My name is Kale Bodendein, and I’m the founder of Middleton Landscape & Design. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2009, and I’ve spent my career learning how thoughtful landscape design can make the spaces around our homes more useful, beautiful, and connected to the way we live.

Before starting Middleton Landscape & Design in July 2025, I spent eight years working for two local landscaping contractors. That hands-on experience taught me not only how to design landscapes, but how to build them well and understand how they will function over time. I bring that practical experience together with my background in landscape architecture to create outdoor spaces that are intentional, durable, and enjoyable to use.

A major part of my approach is maximizing the human use of a space, particularly in urban and residential settings where every square foot matters. A well-designed landscape can create an outdoor room, provide a place to gather, make a small yard feel expansive, or simply give you a reason to spend more time outside. I’m interested in finding the potential in a space and making it work harder for the people who use it—without making it feel over-designed or crowded.

I also believe a landscape should have a strong relationship with the architecture of the home. The house and garden should feel like parts of the same composition, with the landscape complementing the scale, materials, character, and history of the architecture. This is especially exciting in the Madison area, where there are so many beautiful historic homes and neighborhoods. Rather than treating the landscape as something separate from the house, I enjoy finding ways to highlight and extend what makes each property unique.

My perspective has also been shaped by where I’ve lived and traveled. I grew up in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area, where I developed an appreciation for the natural character of the Midwest. In my twenties, I lived in Asia and became fascinated by the small, human-scale gardens I encountered there. Those gardens showed me how much character can be created in a limited space through careful proportions, thoughtful planting, texture, and seasonal change.

I bring those influences together in my work today: Wisconsin’s natural landscape, the character of our local architecture, the practical realities of living in a northern climate, and the idea that even a small garden can be a meaningful place. My goal is to create landscapes with a sense of permanence and personality—spaces that feel like they belong to the home, the people who live there, and the place itself.