provoke conflicts with my homeowner’s association,

but rather out of necessity. Struggling to make ends

meet during the subprime mortgage crisis, I turned
to the land I was paying a substantial mortgage for
as a source of sustenance. Little did I realize that this
simple act would mark the inception of my foodscap-
ing journey—an endeavor that would profoundly alter
the trajectory of my career years later.

sb: Where did you go after Plant Delights?

ba: Following several years focused on perennial
propagation, I felt a yearning to diversify my skill set
and immerse myself in the world of woody plants
within a wholesale context. It was a huge transition
to say the least! The production schedule included
25,000 of every holly cultivar named, and though it
was monotonous at times this significantly broadened
my knowledge base and heightened my awareness
of the ubiquitous plant species that blanket everyday
landscapes.
I must confess to a degree of critique when it comes
to conventional landscape design and maintenance
practices. My belief remains that the standards are
set too low, and that plants could serve as solutions to
environmental challenges rather than contributors to
them. However, my tenure in wholesale tree and shrub
production provided insights into the underlying
factors of conventional landscape choices.

sb: I gather that was a job you soon outgrew.

ba: In 2009, as the global economy experienced a
downturn, I embarked on a career-defining chapter as
the propagator and grower at Camellia Forest Nursery
in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. This position felt like

Above: Foodscaping is all about growing what you love to eat.

Brie has made a border of okra, her favorite summer vegetable.

HORTICULTUR E { HORTMAG .COM } E 23