Hello and welcome!

I'm Alison, a certified professional horticulturist with over two decades of experience cultivating beautiful, sustainable garden spaces. My passion for plants began as a kid and because of it, I’ve focused on working in diverse roles across the horticulture industry. After earning my degree in agricultural education from Washington State University (Go Cougs!), I worked as a high school agriculture teacher, developing horticulture and floriculture curricula and guiding students through hands-on learning experiences. This background in education continues to shape my approach, as I love teaching, learning, and sharing plant knowledge.

I later worked for a wholesale nursery where I honed my skills in propagation, pest management, and doting on hundreds of thousands of plants. I learned a lot during my retail experience as it deepened my expertise in plant identification and care.

In 2016, I founded Northwest Botanista, where I combine my love of Pacific Northwest gardening with a passion for teaching. Today, I offer plant workshops, container design, garden coaching, and I grow a small amount plants from seed and cuttings for my annual online spring sale.

Gardening is for everyone, and mistakes are a natural part of the process, often leading to unexpected successes in plant selection and design. If you have been to a plant workshop, you have heard me preach about Wabi Sabi! I also emphasize resilient gardening practices that increase biodiversity, and I carefully consider the unique microclimates and niche spaces within each garden. Whether it’s exposure to sunlight, the shading of trees, or other environmental factors, I help select the best plants and design for each area to create thriving, adaptable, and beautiful spaces.