Meet Our Team
Leslie Needham
Founder & Principal Designer
Leslie is engaged in all projects that come to the studio, ranging from large country estates to city rooftops. She was accredited by the New York Botanical Garden Landscape Design Program, where she has taught landscape design. Her degrees also include a Master Compost certificate from UConn and a BA from the University of Virginia.
The work of Leslie Needham Design has been featured in numerous publications, received award and recognition from the ASLD. Her personal garden, River Hills, is one of sixteen gardens featured in Larry Lederman’s book ‘Garden Portraits Experiences of Natural Beauty’, which in the words of Judith Tankard, “This book is an exceptional personal record of some of America’s most important gardens now.”
Andrea Spunberg
Senior Designer
Andrea is a New York Botanical Garden-certified horticulturist and landscape designer, with a passion for sustainable design and ecology. Her design approach incorporates an understanding of the ecological setting and clients goals to create immersive spaces that enhance connection to nature and each other. She believes that each garden is an opportunity to make gentle yet meaningful progress towards a healthier living environment that fosters a sense of peace, inspiration and relaxation.
Andrea’s lifelong love of nature grew from her childhood summers spent exploring her grandparents’ gardens and orchards in her native Hungary. With family that stretches across continents, travel and cultural exchange are also a big part of her life. In her free time, Andrea loves observing and learning from nature, as well as sharing small wonders of beauty and discovery with others.