About Us (who are these people anyway?)     

    Westscape is owned and operated  by Laura Smith and Robert Dunn.   We're located in
    Belgrade, MT, about 90 miles north of Yellowstone National Park.  We have 12,000 sq. ft.
    of heated greenhouse space and 3 acres of  field production area. All of our plant
    material is grown and over-wintered at our facility.
    Although we both come from agronomic and crop production backgrounds, we have had
    a long standing interest in native plants.  The use of native plants in urban, rural and
    naturalized landscape design, conservation and reclamation, and the roles they play are
    the foundations of Westscape Nursery.  We see the nursery and the related services
    which we offer as an extension of those interests.                                 

    Laura Smith Laura has a MS degree in agronomy and Integrated Pest Management  
    (IPM) from the University of Nevada – Reno (1985).  Prior to starting Westscape, she had
    20+ years of plant research experience with the USDA-ARS in Reno, the University of
    Arizona, and Montana State University. Her research focused on the molecular genetics,
    selection, and tissue culture of alfalfa and their wild relatives as well as the
    phylogenetics and ancestral origins of wheat; she has co-authored numerous scientific
    journal articles on these subjects. Laura is the president of Westscape as well as the
    principal grower in charge of all aspects of greenhouse and nursery production which
    propagates approximately 150 species of native and adapted species annually for
    commercial sale.  She is also in charge of all contract sales, planning, and long-term
    tracking and flow of plant material.

    Robert Dunn Robert has a MS in agronomy and plant breeding and genetics from New
    Mexico State University (1987). Prior to starting Westscape with Laura in 1997 he worked
    on alfalfa breeding for arid environments in New Mexico. He came to Montana State
    University in 1987 where he worked as a researcher in the Department of Plant Science.
    His principal focus centered on the breeding and selection of alfalfa and numerous
    grass species for dryland/drought and saline environments. Robert has 25+ years of
    professional experience in plant production including nursery, greenhouse, horticultural,
    agricultural, range, and pasture crop species.  He is currently in charge of greenhouse
    function and maintenance and outdoor nursery production at Westscape, where he
    works with some 150 native and adapted species annually.  He is the principal collector
    of native upland shrub species for the nursery.  Robert also works with contract sales
    and consults with clients on various aspects of species selection, plant health, weed
    management, and other related issues that impact the long-term and sustainable
    success of client projects.
      
    Professional Affiliations

    American Wildlands  www.wildlands.org
    Montana Native Plant Society www.mtnativeplants.org
    WERA 1013( Western Education/Extension and Research Activity WERA 1013:
    Intermountain Regional Evaluation and Introduction of Native Plants)
    Montana Nursery and Landscape Association www.plantingmontana.com
    Powder River Resource Council www.powderriverbasin.com
    Plant Native www.plantnative.org
    International Phytotechnology Society
            Association of the Environmental Health of Soils