Butterflies and Blossoms FL

06/18/2026

5 Things I Wish I Knew in My 20s & 30s (That Gardening Eventually Taught Me)

1. You are perfect just the way you are.
It’s cliché, but I spent most of my teens, 20s, and early 30s obsessing over my body, my weight, & how I looked. I over-exercised, restricted food, chased every diet, potion, and “fix” I could find.
What I finally learned is the same lesson nature teaches us every day: work with what you have, not against it.

A garden thrives when we stop fighting the conditions & start understanding them. The same is true for our bodies. Your body isn’t something to battle—it’s the foundation that carries you through life.
2. Don’t wear uncomfortable shoes.
Seriously. It’s never worth it.

And in the garden? Don’t cut corners on the foundation. Healthy soil may not be glamorous, but everything depends on it. Good soil supports strong roots, healthy plants, and fewer problems down the road.

Comfortable shoes. Healthy soil. Both make the journey a whole lot easier.

3. People aren’t paying nearly as much attention to you as you think.
Most people are worried about their own lives, their own insecurities, and their own struggles.

Gardening reminds us to stay present. Stop comparing your garden to your neighbor’s. Stop comparing your life to someone else’s highlight reel.
Focus on what’s growing in your own space.

4. Protect your skin.
If I could go back, I’d wear more sunscreen and fewer regrets.

In the garden, prevention matters too. You’re the first line of defense against pests and disease. A quick walk through your garden, paying attention to what looks different, can prevent major problems later.
Take care of yourself. Take care of your plants.

5. Enjoy every step along the way.
Life isn’t just about arriving at the destination.

And gardening isn’t just about having a beautiful finished landscape.
It’s about the planning, the planting, the failures, the lessons, the surprises, the first bloom, and even the weeds that teach us patience.

Bloom where you’re planted. Trust the season you’re in. And remember that growth isn’t always visible—but it’s happening.

06/17/2026

You don’t want to sleep in this!

I love supporting small business especially those out of Florida.

When I came across the owners of this business I not only fell in love with their product but they are just gems of people. When you know who’s behind what you’re buying it makes the process even better.

I use Vina Planters almost exclusively now to house my hanging orchids and Hoyas. They don’t mold or fall apart and they are gorgeous.

Many garden centers carry them but you can also get yours on their website. They don’t pay me to do this, I just love supporting them! And every time I walk by my tree I smile because it’s pretty but they also think of them. I also get compliments ALL the time on them.

Go check them out.

06/17/2026

If you could save one pollinator at a time wouldn’t you?

There’s no hiding we are loosing native habitat at rapid rates in Florida. We can’t do much about that but what we can do it plant wildlife friendly plants in our landscapes. One leads to two and so on and so on.

My goal is to help persuade homeowners to plant more pollinator friendly plants in their landscaping.

If I can change one landscape at a time we can collectively make a difference.

Wanna join me in this quest?

06/15/2026

06/15/2026

Sorry for the confusion, let me clarify.

I kept getting asked where my cute gloves came from and I couldn’t figure out what everyone meant by that.

I wear plain black nitrile gloves I pick up in a 6 packs from Costco. The cute part are my arm sleeves. They are cleaver (as one person said).

They protect your arms from scratches and sunburn and skin irritation. That’s the “gloves” everyone was referring to.

If you go to their website and use the discount code butterfliesandblossomsfl at checkout you’ll get 10% off your entire order.

So..there’s your answer to “what kind of gloves” I’m wearing.

06/14/2026

https://www.butterfliesandblossomsfl.com/blog-3/no-more-meatballs-rethinking-how-we-prune-our-plants

There’s a look that has become so common in Florida landscapes that most people don’t even question it anymore—rows of tightly clipped shrubs shaped into perfect balls, squares, or what I like to call “meatloafs.” Clean, uniform, controlled. On the surface, it feels tidy and intentional. B...

06/14/2026

Grateful Sundays

Each week I come on here and give you something I’m grateful for. The world is loud so let’s dwell on the positives.

Today I’m grateful for the 2 people who taught me landscape design. I knew a lot about plants but I didn’t know how to create a proper design.
I was doing it all wrong and felt very inadequate.

I could not put on paper what I saw in my head.

So thank you to and .garden.workshop for guiding me along this pathway and passing along your knowledge.

I continue to learn every day!!

What are you grateful for?