The Resilient Gardener (2026)

22/12/2023

Take a hike 🖤

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted here. This year has been full of growth and reflection. Since posting last, I have received my certificate in horticultural therapy from the Horticultural Therapy Institute through Colorado State University, grew my business at Flower Child Plants and dedicated energy to my personal life.

Sometimes we have to tell ourselves to “take a hike” to gain perspective on our lives to create the path for the change we desire. I am thankful for the journey in pursuing horticultural therapy and have learned so much from the course work, facilitators as well as my fellow classmates. While this is true, if I’m being honest, the journey wasn’t quite what I expected it to be.

As is life, right? Sometimes we set out for a goal and while we can be objectively driven, its complicated when things evolve differently than expected. My idea and goals for horticultural therapy have changed over and over through this journey. This experience reminded me that even though our journey may be different than anticipated, the outcome is still meaningful and valid.

I can’t wait to share more about the benefits of horticultural therapy with you and provide these services to various populations in Dallas in 2024🌿

07/07/2023

“Plant one for the birds, one for the bees(caterpillars) & one for me”. 🐛🦋👩🏻‍🌾 , A wise horticulturist & friend shared this with me many years ago when I was working at after college. That saying has stuck with me over the years and has shaped the way I garden personally & in my business .

In gardening, we have the opportunity to create habitats and community in the spaces we cultivate - both with people and the critters. Understanding the importance of abundance is what helps a garden and the organisms that dwell there thrive. Being able to share what we grow and nourish oneself in the process, is truly a gift that keeps giving. 💚

Today I counted 18 swallowtail caterpillars on my Rue in my garden 😍I attracted the butterflies to my yard with various perennials but they especially love the pentas in my vegetable garden.

In what ways do you cultivate abundance in the “garden” of your life? 👩🏻‍🌾

11/06/2023

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly🐛✨🦋

I pick up these Glitterati Purple Star Pentas by Ball Seed at last week. I was instantly enamored by their bicolored flower and knew I had to add it to my summer planting this year. Though I’m clearly not the only admirer 😍

02/04/2023

With time, we reap what we sow✨💐👩🏻‍🌾 Cultivating a beautiful and abundant life can take some patience, but it’s always worth the wait 💚 Watching the life cycle of the plants in my garden reminds me to trust the process and have faith that things will bloom in their own time.

Snapdragon seeds by

18/03/2023

‘Easy Does It’🌹 has always been one of my favorite rose cultivars to date. The name really stands for itself, a fragrant and resilient rose that is not usually plagued by our climate. I think half of why I love this rose, is for it’s name. In fact, I’m whispering ‘easy does it’ to myself as I say hello to spring- though it’s felt like spring since late February. This is my 18th spring in the industry and my 9th spring in business with and even though, I’ve spent half my life gardening professionally, I’ve spent most of my free time outdoors my entire life. Spring is long days of beautiful chaos and it challenges me and teaches me something new every year. That’s why I love gardening, for its mystery- because it’s impossible to know everything about plants and nature🌿 Not everyday gardening is a “stop and smell the roses” kind of day but I try too every now again, in the fury that is spring- or that is life. I hope you do too 🧡

09/03/2023

It is said that before entering the sea a river trembles with fear 🌊🖤✨

If you asked me 4 years ago where I thought I would be today, it definitely would not be here. The last time I was at the Pacific ocean, it was truly a lifetime ago, or so it seems. It’s been healing to reclaim the past by visiting familiar places and making new memories in this chapter. Four years ago this spring I was in the calm of the storm that lied ahead. I was fresh out of a DV situation and my world had been completely shattered. I became listless, depressed and went into debt. I began to abuse substances & alcohol- I completely abandoned myself by trying to cope with had happened to me. This cycle went on for years after leaving until I really faced the truth and made a courageous move to change my life.

The truth is I knew I needed to leave the relationship long before I was willing to admit it to myself. One day in 2018 a wave of truth washed over me and realized - I no longer recognized who I was and I wasn’t living a life that I wanted. While bad things might have happened to me, I had more power than I gave myself credit for and the only way out - was into the sea. I had the power to get what I wanted and deserved out of life- I just didn’t realize at the time because I had given up. Walking away from what’s familiar and having the trust that it will all work out was one of the hardest decisions I ever made.

While the sea can be wicked, she has always been beautiful to me. When I’m at the ocean I feel grounded and have no choice but to be honest with myself. She washes me clean. While our paths can be uncertain or treacherous, if you can lean into what brings you peace you can ride the tides of life. It’s certainly no easy feat and a never ending journey that requires forgiveness for yourself and others. So even if you aren’t exactly where you want to be, remember you can lean in anytime. Healing is never linear, it ebbs and flows- so don’t forget to recognize and thank yourself for the work you’ve done no matter where you are in your journey

03/03/2023

In February I completed the second course with the Horticultural Therapy Institute of Colorado State University 👩🏻‍🌾 Class was held at the beautiful Filoli botanical garden in Woodside, California. During this class we practiced and learned more techniques for HT programming with a variety of populations. I’m really thankful for this opportunity to learn and to meet so many like-minded folks. We have another class in May and the final class in September. I can’t believe a year has nearly passed since I took a step outside my comfort zone to follow my true passion of connecting people to nature🌿 Thank you for following along this journey with me 🥲

14/02/2023

Be more loving 💐🥰💝 Wearing your heart on your sleeve or being a hopeless romantic has its ups & downs - but I’ll never regret the love I had to give to those who have come & gone from my life, friends or lovers. Love yourself and each other fiercely because one day this all ends ✨🌿💕

23/01/2023

Just a few weeks until my next class with the Horticultural Therapy Institute! The second class in this program with will focus on horticultural therapy techniques and will be held at gardens in Woodside, California! In this class we will have the opportunity to practice methods for adapting tools, environments and tasks to enable future clients to be able to fully participate in gardening tasks or activities for the most enrichment possible🌿 I’m so thankful and excited to learn, see my classmates again & exploring a new state! 👩🏻‍🌾

08/01/2023

Sunday harvest 👩🏻‍🌾✨🥦 It’s been exciting to see the transition in the garden this fall. This weekend I’ve been harvesting broccoli, beets & carrots to make way for new crops this spring. This week I’m planting onions, leeks & spinach in the garden while also starting tomatoes inside 🌱

Growing my garden mostly by seed has been such an inspiring project. Production took more time than usual am I’m accustomed to planting with starts since I’m always in a rush 😅. I appreciate the lesson in patience this garden has gifted me so far. Planting by seed reminded me of that it’s important to have faith in the process as we grow. Sometimes we can’t imagine what the next season holds for us but that shouldn’t stop us from growing🥕

31/12/2022

“All the leaves are brown🍂
And the sky is gray
I've been for a walk
On a winter's day”

Yesterday I took a pause and spent a few hours in nature. It felt good to re-ground myself and reflect on the year with a lifelong friend. Admittedly, I am a sucker for nostalgia and have found myself to be someone who often ruminates in the past and focuses on future plans. What I love about being in nature is how it creates a path to being present, focusing on the here and now. Society pressures us to be anything but in the present- yet that’s often where you can find true freedom. Sometimes being in the moment isn’t a “walk in the park” per se, however sitting with the feelings and working through them can lend its own kind of solace if you can cultivate the courage to do so🌿 I hope you all take a moment to pause and be present today- Happy New Year! 👩🏻‍🌾

25/12/2022

Happy Holidays🎄I hope you all have a wonderful day!

The Resilient Gardener