At first glance, those things may seem unrelated, but once you understand who we are and how we work, you’ll see they’re one and the same. We tell stories with every landscape we create. The stories we tell aren’t ours, though. They’re the stories of our clients—the homeowners, the property  holders, the ones who’ll live, work, play, and relax in the outdoor experiences we bring to life.

ANNE DAIGH
PRINCIPAL AND FOUNDER
Anne Daigh is our founder and Storyteller-in-Chief. She’s an accomplished landscape architect, artist, and entrepreneur whose passion for her profession naturally grew into the successful business she leads today. She launched our company in fall 2010 after nine years with Page Duke Landscape Architects. The job with PDLA brought her to Nashville after graduating from UGA’s landscape architecture program. Though a Georgia native, she quickly set roots in Nashville, bringing her love of art, architecture, and the environment to exhibitions at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, the Nashville Antiques & Garden Show, and residences and commercial properties throughout the city and beyond. She’s the heartbeat of our company, and her approachable style and design sensibilities are present in each project we take on for our clients. 

WADE RICK
PRINCIPAL
Wade’s passion for Landscape Architecture started at an early age, stemming from the creative environment that naturally came with growing up in the house of an Architect. Observing the construction process and admiring the transformative impact that landscape could have on a person’s daily life fueled Wade’s enthusiasm and inspired him to achieve his Landscape Architecture degree from Mississippi State University. Prior to co-establishing Daigh Rick Landscape Architects, Wade’s experience and career in the industry provided a wide spectrum of exposure. From working on nationwide large-scale land planning projects with Southern Land Company, to developing a deep appreciation and understanding of classical design influences at Page Duke, his enjoyment of working with clients and professionals have helped sculpt his 20-year career. Through his emphasis on design, horticulture, natural & cultural history and scale, Wade has successfully carried out numerous projects in both the Nashville area as well as surrounding communities and states.

LEIGH FITTS
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
With a master’s degree in Architecture and Landscape Architecture from the University of Virginia, it is no secret that Leigh Fitts possesses a wealth of knowledge, bringing her education and expertise not only to her role as director of operations, but to the holistic approach she takes to projects and their context as well. Experienced in both residential and commercial design, Leigh is a lover of modern and historic construction –  Something she is very familiar with through her time spent as commissioner on the Metro Historic Zoning Commission. A born and raised Nashvillian, Leigh demonstrates her commitment and love of the community through her involvement with various local organizations. When she’s not attending board meetings at CASA Nashville or Harpeth Hall school, Leigh rejoices in exploring the lakes and mountains from her North Carolina cabin, and finds pleasure in channeling her creativity through knitting, sewing and metalworking. As kind as she is intelligent, Leigh is an immeasurable asset to DRLA, and we’re beyond thrilled to not only have her to work with, but to learn from.

TALIA GREENBERG
PROJECT MANAGER
It makes perfect sense as a graduate from Sewanee with a degree in Natural Resources and a concentration in forestry, Talia Greenberg has always had a profound admiration for nature. Calling it her “sanctuary”, Talia feels most refreshed and inspired when going on hikes and temporarily escaping from the modern world. She credits her GIS and Urban Forest Management college courses for allowing her to realize the importance of landscape design, serving as the driving force to enrolling and achieving her computer aided drafting technical certificate; An achievement that will be valued in her role as project assistant at DRLA. Aside from dreaming of ways to generate more accessible green areas within local communities, Talia takes joy in creating visual art, and can usually be found drawing or painting portraits – A talent that gained recognition when she received the Gold Key Scholastic Art Award in 2013, leading to her artwork being featured at Nashville’s iconic Cheekwood Estate & Gardens.

MELA XIDES

PROJECT ASSISTANT

Mela has always had an appreciation for beautiful spaces and how they can reflect various aspects of art and nature. When pursuing a career path, she found that landscape architecture would be the perfect blend of her interests of design, the arts, and the environment. Mela is from Atlanta, Georgia and is a recent graduate from the University of Georgia with a degree in Landscape Architecture and a minor in Historic Preservation. Her time in school deepened her passion for the evolution of the built environment and how it can be incorporated into garden design today. Outside of her enjoyment for design, Mela loves to travel. She has been to all 50 states and 10 countries, with particularly fond memories of her visits to the beaches of coastal Georgia and the village where her grandfather grew up in Greece. When visiting new places, she loves to try new foods and visit beautiful landscapes, museums, and monuments that help connect her to the culture of the place. She is excited to continue exploring Tennessee with her cat Daisy and grow as a landscape designer with Daigh Rick.

LAURA ESPOSITO
PROJECT MANAGER
A Pennsylvania native with a lifelong dream to visit every national park in the US, Laura is no stranger to stepping out of her comfort zone to experience new things. After receiving her BA in Environmental Studies from the University of Pittsburgh, Laura embarked on a study abroad program to Copenhagen, Denmark where she focused on the sustainable development in Europe. Realizing that this field did not fulfill her desire of working in a creative career, Laura went on to obtain her Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia, as it combined her passion for both the natural environment and design. A lover of all animals, plants and traveling, Laura now calls Nashville home and admires the city’s rich history in music, as well as the excitement and vibrancy that it exudes. Her overall vigor and thirst for knowledge are not only valuable in her role as project manager, but are immensely treasured by our DRLA team as well.

CARSON GENSERT

PROJECT ASSISTANT

Born and raised in a rural town just outside Nashville, Carson grew up embedded in both the landscape and culture of the area. His interest in design started at a young age, eventually leading him to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he began his formal design education studying architecture. Carson quickly found a passion for landscape architecture and its ability to tie the built environment to its site and greater context, guiding him to switch paths and achieve a Master of Landscape Architecture degree after completing his undergraduate degree in architecture. In his time at university, he also developed an affinity for 3D Modeling and rendering - both skills that create value for clients and designers alike. Outside of the office, Carson can be found spending time with friends and family, at the gym, or playing frisbee with his beloved dog Oz

KYLE SMITH
PROJECT MANAGER
Growing up in Northern California, nature has always been a primary source of inspiration for Kyle, serving as the foundation that developed his passion for the outdoors. Whether it be skiing, scuba diving or backpacking, being one with nature is an environment that Kyle thrives in. Having experienced all the beauty surrounding the West Coast throughout his upbringing, Kyle’s curiosity and desire to experience an unfamiliar part of the country led him to Louisiana, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from LSU. While there, his interest was drawn to examining how the natural world and the built environment interact and enhance one another – this constant focus on amplifying natural systems in various studio projects earned Kyle recognition as the recipient of the Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture award in environmental design. From the technical, problem-solving skills required for a grading plan, to the creativity of hand drawing, Kyle’s appreciation for the multitude of different tasks that the profession stipulates is one of the many elements that has shaped his success and is a commendable trait that he brings to the table as a project manager at DRLA.