How It All Began

Hi there, I'm Marisa — mom of four, full-time business owner, and someone who used to think a yard was just something to mow on weekends.

That changed in 2019, when I brought home two tiny swallowtail caterpillars from a local nursery. I meant it as a fun science project for my kids. Instead, watching those caterpillars grow and transform sparked something I hadn't expected. Within months, our yard was full of native plants, butterflies, bees, and birds, and we'd certified our front yard as a Monarch Waystation. But the realization underneath it mattered more than the certificate: even a small suburban yard could make a real difference.

None of it would happen without my husband. He's my biggest supporter, the one digging alongside me on the big garden projects and cheering on the small stuff, right down to liking a post. I run a busy embroidery business while raising a family, so spare time is rare. But the time I do have, I pour into this, and he's right there with me. Helping people reconnect with nature is what I care about most.

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The Transformation & Mission

That small moment of curiosity reshaped how I see the world. I'd been "plant and insect blind" most of my life, never noticing the intricate world of pollinators right under my nose. Now I notice all of it: the quiet cooperation of bees and wasps, butterflies laying eggs, insects pausing to clean themselves at our garden water dish.

Every native plant I add feels like an act of hope, a small stand against sterile, lifeless landscapes. My kids point out goldenrod and milkweed while we're running errands. Neighbors stop to ask about our wildflower-filled yard. And in the thick of running a business, this work grounds me. It's a reminder that change doesn't require perfection or free time, only intention.

Through Nature and Blooms, my art, and my book-in-progress We Are Nature: A Journey Home, I want to share the joy and quiet peace of living closer to the wild. I believe every yard, no matter how small, can be a sanctuary, and every person can be a steward of something beautiful.

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Stay Connected
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If this resonated with you, if you've ever paused to watch a butterfly or felt the quiet magic of being outside, I'd love to stay in touch.

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🌿 Let's grow something beautiful together.

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