Meet the Team

Erin’s passion for plants began early, inspired by time spent gardening alongside her mom, sister, and grandmother and later fueled by her experience at the School of Environmental Studies in high school. She studied Architecture with an emphasis in sustainable design at the University of Minnesota and earned a professional horticulture certificate through the U of M, building more than a decade of experience in the horticulture industry. She joined biota’s Horticulture team in spring 2026, drawn to the opportunity to work outside every day, learn something new, and care for plants as they change throughout the seasons. She especially enjoys watching clients’ containers she planted in the spring grow and evolve, appreciating how each one takes on a unique character that reflects the personality and aesthetic of the space it belongs to. For Erin, every day in the garden feels a little like summer camp, with something new to discover around every corner. 

Mara’s love of landscapes is rooted in a fascination with the quiet, often overlooked world beneath our feet. She began working in the landscape industry in 2019 and spent two years running a biodynamic vegetable farm, experiences that deepened her appreciation for the relationships between plants, insects, soil, and the seasons. She joined biota in spring 2026, where she especially enjoys watching gardens change over time and observing the intricate ecosystems taking shape within them. Her favorite spaces are mossy shade gardens, a love that began in childhood when she would build tiny fairy houses from sticks and leaves and imagine the hidden worlds tucked among the moss, one of the world’s oldest plant forms. Outside of landscaping, Mara is a death doula, a role that speaks to her curiosity about the circle of life, connection, and the many transitions that shape our experiences.  

Mike’s path into landscape care began with a love of plants and a curiosity about how they shape the places around us. After five years working in garden stores and landscaping, he spent another five years in habitat restoration and natural resources, working in parks, lakes, and public spaces to remove invasive species, restore habitat, and support healthy ecosystems. He joined biota in 2024, bringing that restoration background and a degree in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management from the University of Minnesota, where he specialized in Restoration Ecology. A Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association Certified professional, Mike is passionate about creating landscapes that offer more than beauty. He enjoys highlighting unique plant species and designing spaces that provide habitat, function, and beauty while reducing the need for excessive resources. For Mike, the goal is to create landscapes that become more self-sustaining over time, believing that the more places we foster beneficial plant species, the more space we create to support the wildlife in our communities.

Tony’s connection to horticulture began at an early age, when a middle school job with a neighbor, a University of Minnesota botany professor, introduced him to the fundamentals of gardening and the satisfaction of caring for a landscape. He quickly discovered that he enjoyed the transformation that came from his work, taking pride in seeing a space go from before to after through his own effort and attention to detail. Tony earned his degree in Economics from the University of Minnesota and began his career in the landscape industry in 2016, joining biota in 2020. For Tony, the lessons he learned in those early gardens have stayed with him: whether you’re tending plants or tackling a project, anything worth doing is worth doing right. He brings that same philosophy to his work at biota, believing that if you choose to do something, you might as well do it to the best of your ability. 

Wolfgang arrived at the University of Minnesota planning to study astronomy, but while working as a gardener for the University’s Landcare department, his future in horticulture began to take root. What started as a job tending the grounds grew into a new direction, leading him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture and later serve as a prairie management intern. Wolfgang began his career in the industry in 2016 and joined biota in 2021, where he has developed particular expertise in pest management and diagnosing plant health issues, including plant diseases, pathogens, and the treatments that help plants recover and thrive. He enjoys the satisfaction of transforming an overgrown landscape while understanding that creating a full, beautiful garden takes patience and time. Outside of biota, Wolfgang enjoys playing video games and watching competitive gamers online, while at work he focuses on bringing a good attitude to his team, making the day enjoyable, and sharing his knowledge of plant care with others.