About Us
Inspired by the natural wonders of the Golden State, Besanti Natives is a Los Angeles landscape design firm that invites you to discover more joy in daily life through the wonders of California native plants.
Certified California Native Plant Landscapers offer a refreshing, holistic approach to your outdoor space to help you cultivate more meaningful connections to nature, your loved ones, and yourself.
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​We are committed to delivering consistently thoughtful, personalized service that translates your household's unique needs, values, and distinct style into a more vibrant world right outside your door.
The Besanti Natives Story
Inspired by the restorative power of the outdoors, Mary Kleva founded Besanti Natives to explore and share nature’s blueprint for more joy and connection in everyday life.
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Mary is a Certified California Native Plant Landscaper with years of professional and personal garden experience. Her unique approach blends timeless aesthetics with human-centered design and accessibility principles.
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Her journey to native landscape design followed in the footsteps of generations of her elders who lived symbiotically with the land, tending to it just as it tended to them. Whether she was working in her grandparents' garden, challenging herself on new hiking excursions, or just enjoying a moment of sunshine on the front porch, nature was not a hobby—it was the backbone of life itself.
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However, when she would look around her neighborhood, the high-maintenance lawns and static, repetitive landscapes seemed reject the concept of nature altogether. As she grew her experience with native plants, it became clear that old-fashioned landscaping practices failed people and the planet alike by normalizing toxic chemical treatments, inappropriate water management, shade tree eradication, and fossil fuel pollution.
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Connecting her discerning eye, horticultural knowledge, and thoughtful design skills, she founded Besanti Natives to shift this paradigm and help others spark more moments of wonder and connection through the magic of nature.
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Mary has trained formally in native plant studies with the esteemed Theodore Payne Foundation, where she received her California Native Plant Landscaper certification. She is a member of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) and holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University.
The Besanti Method
The Besanti Method was developed as an intentional practice of dynamic landscape artistry. This approach grounds us in the present moment through the ephemera of nature and our own ever-evolving needs.
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We approach landscaping not as a one-and-done process, but one of continuous discovery and growth. It honors the wisdom shared by leaders from indigenous communities who offer their extensive knowledge and experiences of these special plants. We see ourselves as stewards of the landscapes we manage, part of a mutualistic relationship we share with the natural world.
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In our client sessions, we get to know people and land alike on a nuanced, personalized level to identify the opportunities at hand. We learn what inspires and energizes our clients, alongside their aesthetic goals and household needs, to establish an outdoor space that supports harmony with nature, their communities, and themselves.
Why California Native Plants?
California is one of only 36 biodiversity "hotspots" in the entire world. Of 6,500+ plant species found in the Golden State, one third exist nowhere else on Earth. That's a gift we can all appreciate, starting right at home.
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California native plants have adapted over generations to thrive in our unique climates and geography. While drought-tolerant landscapes can include beautiful succulents and cacti, we also promote the thousands of Southern California species with colorful flowers and lush greenery to create year-round, eco-friendly enchantment.
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EXPLORE: Learn more about the benefits of California native plants
