Talisman, the founder and owner of The Charmed Thumb, came to landscape design as a second career. She earned her Ph.D. in history from Vanderbilt University in 1995 and worked as a history professor first at Vanderbilt, then Fisk University, Davidson College, and finally University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

While developing her own home landscape, she was asked by a neighbor to assist with her garden and then another despite her protests that she was not a professional. To gain some training, she enrolled in the Rocky Mountain Gardner program through the Denver Botanic Garden and formed The Charmed Thumb in 2008.

Talisman intentionally keeps her business very small so she can personally supervise each project during both the design and long-term maintenance required for success.

Her partnerships with clients and employees are what make it all fun, worth while, and beautiful.  She is fortunate to have two wonderful children and a long-suffering husband who support her gardening obsession. Her young dog, Nelson, loves gardening too though he feels his enthusiastic digging skills are under appreciated.