LANDSCAPE • DESIGN • HARDSCAPE • IRRIGATION • LIGHTSCAPE • SHOP

Mike is the heart and soul behind Bella Terra Landscapes. He keeps his finger on the pulse in every aspect associated with the business, promotes a favorable company culture, and continues to expand and refine the company vision. He grew up in Middletown, Delaware and attended Hodgsen Vo-Tech where he pursued Culinary Arts and Horticulture. After spending summers with family in Rehoboth and Bethany, he decided to move south in 2000 where he began cooking in restaurants; most notably Restaurante Zebra and The Buttery. In 2004 he and his wife Katie started Bella Terra Landscapes and the company has continued to grow and thrive ever since. In his spare time, he enjoys boating, fishing, and going to the beach with his wife and their two sons, Nicholas and Christian.

Keith has served in many capacities at Bella Terra since 2008. Although he has an office now and spends as much time at his computer as he does in the field, he understands all aspects of the job, which makes him an excellent, well-respected manager. He is a firm believer that the organic culture Bella Terra promotes with both employees and clients has been instrumental in the companies’ growth, adding a cohesiveness that brings out the smiles of team members, which in turn creates happy clients. Keith holds National Recognition as a Certified Landscape Technician and is also a certified Delaware Commercial Nutrient Handler. He oversees all aspects of the landscape maintenance division while nurturing Bella Terra’s reputation of customer service and satisfaction. Like Bella Terra, his motto is “meeting and exceeding customers’ expectations.” Any free time Keith has is dedicated to his wife and 3 boys. He can often be found coaching sports and enjoying the beach.

A self-described plant geek, Megan has been helping her clients enhance their properties’ natural beauty and potential since 2004. She is certified with the Delaware Nursery and Landscape Association as a Nursery Professional. She has a diverse array of experience in the green industry that includes research at the National Arboretum, as a horticulturist and consultant for private estates, and in her current position as a landscape designer. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in Earth Science from Frostburg State University with a minor in Biology. She is grateful for the opportunity to combine her love for plants and artistic eye to help her clients create an inviting outdoor retreat of their own. When she is not designing landscapes, Megan loves spending time with her husband and two children, socializing with family and friends, running, and of course – gardening!

Justin Bartels has a passion for landscape design that is evident in all that he touches. His vast experience in the industry (over 28 years) has given him a perspective and a flair that is second-to-none, while his quick wit and infectious laugh make him a delight to work with. He has a degree from the University of Maryland and completed additional landscape design studies at George Washington University. He is also a Certified Landscape Design Specialist as well as a Certified Nursery Professional with the Delaware Nursery and Landscape Association. Since moving to the Delaware Seashore area 20 years ago, Justin has been happily matching clients with the landscapes of their dreams. When he’s not working, you can find Justin spending time with family, socializing with friends, and hanging on the beach.

Danny Kelso has been with Bella Terra since 2012, and currently serves as an account manager for our Maintenance Division. Danny is a certified member of Nursery and Landscape Professionals, specializing in ornamental and plant maintenance.  Not only does Danny have a great rapport with clients and go above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction, he is also an environmentalist at heart, and cares deeply about preserving the beauty and sustainability of nature. When he’s not working, Danny can be found mountain biking, hiking or camping with his wife and two children.

Keith Hitch joined the Bella Terra Team in 2015, and currently serves as an account manager in our Maintenance Division. Keith is a graduate of the Air Force/Army/Marine Corps Fire Academy. Ranked at the top of his class, he served on a rescue squad for both Hurricane Charlie and Hurricane Frances while he was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida. After being honorably discharged from the service, he moved back to the Eastern Shore, and started planning a new career path. When he decided to try landscaping, he found that he was a natural. He worked his way up in the company from crew member, to foreman, to account manager and is also becoming nationally certified. Keith's military career has instilled in him the attention to detail and dependability that our clients rely on. When he is not at Bella Terra, Keith loves to ride motorcycles and spend time with his family.

Jimi is the project manager for Bella Terra's Install and Hardscape Division. He brings 10 years of experience with him along with Stihl Equipment Bronze & Silver level training. Jimi loves the challenge of fulfilling the ideas and dreams of clients. When he is not working, he enjoys being outdoors and spending time with this wife and two children. He also serves his local, volunteer fire company where he has served as Ladder Captain, Engine Captain, Rescue Captain and Assistant Chief.

Jane handles the accounts payable responsibilities for Bella Terra Landscapes, ensuring that vendors are paid in a timely manner, monitoring employee expenses, and  making sure the budget is balanced, the books are reconciled, and the taxes are paid. Jane is a transplant from Bergen County, NJ and now calls Milton, Delaware home. After working at corporate headquarters for The Movado Group, where she managed financial and security audits, she is embracing the slower pace of Sussex County and loves her new home and the surrounding beach area.

Melody is a hospice nurse turned accounts receivable manager/public relations coordinator. Melody enjoys the daily interaction with staff and customers, as well as the perks of being surrounded by all the beautiful plants and flowers grown year-round in the greenhouses. As a native of San Diego, those greenhouses are a lifesaver and much appreciated pick-me-up on cold winter days. When Melody is not working, she spends time with her husband and 3 children, traveling and exploring new cultures and history.

Lana is the primary point of contact, ready to greet you in person or over the phone. She plays a supporting role in the day-to-day operations of the company, which offers her the opportunity to learn various aspects of the business. Lana loves wearing the many hats required of her and the versatility that brings. She takes pride in representing Bella Terra Landscapes and acting as a spokesperson for the team. When she’s not manning her post, you can find her at the beach, reading a great book, or quilting.

Hope grew up gardening in Delaware and has turned a well-loved hobby into a career. She has over 20 years of experience in the industry and loves working with plants and people, especially doing floral arrangements and garden containers. In her role as nursery manager she ensures that our plants receive the attention they deserve, making them vibrant and healthy for our clients. She also assists our designers and managers by tracking down plants and trees that we do not grown onsite. Her relationships with our vendors, as well as her plant knowledge, is key in the day-to-day operations and scheduling of new landscaping projects. When Hope is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family in her native Dewey Beach.

Steve is our resident grower. From seeds to cuttings, he ensures that the magic happens in the greenhouses, and puts stock in the term “green thumb.”  Steve is passionate about plants!  In fact, he has been working in greenhouses since 1974. His profession as a grower has taken this native Virginian to North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and finally Delaware. Prior to coming to work for Bella Terra Landscapes, he worked in Lowes Garden Center as a plant specialist. Although we do order in some plants at Bella Terra, most of the glorious flowers and plants you see when visiting were grown onsite by Steve.  In his spare time, he enjoys working on his vast collection of HO model trains.