a bachelor's degree in fine arts from manhattanville college in ny and has been in the interior plantscape industry for 38 years. her ability to translate art into functional, inspiring spaces has earned her the loyalty of some of the biggest brands in north america.
Eva Vessio
Born and raised in Eastern Europe, Eva has received her Bachelor Degree in Environmental Engineering and a Masters Degree in Landscape Architecture from Korvinus University in Budapest in 1987. She joined the Blondie's team in 1994 and shortly thereafter became a company's Creative Director. Eva's abilities and innate creativity have enabled her to work nationally and internationally in all aspects of design especially branding in co-relation with horticulture. In 2011, Mrs Vessio designed and oversaw the construction of our companies New York Sales Office at 242 West 30th Street. She frequently travels to Europe and Asia in search of new materials and inspiration to implement creatively in our designs. Eva has been instrumental in the company's growth from a local horticultural business to a national corporation.
Fran Schreibman
fran began her career with a degree in horticultural studies from farmingdale university. her first experience was at martin viettes nursery in east norwich, which was the largest horticultural center on long island. she delighted in working with plants and knew this would be a lifelong career.
she began working with blondie’s in 1982 and is now the director of interior sales responsible for business development in new jersey and the tri-state area. one of fran’s many talents is really listening to what her clients are looking for. she is able to take an idea and actualize it. also known for being present every step of the way, her clients have developed complete confidence in knowing that fran will give every project the attention it requires.
as an active member of the plantscape industry alliance and as a certified instructor for green plants for green buildings, fran believes that education is the key that sustains our industry. “being a horticultural resource for our clients is what makes our relationship so valuable. they know that they can come to us for solutions.”
fran’s other passions include being in the kitchen, where she delights cooking for friends and exchanging recipes, and spending time in the serenity of nature.
Howard K. Freilich, clp
howard’s passion for people and plants has resulted in a lifelong career. in 1979 he started blondie’s treehouse with $100 worth of plants and a watering can. along with these humble beginnings came his tremendous drive that has grown blondie's into one of the industry’s most respected companies.
with work featured in the ny times, journal news, interiorscape magazine, interior landscape design magazine, the knott, and landscape contract magazine, blondie's continues to set the standard in horticultural design and décor.
author of many articles for trade magazines howard is known as an active voice within the community. he is the founder of the tri-state interior landscape association and a member of American hort, green plants for green buildings, metropolitan horticulture group, queens botanical gardens, and the ny hotel association. he is known for traveling as an international speaker on topics such as green walls and green roofs, interior and exterior landscape design and maintenance, as well as floral design with live and preserved flowers. in 1992 he was a us delegate representing the united states for floriade, an international exposition of flowers and gardening held every ten years in holland.
the recipient of over 50 national and international awards, howard and his team at blondie’s continues to exceed client expectations and set a standard of excellence for the landscape industry.
Jeff Mendoza
the landscape architecture division of blondie's, j mendoza gardens, is led by jeff mendoza. trained as a sculptor, jeff leads a team of landscape architects and horticulturists to create gardens and landscapes that artfully manipulate space, volume and color. jeff has worked on a large variety of projects for both corporate and residential clients. his solutions to the complicated problems of urban rooftop gardening are admired for their originality and beauty.
jeff's designs feature refined structural and architectural garden elements seamlessly complement existing site conditions. also significant is the level of plantsmanship exhibited in all projects. jeff carefully selects and places plants to maximize their effect both as single specimens and in larger plant compositions. jeff's city and country gardens have been published internationally in numerous books and magazines including house & garden, garden design, horticulture and the journal of the royal horticultural society.
Jeffrey Erb
Growing up on a produce farm in Pennsylvania, Jeffrey always had his hands in the dirt. There he would test various plant cultivars, build patios and create water features in his parents’ backyard. Fast forward to Penn State University where Jeffrey earned a B.S. in Landscape Contracting Design/Build with a minor in Horticulture. His studies would lead him to an internship at the esteemed Longwood Gardens with additional study tours in England and Italy.
For over nine years Jeffrey owned and operated his own landscape design company in Manhattan where he provided design, installation and maintenance services for rooftop and terrace gardens. Through this venture he enjoyed conceptualizing designs and taking them from an initial draft all the way through to the final installation. Jeffrey’s work has been featured in The New York Times, NY Magazine, Elle Decor and many print and digital publications.
Jeffrey loves creating gardens and watching how they evolve and mature. He values the importance of outdoor spaces in Manhattan and enjoys seeing them used to their fullest potential. When not at work Jeffrey enjoys painting and drawing, exploring historical sites along the Hudson River Valley and spending time at his summer beach community on Fire Island.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer began her career in business administration for a nationwide furniture retailer, advancing into business & HR management. Her first experience with plants was created at home with a love of nature and biophilia. Jennifer later joined the Blondie’s team in 2016 learning our processes through interior plant service to horticultural sales to plant-scape design. Jennifer’s fresh ideas and creative vision for inspirational horticultural design concepts results in next level projects for interior spaces, outdoor living spaces and floral design decor. Most recently, in January 2023 Blondie’s Treehouse received a record 7 “Platinum Level” awards by the International Plantscape Awards Association, 3 of which were for Jennifer’s high design interior projects. In her spare time, Jennifer is often found adventuring in the Pocono mountains enjoying nature and its many beautiful treasures.
Kevin Avram
Kevin comes to J Mendoza Gardens with over eight years experience in high-end residential, urban, commercial, and hospitality oriented projects throughout New York City, the United States and abroad. Bringing his skills of 3D modelling, rendering and graphic clarity to each project he develops from initial concept through construction. He finds fulfillment in transforming ideas and concepts into materials and design detailing. Drawing inspiration from his travels and art, Kevin grasps a strong understanding of the organization and programming of spaces varying in scale. Through experimenting with composition, materials, and plant palettes he brings a fresh approach to all his designs. Kevin holds a Bachelors in Landscape Architecture from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Meredith Devine
A Michigan State University alum with a degree in horticulture, Meredith has always had an interest in flowers. Her first "job" was helping to make bouquets in a small local flower shop around the corner when she was just 9! Just being around flowers and customers made her happy. Her ability to engage with the owner of the shop and the team foretold her future in design and sales. She's also passionate about design and merchandising, and has an eye for both. Before joining Blondie's Treehouse, Meredith launched the Philadelphia market expansion for a luxury floral company, expanding her knowledge of floral design for high-end hotels, residential buildings and corporate environments. She loves building relationships; learning what the client's visions are and exceeding their expectations with a best-in-class experience.
Michael J. Madarash
Michael j. Madarash graduated from UMass’ Stockbridge School of Agriculture with a degree in Soil Science in 2000. In 2001 he launched kokobo greenscapes and currently holds the title of principal designer and director of business development. In 2016 Kokobo was acquired by Blondie’s Treehouse Inc. and maintains itself as a unique sub brand of high-end exterior residential and commercial landscape projects with a focus on urban environments. He approaches each project in a ‘boutique’ fashion; getting to know the clients’ goals and designing the project based on their ‘wish list’ while keeping within the prospective budget. Michael and his firm have been recognized for many award‐winning projects, including custom rooftop designs, suburban property renovations, and greenwalls. He is committed to sustainable landscapes and environmental improvement and looks for new and interesting ways to incorporate these ideals into each of his projects. He, and his work, has appeared on the pages of Better Homes and Gardens, Architectural Digest, Garden Design, and on national television shows such as The Victory Garden, Urban Outsiders and Landscapers Challenge. Michael has had the honor of being a speaker at the ASLA international conference, New England Grows, and many local garden clubs from Amherst, MA to Key West, FL. He is also a board member of LINLA (Long Island Nursery and Landscape Association). LINLA is the local chapter of the NY state Association that represents landscape design/build companies as well as growers and nurseries.
Nick Imperial
Nick's formal training in Landscape Architecture and hands-on field experience in urban landscape construction allow him to play a dynamic role at BTH. Working with a team of talented draftspeople and experienced Project Managers, he develops architectural plans and details into buildable designs for our fabricators and builders to produce and install.
Ricardo Carcamo
ricardo began his studies at the universidad centroamericana located in san salvador, el salvador. upon arriving in new york, he began his career at the eileen green company, where he received training in horticulture and floral design. once ricardo began his career as a horticulturalist, he was immediately hooked and knew that his career would be built around his passion.
ricardo joined blondie’s treehouse in 1991 originally as a floral designer and horticulture technician. seven years later, in 1998, ricardo became the manager of blondie’s flower studio and now manages 10 floral designers and over 100 client accounts. with the department’s designs encompassing a range of potted plants, from orchids to specialty exterior containers, ricardo’s vast horticultural knowledge is utilized in the selection, construction and maintenance for each account. under his direction, the flower studio maintains weekly floral programs which serve new york’s finest hotel establishments as well as luxury residential and corporate clientele. ricardo is often found running between the flower district and one of his many accounts making sure that everything is being taken care of and looking its best. he has also been instrumental in establishing blondie’s growing special events business as well as our specialty wedding and bridal services.
ricardo is a driving force behind blondie’s reputation of high-end design and client satisfaction. “one of our philosophies is to make sure that every client is completely happy with our services. we take the time to understand what each client is looking for and build that into our designs.”
Samuel Jimenez, ASLA
With over a decade of experience, much of Mr. Jimenez's built work is in high-end hospitality and institutional master planning. His professional credits include designs and construction documentation for high-end residential clients, various developers, resorts and casinos as well as several institutional master plans throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.
In addition to Sam's private sector design work, he has worked as a design and planning consultant for the Dept. of Parks and Recreation for the City of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, facilitating urban design & planning in Superstorm Sandy impacted areas of NYC.
Samuel Jimenez studied Landscape Architecture at the State University of New York - College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University (SUNY-ESF). He specialized in urban design, community planning and historic cultural landscapes. Mr. Jimenez has also participated in several initiatives abroad that include a planning charrette in Brazil, community-based design work in Costa Rica and his Thesis in the Basque region of Northern Spain.
Sara Baerwald
life as a gardener started for sara when she was just a kid, with her dad, when they would plant beefsteak tomatoes in their garden on the jersey shore. from those tender beginnings a lifelong career has been created. in addition to studying landscape design at new york botanical garden, sara has an mpa in environmental management from new york university. her experience stretches from working with the epa’s energy star buildings program to designing sustainable landscapes and greenroofs.
sara has been published in vogue, new york magazine, harper’s bazaar and other well-known publications. she has authored “greenworks, tender loving care for plants”, published by macmillan, selling over 190,000 copies and served as editor for h2o highlands to ocean, the geraldine r. dodge foundation.
arriving at blondie’s in 2011, sara brings a vast wealth of knowledge and in depth experience on a range of urban landscape specialties from green roof systems for commercial and residential applications to high end residential and cooperative gardens.
in more recent times you can find sara back on the jersey shore in her house with a garden of beefsteak tomatoes of her own.
Seth Ruggiero
Seth Ruggiero holds undergraduate degrees in Architecture and Business Management from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers University, as well as a master's degree in Urban Planning from Columbia University. He has previous experience working as a designer and administrator in architecture, planning, and engineering firms throughout the Northeast.
His role as Project Manager at J Mendoza Gardens involves coordinating design development, const estimating, project schedules and coordinating between various fields. his role as project manager means he acts as the main point of communication between clients, vendors, and contractors. Mr. Ruggiero also provides project graphics and construction documentation.
Tina Dituri
at the age of 20, tina moved to new york to fulfill the goals of her dance and painting college majors. at that time in her life she was a notorious black thumb, killing numerous topiaries and letting boston ferns disintegrate until friends put a moratorium on her plant buying forays. however, a fortuitous real estate purchase gave her a neglected exterior space to transform. this garden eventually became her passion, marrying the movement of a dance background with the color and texture of a painted canvas. and through a circuitous route involving ballroom dance, the bronx zoo, and event lighting she found her way to the new york botanical garden, where she established her identity and refined her education.
tina has been with blondie’s since 2002 and has helped to raise the standard of excellence that blondie’s has come to be known by. she is always striving for growth within the design community, building her technical and physical knowledge bank to bridge the gap between idea and implementation. she regularly consults on the build aspect of large scale rooftop construction to assist developers in the best practices to achieve their design goals.
while she is rooted in the technical aspects of design, don’t let that fool you. she still lives in a world of fantasy, which allows her to step outside of the cad box and imagine space as a sentient experience. smells, textures, and romance often take center stage in her conceptualization of space, all in the pursuit of fulfilling the desires of the user.
when tina is not at blondie’s she is enjoying time with her son in her quiet corner of brooklyn. they are both avid horse enthusiasts and enjoy the therapeutic nature of caring for farm animals amidst the constant buzz of the city.
William Clay Dorvillier
Director of Fabrication | Senior Project Manager
646.758.6944
nyc
Bill Dorvillier was born and raised in Puerto Rico and has lived and worked in New York City since 1985. Trained as a sculptor specializing in metal fabrication at University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA, Bill brings his appreciation for the natural world and fascination with the built environment to his role as Director of Fabrication at BTH. During the course of his career, Bill has partnered with architects on a wide range of high-end interior and exterior projects for both private and corporate clients always with a keen focus on efficient and creative problem solving. Since first collaborating with BTH in 2007, Bill has enhanced the companys capacity to execute complex bespoke metal-craft projects. As a member of the BTH team since 2020, Bill continues his dedication to creating beautiful, functional environments.
Zeina G Zahalan, PLA
Zeina is a graduate of the landscape architecture program at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Zeina has spent nearly five years working in firms located in both New Jersey and New York, in which she served as a Project Manager for several large-scale residential developments. She has implemented storm-water management practices on designs for the NYC Department of Design and Construction, NYC and NJ Department of Environmental Protection while incorporating green infrastructure and structural flood reduction measures integrated with public realm opportunities. Most recently, Zeina spent nearly a year working on the construction administration phase for both Liberty Park and the Campus Streetscape at the World Trade Center. Zeina uses her extensive travel experience, environmental and urban design skills and construction knowledge to create ecological, culturally-sensitive and visually-pleasing landscape designs, translating the character of a city and its inhabitants into sustainable and stimulating urban spaces.
AJ Faltyn
After earning a degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Rhode Island in 2002, AJ began his career working for a landscape architect in Southern New Jersey. His work established a vast portfolio of landscape design and planning for luxury resorts, hotels, commercial, retail and mixed use developments. In 2006 he created his own residential landscape design firm which focused on projects for custom homes and private estates along the Atlantic Coast. By 2010, business had involved traveling to emerging real estate markets. From South Florida to Bergen County, New Jersey, he continued to pursue his passion for landscape design. The traveling eventually peaked interest to search for opportunity in New York City and during the summer of 2012 he was commissioned for his first landscape renovation project for a terrace on the Upper West Side. AJ navigated his way to owning and operating a full scale design + build landscape construction company providing custom built projects and quality service to residential and commercial clientele in and around Manhattan. AJ joined forces with Blondie's Treehouse in September of 2016 as a project manager adding on-site supervisory skills and construction knowledge to our growing team of professionals.
Bo Budzik
after attending the technical school of horticulture in ropczyce poland, bo had decided to continue her career in new york, and has been working with blondie’s since 1998. with over 16 years of extensive horticultural experience she leads a team of 15 technicians and is responsible for blonde’s interior accounts in new york city as well as high profile exterior properties. bo is consistently there to inform and educate, and can typically be found running from one place to the next making sure that all things are being taken care of. she prides herself on the close relationships that she has both with her team and with the clients that they serve. always interested in keeping current, bo frequently attends industry trade shows to stay in touch with all the industry has to offer.
“we are not only in the plant business; we are in the business of taking care of people, too. our main objective is to make sure our clients are happy. they know that they can come to us for anything.”
while bo and her family call brooklyn home, they also enjoy skiing in pennsylvania, day trips to bear mountain state park and being close to nature.
Christian Ochoa
Christian Ochoa graduated from New York Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in Architecture. He entered the interior design world, where he modeled Revit projects, templates, libraries, and produced design development sets. He specializes in creating new parametric families for design use and creating workflows for faster and more organized drawing production. Christian continues to learn Revit and now is learning to use it more effectively for shop drawings at Blondies Treehouse Inc. He loves to play competitive team sports and work on graphic design projects.
Dorian Gjeka
Dorian began his career in landscaping back in the early 2000s, specializing in topiary work while living in Italy. He continued to broaden his knowledge by working a short stint in Germany and back in his home country of Albania. These invaluable experiences gave him the opportunities to learn more about differences in gardening in varying environments. Upon moving to the US he continued to expand his horizons by diving into the world of urban landscaping. He joined Blondies Treehouse in 2016. With the guidance of his superiors and his personal dedication and ambitions he learned alot about gardening in NYC. In January of 2023 Dorian was promoted to Exterior Service Manager. Today he continues to guide his team in creating and maintaining green spaces within the urban jungle of New York City.
Gavin Rampersaud
Arriving at Blondie’s Treehouse in 1997, Gavin is currently a member of the Operations management team. As the Operation Coordinator he is instrumental in sourcing and ordering supplies for the Interior and Exterior Departments of both the New York City and Westchester locations. A favorite aspect of Gavin’s position is to coordinate directly with the Blondie’s sales team to organize the details of an approved proposal and plan a successful installation. He finds great satisfaction in bringing together the many facets of a project, pulling together the materials and supplies to prepare the construction and installation teams, all in an efficient and timely manner. He is involved in a broad spectrum of responsibilities from maintaining Blondie’s fleet of trucks to coordinating with vendors and suppliers, as well as the many operational details of the Westchester headquarters that moves the company forward each and every day. Feeling that Blondie’s is a second family he appreciates how when each individual fulfills their job responsibilities that everything comes together and feels like a well-oiled machine.
Gina Pellino
Gina joined the Blondie’s team in July 2021 as Director of Operations where she oversees our Interior Landscaping Department. While managing the department, she procures the highest quality plant material for Blondie’s clients. She is responsible for procuring and scheduling all of the interior plant installations and green plant programs. As a lead Horticultural Supervisor she oversees and consults on the specification and design process for Interiorscape projects. Her passion for horticulture has led her to become a seasoned veteran in the industry with over 25 years of experience ranging from garden center management, to visual merchandising and buying. She’s also holds a certificate from the New York Botanical Garden in Floral Design.
Ian M Dana
Ian joined the Blondie’s team in 2007 and in November 2016, was named VP of Operations. He directly oversees the organization of daily orders, purchases, and schedules for all Blondie's interior plantscaping and exterior landscaping projects. With Blondie’s extensive design build installations, Ian consistently works with Landscape Architects, Designers, General Contractors, Owners, Suppliers and Manufacturers to effectively sequence installations in order to hit important deadlines, and provide the best possible product to our clients. During the Holiday Season, Ian switches gears to schedule and oversee the installation of over 350 holiday accounts in a busy 4 week installation window. Overseeing a bustling department of over 10 managers and purchasers, 40 installation technicians, gardeners, craftsmen, and multiple sub-contractors, he likes to say that Blondie's is the best “one-stop-shop, from soup to nuts” in the industry. A NYC native, he is a lifetime lover of the New York Mets and Broadway.
Jennifer Cimino
Jenny’s horticultural career began at the University of New Hampshire's research farm, where her love for plants took root. After graduation, she spent seven years as a horticulturist at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden as a dedicated horticulturist. During this time, she earned a Certificate in Horticulture from BBG and a Botany Certificate with an Ethnobotany focus from the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). After Brooklyn, Jenny embarked on a two-year research sabbatical upstate, working on a certified organic and biodynamic herb and flower farm to deepen her understanding of sustainable agriculture. She then returned to New York City as a lead horticulturist at Wave Hill in the Bronx, where she designed and maintained iconic areas such as the Tropical House, the Pergola, and the Aquatic Garden. Over her eight-year tenure, her work was prominently featured in the 2019 publication Nature into Art: The Gardens of Wave Hill. During this time, she was also invited to be a guest gardener at Chanticleer Garden in Pennsylvania, adding another notable experience to her repertoire.
In 2019, Jenny joined Blondie’s to expand her portfolio into interior horticulture, with a focus on living green walls and vertical gardening. Whether she's on a ladder tending to green walls or out in the field identifying pests and supporting technicians, Jenny is known for her dedication and expertise. She received the Platinum Award in Horticulture Service for a major NYC project featuring 24 interior green walls. Beyond green walls, she designs seasonal exterior plantings and leads workshops on environmental stewardship. She is committed to implementing eco-friendly practices to reduce waste and is leading initiatives to incorporate compostable trash bags and recycle nursery pots. Jenny loves to talk about plants and share her knowledge with fellow enthusiasts.
Jenny finds inspiration visiting gardens throughout the Northeast. She is also an artist who preserves and presses flowers, ferns, and foliage and arranges them into beautiful, framed compositions. She is a firm believer in the healing power of plants and making the world a greener, more beautiful, and healthier place to live.
Josh Fleischmann
josh fleischmann is blondie’s marketing director. relatedly, the word director is portuguese for assassin.
a native of park slope brooklyn before the days of artisanal mayonnaise boutiques and stroller mafioso, josh spends his days using an impressive arsenal of new and old tools to find people who need top shelf landscape services.
josh also manages the company’s seo, web analytics and social media presence.
when josh is off the clock, he is usually being stalked and attacked by a juvenile theropod dinosaur called liam, who occasionally acknowledges being josh’s human child.
Ken Missbrenner
Ken joined the Blondie’s team in 2019 as a Project Manager, bringing with him several years of
landscape and building construction management experience. After earning a Masters Degree
in Landscape Architecture from CUNY’s Spitzer School of Architecture and a certificate in
Construction Management from New York University, he worked on numerous projects ranging
from ecological restoration and brownfield remediation, to mid-rise apartment buildings and
large scale landscapes. Ken enjoys the technical challenges of constructing complex urban
landscapes with the inanimate materials of building construction and marrying them with a living
biological system of soil and plants to create vibrant and beneficial environments. Ken’s favorite
days at work typically involve using a big crane to plant big trees on big buildings.
Leslie A. Baglio
leslie’s passion for horticulture began when she was a little girl. trees, plants, and flowers have always been close to her heart, ever since getting lost in her mums vegetable garden. to this day her favorite flower is the zinnia, which grew all over her garden. she soon found that nature held within it a certain brilliance of structure, architecture, and design and made the decision to attend pratt institute to study design, history, and theory.
following her studies she worked for an architect in boston, where she was first introduced to interior plant foliage. she acquired a job servicing interior plants in office buildings around the boston area, and spent her free time on her bicycle. while working as an interior foliage technician, she soon found that she loved to work with her hands. this, coupled with her other passion for bicycles, led her build custom bikes from scratch. although she thinks about this time in her life with great pride, she realized that she wanted to immerse herself back into the world of horticulture.
she moved back to nyc and began working/studying at the school of professional horticulture at the new york botanical garden. there she studied horticulture and worked side by side with expert gardeners, learning the practical use, and design techniques of exterior gardening. during her time at nybg she had a teacher, named jeff mendoza, who she fell love with, and soon thereafter, began working with him to fulfill a required internship. upon graduation, jeff hired her to lead his maintenance crew for his owned design/build firm, j. mendoza gardens.
leslie began working for blondie's treehouse, inc. after a merger with j. mendoza gardens in 2011. during her time with blondie’s she has overseen expansive exterior gardens, been an integral part in plant design concept, and worked alongside the exterior sales team and operations department in order to install and maintain healthy and beautiful gardens around the nyc area.
Matthew Bowman
Matthew has always loved working with his hands. As a New Jersey native he grew up working with local landscaping companies and garden nurseries in his hometown. While earning a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture from Rutgers University he took an interest in design build and sustainability related projects. It was here that he first acquired the practical understanding of managing a project through all its phases, from concept through completion. Matthew also completed a successful internship at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. Here he worked as a Professional Horticulturist learning how to maintain and deliver pristine landscapes at the world class resort destination. Prior to joining Blondie’s exterior team, Matthew worked with site construction and landscaping contractor companies as a project engineer. It was here in NYC, doing construction documents and project estimating, that he discovered his passion for working on the city’s rooftops.
MacKenzie Sharp
mackenzie possesses genuine enthusiasm for the challenges and rewards of urban landscape design/build, and brings extensive experience in a variety of roles related to the design, installation, and maintenance of nyc rooftop, terrace, and in-the-ground gardens. in the roles of project and construction manager mackenzie has been installing urban landscapes in nyc since 2005, operating as an essential liaison between design and install teams, gaining particular satisfaction from the more complex aspects of landscape construction, especially the installation of architectural elements. mackenzie enjoys working with related trades, and the opportunity to learn more about the technical aspects of rooftop construction, as well as working with architects, and clients to satisfy their needs, and vision for their outdoor space.
mackenzie holds a master of landscape architecture from university of Pennsylvania, and is a certified hydrotech and live roof installer. mackenzie spends their freetime powerliting, riding fixed gear bikes, and hiking the beautiful trails of the Hudson valley region with their rescue dog, James.
Paulina Chmiel
Paulina's career was off to an early start after growing up in Poland and attending University
there. Paulina obtained her Masters Degree in Hospitality, and shortly thereafter, came to
New York and began her career at Blondie's Treehouse. Since 2016, Paulina has learned
to cultivate her attraction to design and has developed a keen sense of style. As one of our
most talented and Top Designers in our Silk Atelier Department, Paulina oversees all
aspects of the department, including scheduling, procurement, production, and installation.
Her passion for travel, her talent for designing large hospitality projects and on-site creative
process, culminate in some of the most iconic, recognizable designs and installations
around this country and beyond! Paulina has since advanced to our Silk Atelier Department
Manager and oversees a team of talented and creative designers.
Peter S. Dick
peter arrived at blondies in 1990 with a wealth of horticultural knowledge. he has been working in the field of interior horticulture for nearly 30 years. along the way he was fortunate enough to learn from many talented and knowledgeable people as well as work from some of the top companies in the industry. with a pesticide operations license, he is blondie’s resident expert in insect pest control and plant disease diagnosis. leading blondie’s special services he is responsible for large specimen plant material, installation and tree pruning. peter is also the developer of blondie’s custom subirrigation watering system, which is proven to be beneficial to plants by regulating water conditions, extending plant life and lead to healthier and happier plants. managing a crew of 13 interior technicians, peter and his team service accounts across the tri-state area.
“the most important thing from all my experience is that this is truly a people business. while technical knowledge and skill are important, the ability to communicate clearly and respond to client needs in a timely and effective manner is what it’s all about and what blondie’s treehouse does best.”
Rebecca Henderson
Becky graduated from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) in 2004 double majoring in photography and textiles. She then moved to New York City to pursue her dream of working in fashion. Landing a job at a top modeling agency, Becky spent her time working on photo shoots and fashion shows. She relocated to California to be with her now husband and found work at a media distribution company based in Los Angeles. While there she was instrumental in creating the layout and design of the company's extensive medial catalog. Becky brought her talents to Blondie's in 2006 and has helped the company expand into event planning and styling. She has a unique ability to style an event's decor with floral artistry and is known for her unmatched attention to detail. Becky's love for event production led her to style and plan her own wedding which was prominently featured in The Knot Magazine. Aside from event production, Becky collaborates with the marketing department consulting on the branding and promotional aspects of Blondies.
When not busy wearing a million hats at work, you can find Becky at home playing dress up and having dance parties with her husband and two daughters!
Reid Pollack
Reid is a graduate of the University of Vermont, where he applied his passion for environmental sustainability and renewable energy alternatives in their Community Entrepreneurship Program, with a focus in Green Design. After college he took up a role in the Green Roofs division of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. While there he spearheaded the research and development of a permeable pathway for the benefit of stormwater management in New York City. Reid’s continued passion for the relationship between the built environment and the living one brought him to Blondie’s Treehouse. As the Construction/Purchasing Coordinator, Reid works with the rest of the Operations Department to see to it that all material, personnel, and logistics are sequenced in a manner that best meet project needs.
Victoria Cali
With a formal education in the fine arts, Victoria was drawn to the horticultural industry by the opportunity to work with plant material and botanical elements. Spending most of her earlier years traveling in search of unique work opportunities and adventure she has an array of experience to draw from. She has been in the commercial horticulture industry for over 20 years and partners with Green Plants for Green Buildings as a registered trainer for Living Walls and Green Roofs. Loving the art of presentation, she has been drawn to visual marketing where as a creative Capricorn she is allowed to obsess over detail, content and formatting. She believes that creativity and integrity are two of the most important aspects in life and hopes that her work reflects this more than anything else.
Vince Nicosia
Vince is a seasoned logistics professional with an impressive 30-year career, including service in the United States Air Force. Since joining Blondies in January of 2022, Vince has been the driving force behind Interior Logistics, handling planning, scheduling, and coordination. Vince is now the go-to for scheduling upcoming seasonal rotations and procuring supplies for Interior jobs. Recently, he's expanded his role to the Exterior side, collaborating with Operations on similar tasks. His dedication extends to supporting BTH drivers and installation crews, ensuring that they're well-equipped each morning for their daily assignments. Vince's three-decade journey in logistics has honed his skills in transportation and materials, making him an invaluable asset to the Blondie’s team.
Zachary J. Madarash
Growing up on Long Island Zachary was inspired by his family at an early age to garden around the home and neighborhood. This inspiration lead to a desire to learn and be part of the landscape industry. By age of 15 he was managing a four man installation crew and at age 17 was involved on a large suburban project on Eastern Long Island installing his first lighting and irrigation system; 18 zone sprinkler system and 240 low-voltage landscape lighting fixtures. Attending Binghamton University for his graduate studies in Environmental Planning with a focus on Sustainable Ecosystems, he learned how to design systems that depended on water management and low energy use. Among Zachary’s professional projects are being involved in planting tens of thousands of trees during the milliontreesNYC initiative and lecturing/teaching courses on green roofs & walls, sustainability and rainwater management for The NYC Parks Department and New York Restoration Project. Zachary joined BTH in 2016 through the acquisition of kokobo greenscapes. He has spearheaded the launch of the new lighting and irrigation division and is a key member in Blondie’s exterior department. When not at Blondie’s Zachary LOVES traveling, eating and skiing around the world with his wife, Holly.
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Our design + sales team ranges from landscape architects and designers, to interioscapers, floral designers, special events and holiday coordinators. We will match you with the individual who will assist you with exploring creative horticultural and design solutions. Our extensive resources enable us to offer every level of interior and exterior plantscaping products. From foliage and specimen plants to containers and hard goods, Blondie’s can provide you with the best the industry has to offer.
Our operations and installations team are there to support each project every step of the way. From procuring the highest quality plant material to managing a custom container order, they are reliable and consistent. Our clients can rest assured that their project will be installed in a timely and professional manner.