Blue Dot Design
About Sanja
Landscape design rooted in ecology, reciprocity, and place.
Founded in 2023, Blue Dot Design LLC is a landscape design studio specializing in ecologically responsible, beautiful, and resilient landscapes for homeowners, schools, nonprofit organizations, and commercial clients throughout northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan.
Founded by Sanja Jennings, the studio is built on the belief that every landscape can contribute to the health of the environment while enriching the lives of the people who experience it. By combining thoughtful design with native plants and ecological principles, Blue Dot Design creates outdoor spaces that support biodiversity, restore habitat, and foster meaningful connections between people and nature.
A Career in Conservation and Design
Sanja brings more than two decades of professional experience in plant conservation, horticulture, and ecological restoration. Throughout her career, she has worked at the intersection of conservation science, landscape stewardship, and community engagement, developing programs and partnerships that strengthen native plant populations and build more resilient ecosystems.
Her professional leadership has included:
- Chair of the Native Plant Community, American Public Gardens Association (APGA)
- Board Member, Maumee Valley Growers Association
- City of Sylvania Tree Commissioner
- Founding Member, Sacred Grounds Toledo Team
- Program Co-Chair, Wild Ones Oak Openings Region Chapter
- Native Plant Program Committee & Plant Sale Committee, Green Ribbon Initiative (current)
Roots in Curiosity and Connection
The philosophy behind Blue Dot Design began long before the studio officially opened in 2023. As a young girl, Sanja felt a deep connection to plants and the natural world. She spent countless hours exploring gardens, discovering the beauty of native flora, and finding inspiration in botanical gardens. Those early experiences grew into a lifelong passion for understanding how plants, people, and ecosystems are connected.
Guided by Reciprocity
The writings and teachings of botanist and author Robin Wall Kimmerer continue to inspire Sanja’s approach to landscape design. Her message of reciprocity between people and the living world reflects the philosophy at the heart of Blue Dot Design: landscapes should be more than beautiful—they should give back. Every project is an opportunity to restore ecological function, support pollinators and wildlife, celebrate native biodiversity, and create places where people can reconnect with nature.
Beautiful, Purposeful, Enduring
Whether designing a welcoming residential garden, an outdoor classroom for a school, or a sustainable landscape for a commercial property, Blue Dot Design LLC approaches every project with creativity, scientific knowledge, and respect for the land. The goal is simple: to create landscapes that are beautiful, purposeful, and enduring—places where both people and nature can thrive together.