This interview is with Constance Sons, Owner at Native Wildflowers Nursery.

Constance Sons, Owner, Native Wildflowers Nursery

Constance, welcome to Best of Home & Garden! Could you tell our readers a bit about your journey that led you to become an expert in travel, gardening, plants, and landscaping?

Founder and CEO of Native Wildflowers Nursery. She began an online plant nursery in 2014 and built it from the ground up. Her woman-owned business is one of the most prestigious nurseries, offering plants direct to consumers. Expanding her business, she has also founded Perennial Nursery Co. and the newest addition to the portfolio, Nance Plants.

Your expertise spans a variety of areas! Can you share how these passions intertwined to shape your career path?

As the owner of a small business, my workload gets heavy. Travel is my way of unwinding and resetting my brain when I get overwhelmed. Even if it is a short weekend getaway, I'm always up for a trip.

Many of our readers are passionate about bringing the outdoors in. What's your favorite travel destination that inspires your plant and landscaping choices at home?

The Florida Keys would be the destination that inspires my plant mojo the most. We like to go to Key West, usually in January. Instead of the normal freezing temps here in TN, it's 75 and sunny down there. All the plant life and flowers are still in full bloom. That always gets me in the mood for a few tropical houseplants.

That's fascinating! Can you describe a specific plant or landscaping technique you discovered during your travels and successfully incorporated into your own home or garden?

I have always loved neatly landscaped sidewalks. While in Key West, I discovered giant ostrich ferns along the roadway on Truman Avenue. They were as tall as me. Of course, I had to stop for a photo op. It helped me see how such a simple plant could elevate an entire street. I wanted to plant them along my sidewalk at home, but my front yard gets too much sun for them to grow well.

Speaking of incorporating travel discoveries, many struggle with keeping plants healthy while away. What's your best tip for ensuring your plants thrive even when you're traveling?

If at all possible, see if a neighbor or relative will tend to your plants while you are gone. We pay people to dog-sit for our pets, so why should our plants be any different? I always pay the lady across the street to water mine while we are away.

That's incredibly helpful! Shifting gears to landscaping, what's a common landscaping misconception you've encountered, and what advice would you give to our readers based on your experience?

Do your research before installing anything. Plants are like people. They are all different and like different things. If one plant gets too much sun, or too little, it will not do well, thus costing hundreds of dollars having to replace poorly-selected plants. It is always better to take more time and even hire a professional if you have to. This is one instance where you need to "do it right the first time."

Landscaping can be a lot of work! What's your favorite low-maintenance landscaping tip for someone looking to create a beautiful outdoor space without spending hours on upkeep?

Before we install any plants at our home or our office/warehouse, we always lay landscaping fabric first. Using landscape fabric saves tons of time pulling weeds. It won't prevent them 100% but it dramatically reduces them. No landscape looks good with weeds, so that is non-negotiable for me. Buy the fabric.

Let's talk gardening tools. You mentioned using sand in your raised garden beds - what other must-have gardening tools do you recommend and why?

A well-made garden hose. Let's face it, most of them kink and bend, and you spend half your time trying to get them unbent so the water will come out. Start off with a good (expensive) garden hose and save lots of time and frustration.

Finally, what advice would you give to our readers who are just starting their gardening journey and feeling overwhelmed by all the information available?

Start small. Gardening is something that is supposed to be fun and enjoyable. If you are not experienced, start small so that it is not overwhelming. You will learn as you go, and as you learn, you can expand and add more plants.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Thanks for your time.