Margot Shaw Taylor

Margot S. Taylor, 65, passed away in the early hours of April 28, 2025. Margot’s life was like her beloved mosaics: a landscape architect, globetrotter, ultimate frisbee player, fiddle player, artist, and so much more.

Margot was known for her expertise as a landscape architect with years of experience creating sustainable design and teaching about enviro-friendly land-use practices across the region. Early in her career, Margot worked for J. Franklin Styer Nurseries. In 1993, she was involved with designing Styers’ entry in the Philadelphia Flower Show, which featured elements inspired by Brazilian Roberto Burle Marx. Her crowning achievement in sustainable landscaping was on her own property “Dancing Tree”. It is only the second residential property in the world to earn an international certification from Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES). The property was featured in several prominent publications for its bold and innovative work. Her design extended beyond just functionality. She included a small labyrinth for meditation and created the “Magic Hut”, a straw and stucco structure that appears torn from the pages of a fantasy novel. She credited Dr. Suess as an influence for her designs.

Margot attended the Tatnall School (‘78) in Wilmington, Delaware. There she made lifelong friendships that she never relinquished. In 1983, she graduated Cum Laude from the University of Georgia with a degree in landscape architecture (BLA). She also earned an Elementary Education Certificate from West Chester University’s graduate program. She never stopped learning and eagerly shared her knowledge with others through numerous environmental education programs, including at the collegiate level.

Margot was a globe-trotting, cultural enthusiast. Following graduation, she spent two years roaming Asia and Europe. Over the years, she would travel extensively making countless friends across the globe. She recounted epic tales of her travels: from studying with Batik masters in Indonesia, visiting Tiananmen Square in Beijing just before the massive protests, living at a spiritual retreat, the Findhorn Foundation, in Scotland, to seeing Marx’s installations in person in Brazil.

While she is known mostly as a lifelong resident of Pennsylvania and Delaware, she also lived in Denver, CO and Santa Cruz, CA. Her Colorado friend group included the Babylon Sisters, her Ultimate Frisbee teammates. She adored that time and her team, regularly meeting up with these girls for decades afterwards. She played Ultimate from 1979-2010, participating in 7 national tournaments and winning the Masters with the Mid-Atlantic region women’s team.

In the early 2000s Margot added a new love, the fiddle. She took a potential hobby and transformed it into a passion. After lessons and a Celtic workshop, she started playing in

living rooms, graduated to playing wedding rehearsals, and by the end of her life was regularly jamming on stage with a whole new crew of musical friends.

More recently, Margot studied ceramics and poured herself into this new medium, taking classes and workshops. Her favorite creations were “totems” or garden sculptures built from individual pieces. She set up a complete studio on her property where she spent many hours crafting, glazing, and firing pieces for her creations.

Margot was known as “Auntie M” to her nephew, godson, and friends’ children and grandchildren. To them, she was a ball of energy who always showed up for the important moments. She offered wisdom, but never forgot to goof off with them. She had no children of her own, but Margot was loved by many who will miss her deeply.

Margot was a dedicated board member of Open Land Conservancy. She also served on the Kennett Township Environmental Advisory Council from 1990-2014, as Chair for 10 of those years. She was a member of the American Society of Landscape Architects since 1992.

Margot is predeceased by her sister Thayne, father Eugene, and mother Paula (Jones). She is survived by her brother E. Shaw (Carol Sullivan) and her nephew Blaise (Katherine Marx). A memorial service is being planned for early June. Donations in Margot’s memory can be made to Brandywine Red Clay Alliance.

The Taylor family extends their gratitude to the staff and professionals of Lancaster General Hospital, Chester County Hospital, Brandywine Senior Living, and Holisticare Hospice.

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