Welcome to the Studio of Gary L Hightshoe

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The highly esteemed Professor Gary L. Hightshoe (GLH) is Emeritus Professor of Landscape Architecture at lowa State University, in Ames, lowa, where he taught courses in plant materials, planting design, and landscape resource management for more than 47 years. Over the course of nearly half a century, Gary's colleagues, clients, students, friends, and family have coined him the "tree whisperer," grandfather of the prairie, godfather of Savanna Studio at Iowa State, "tree hugger," bird watcher, Artist, hunter and angler, photographer, illustrator, author, conservationist, ecologist, historian, National Park Systems expert, mentor, educator, civil servant, husband, father of four, and grandfather of eight. Gary's thoughtful approach to the gift of life through people and nature has impacted dozens of colleagues, faculty, and friends, hundreds of students, and thousands of trees. 

He obtained his B.S.L.A. and M.L.A. degrees from lowa State University and is the author and illustrator of North American Plantfile, and Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines for Rural and Urban America. His life's journey has sparked research interests leading to the development of a regional guide to environmental settings and associations of plants for landscape use in the north-central states. He is a strong advocate of the accelerated inventory and preservation of rare and threatened ecosystems and strongly believes in sustaining a vibrant, diverse, thriving ecology delicately balanced with the behaviors and consequences of human life. 

Perhaps, one of Gary's most significant contributions to the field and continued progress of landscape architecture is his vision and formation of Savanna Studio at Iowa State University, the only traveling landscape architecture studio class of its kind in the world. For years, Gary and colleagues sought to find ways of taking the academic experience of landscape architecture into the field - an element critical to industry success. When reflecting back on the "early days" Gary shares the story of winter semester students showing up to their first day of class in January in Iowa shocked to learn a majority of the classes would meet outdoors. "You can't develop a relationship with the landscape from behind a desk." Now, over 1,000 students later, Savanna Studio continues to flourish and contribute to the brand and reputation of the industry, the program, and department. Over the years, Gary led over two decades of students, year in and year out, to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Yellowstone National Park , Theodore Roosevelt, Banff, Badlands, and countless other National and State Parks, Monuments, Nature Reserves, and Wildlife Preserves. 

Gary loves the great White Oak, the Pagoda and Flowering Dogwoods, and any native prairie forb. As his granddaughters would say "he's not the biggest fan of petunias, lilacs, or red-leafed varieties of trees and shrubs - generally speaking."

Welcome to the Studio of the highly esteemed and admired Gary L. Hightshoe. GLH is one of four Monarch Studio Café STAR Resident Artists and a valuable member of the Creative Collective. We're so happy you're here.