Winterbloom Inc.
Artisanal Landscaping 
Serving the Portland Metro Area

History of Winterbloom

Phil Thornburg is the president of Winterbloom, Inc., a landscape design, installation and gardening company in Tigard, Oregon. Phil and his wife, Barb, began the company in October of 1983. Winterbloom’s motto is “creating private Edens one home at a time." Most of their landscape work has been residential, but they have also installed several non-profit landscapes, a park and several business landscapes over the years.

 Phil grew up in the eastern part of the Belgian Congo, called Ruanda-Urundi, from 1953-1969. During his time there it changed into Zaire, Rwanda and Burundi of post-colonial times. His parents were Quaker missionaries who were involved in helping to sustainably create the secondary education system for these countries. They were also involved in distributing aid to refugees during the many wars. His family was required to be mostly self-sufficient. That included growing much of their own fruits and vegetables as well as tending any “landscaping”, that they might have around the house.  He was very fortunate that the early missionaries, who began the work in the 30’s, appreciated beauty and were accomplished horticulturists. The houses may have been simple brick and thatch, but the landscaping was beautiful.

In 1969 Phil graduated from Rift Valley Academy in Kenya. At 17 he was sent to the USA, spending two years matriculating at George Fox College, Newberg, Oregon. Following this, he spent a year in Switzerland where he maintained the landscape for a small resort and studied French at the University of Lausanne. Phil transferred to Oregon State University the next year and finally graduated in 1974 with a BS in Horticulture/Agriculture/Soil Science. Prior to and following graduation, Phil took classes in design from Oregon State University, George Fox University and the John Brooks Institution. Since 1983 Phil’s landscape design work has been published in several forms (below).

Phil has been married to Barb since 1974. They have 2 daughters; Serenity and Samara, both married with children of their own.

Achievements

Winterbloom’s work has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Woman’s Day Home Remodeling Issue, Garden Ideas & Outdoor Living Magazine, Pool Scaping, Deck Scaping and highlighted in the Oregonian.

Phil has spoken at the Yard, Garden and Patio Show, the Rhododendron Society and the Fuchsia Society, and is a regular speaker at garden clubs and master gardener events.

Phil has served as an adjunct faculty member offering courses through Portland Community College, Clackamas Community College and Oregon State University’s Extension Services program in Design and Horticulture.

Phil is a Lifetime Oregon Certified Nurseryman, #248.

Various Winterbloom employees hold degrees in agriculture, horticulture and landscape design.

Winterbloom’s installation foremen are licensed with the Oregon Landscape Contractors Board.

Various individual employees are certified as: arborists, pesticide applicators and landscape technicians.
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