Seasonal Feature:
Celebrating the Art of Homegrown Goodness

1.  If you could Describe your creative process in three words what would that look like?           

   

Vibrant Organized Chaos

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2.  What's the one ingredient you can't live without —both in your craft and your life? 

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Lemons!  Whether in my morning digestion shot, ice water throughout the day, or every flavor of jam I make…Lemon brings the goodness!

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3. What inspired you to begin gardening?

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 Growing up, my family always had a garden, often out of necessity. We also spent time foraging for nettle, candy flower, sorrel, and wild berries.  These experiences taught me the value of planting, nurturing, growing, harvesting, and preserving—it became clear to me that these practices were not just skills but gifts of sustainability and wellbeing. There’s something deeply grounding about being able to nourish yourself with produce, herbs, and flowers you’ve grown. It connects you to the earth, to your roots, and ultimately to your community, reminding us that we all have a role in the cycle of life.

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4.  If your style were a flower, or a dish, what would it be called, and why?

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My style in flower form would be: 

Celestial Ember, which would be a hibiscus that feels like it belongs to the cosmos. Its deep blue and purple petals mirror the night sky, full of mystery and twilight magic. Bright coral veins streak through the petals like glowing fire, adding warmth and energy against the calming, dreamlike backdrop. It’s bold, vibrant, and completely otherworldly.

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5.  If you had to grow, cook, or create one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

 

I would grow rainbow carrots…they show up every time, rain or shine, and always make me feel and be accomplished.

 

6.  If your work were a playlist, what would be the first three tracks? 

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“Breakfast Can Wait” By Prince, “Happiness” By The Foreign Exchange, “Dontcha” By The Internet.  

 

7.  What's a piece of advice you've received that totally changed the way you create? 

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That drawing positive and beneficial energy, people, or opportunity towards you will always depend on you being your true authentic self.

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8.  What are your top 3 favorite flowers to grow, harvest or both?  

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Nasturtium, Zinnia, and Snapdragon. I love how easy and satisfying they all are to grow. Zinnias and Snapdragons make such great cut flowers for months, and Nasturtium is a miracle medicine plant, and gorgeous!

 

9.  If you could only use one color or flavor for the next year, what would it be and why?  

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Picking one flavor would be so challenging, so I’ll go with color Purple!  Purple is royal, it’s intense, soothing and invigorating at the same time.  And it complements all shades of skin.

 

10.  What's the most unexpected place your craft has taken you —literally or figuratively? 

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I always considered anything I created to be an expression of art.  Whether my flowers, jam, children’s books, digital art, or drawings…if I created it, it was art.  But what I’ve learned over the past few years, definitely unexpectedly, is how deeply connected my art was with not only my joyful expressions, but my more challenging or traumatic experiences.  Finding a balance in the positive and negatives of my life story, have led me to a new level of understanding myself, and have brought me to areas of creation I never expected to find myself in.  I am extremely grateful for the healing surprises in my journey.

 

11.  What's one underrated skill or technique you wish more people knew about? 

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Preserving food is a vital skill that deepens our understanding of the harvest and the effort that goes into it. Learning how to harvest and preserve what you’ve grown can make all the difference in sustaining your passion for gardening or creating. It offers valuable lessons about the Earth’s life cycles and our role within them. In a world where convenience often overshadows connection, having everything readily available in stores can narrow our perspective. Embracing the full process—from seed to harvest, preservation to table—reminds us of the interconnectedness of life and the importance of participating in it.

 

12.  If you could invite three people (living or historical) to dinner, who would they be, and what would you serve and what’s the flowers of choice on the table?  

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So many possibilities!  I will start with my great-great Grandmother Ella Hunter Richardson.  She was born on June 19, 1865 in Texas, and taught herself how to read and write on medical textbooks, and settled into her purpose and passion being a midwife that caught hundreds of babies, and an incredible gardener of medicinal plants used in her practice and for her family.  My family would honor her birthday alongside the celebration of Juneteeth.  Because of this I’d serve my vegan black eyed peas, cornbread, green salad with Bramble Jam dressing, shrimp and hibiscus tea.  I’d love for Harriet Tubman, and civil rights activist and hero, Ella Baker to join us.  The table would be adorned with a large bouquet of coral and soft pink garden roses, white freesia, dark purple stock, and magenta peonies...and I'm certain empowering conversations.