Background
My name is Rondi and my mission is to teach others about the exciting and fun world of plants, gardening, and landscaping. Over the years my husband, Ed, and I have created many beautiful gardens, courtyards, patios, waterfalls, pergolas, and more on our many properties, which inspired me to pursue gardening professionally.
Professional Designations
I am a Horticulturist (plants and design), Florida Master Gardener, Connecticut Master Gardener, Advanced Master Gardener, and Accredited Nursery Professional (a challenging course for green industry professionals).
Business
I’ve been in the gardening business since 2006. I’ve worked in retail garden centers in both CT and FL, as a grower and seller of plants. I was also a county Master Gardener coordinator, training future gardeners. I started my own business called Gardening Inspirations in 2008. With two greenhouses on our property in CT, as well as large trial gardens, I grew organic he
rb and vegetable plants for farmers’ markets.
Eventually I became a vendor with my own tent on the plant fair and craft show circuit in both CT and FL, focusing on miniature/fairy gardens and globes. My husband participated by hand-making many of the little accessories that couldn’t be found on the market. Our products have also been sold in FL garden center and gift stores, and we made many items by request for holidays and special occasions.
I’ve also provided onsite landscape consultations for homeowners – identifying plants, diagnosing pest and disease problems, or helping to design yards using appropriate plants. In 2022 I closed my business so I could focus on teaching.
Teaching
Concurrently with the formation of my business, I began teaching workshop style gardening classes. I’ve also hosted fun private parties, and given fee-based talks and presentations for groups. And since 2014, I’ve specifically taught seminars for new and established Floridians through an adult education program called The Enrichment Academy, located in central Florida about an hour from Orlando in a town called The Villages (where we reside). And today that educational component of helping others has become my primary focus. Class topics have included landscape design, plants & care, herbs, vegetables, houseplants, succulents, miniature/fairy gardening, terrariums, herbal wreath-making, and more.
I also share gardening knowledge as the chairperson for the Landscape & Garden Club of The Villages, where I’ve also been the guest speaker on occasion. I have authored a book called Growing Fresh Herbs, found on Amazon, with another two books in the works.
And my greenhouses have been traded in for a beautiful Floridian lanai overlooking natural woods and flowering gardens.