Co-op Work Experience

During my first summer in the co-op program, I worked as a Gardener for the City of Winnipeg. I planted and maintained garden beds and planters in various parks and along streets in the east end of the city. Most of my summer entailed pruning, deadheading, weeding, and edging annual beds. I became very familiar with a wide variety of annuals and the conditions that allowed them to thrive.

In my second year, I wanted to broaden my work experience by working in the private sector. I maintained the grounds of a large business park and took on various landscaping, pruning, and shrub installation jobs across the park. I gained some experience in pond maintenance and irrigation repairs.

Finishing My Diploma

My second and third years were filled with specialized courses in Landscape Design, Irrigation, Arboriculture, Integrated Pest Management, Naturalized Areas, and Landscape Management.

I studied hard and graduated from Greenspace Horticulture at the top of my class in February of 2020. I also received my Arborist Certificate through the University of Manitoba.

I was so grateful for the experience, and sadly, Greenspace Horticulture lost its funding from the college, and my class was the last allowed to graduate. It was the only course of its kind in the middle of Canada, and I hope it regains its funding one day. I became very confident in my skills and knowledge in the Horticulture industry thanks to the hands-on and specialized courses that were provided.

In the spring after graduation, I returned to the City of Winnipeg as a Gardener and stayed there for the next two years.

Starting My Business

Even though I enjoyed gardening with the City of Winnipeg in the summer, I didn’t have work in the winter and I craved a creative outlet. So, in February of 2021, I started my business under the name Samara’s Plant Shop. I started selling plants out of my home that spring that I had grown from seed or cuttings. In the summer, I offered gardening and yard maintenance services when I had time on weekends. I collected compost from some friends, performed some fall clean-ups, and pushed my little Toyota Yaris to the absolute limit.

I tried to do it all at once, and I succeeded for a while, but I found myself putting more effort into maintaining my products than I was putting into advertising and finding new clients. I thought about pursuing my business full-time, but had trouble making the jump. A full-time pay cheque felt more secure. So I continued to work and sold small items to friends and family on the side.

Working in a Greenhouse

In Spring of 2022, I pivoted from working for the City of Winnipeg to working for a local greenhouse. I enjoyed the fast-paced environment and was now employed year-round. I learned so much about the industry and gained even more knowledge about the identification and needs of a larger variety of plants. My creative outlet was feeling fulfilled, and while I longed for the success of my own business, I didn’t feel I had the time or energy to make it happen. I gave everything I had to the greenhouse and put my personal business pursuits on the back burner.

My Career and Business Today

I left the greenhouse in the summer of 2024 to work for a growing property maintenance company as their Lead Horticulturist/Arborist. I grow their Cannas in the winter and plant and maintain their planters throughout the summer. My boss is supportive of my creative endeavours, and I now have more agency over my schedule and am able to pursue growth in my business.

My partner and I purchased our first home in Cooks Creek in June of 2025. We live on a 10-acre property, and the landscape is quite open. We’re excited to grow and develop our yard for ourselves and my business. I’m currently manifesting a fully functioning greenhouse by the end of 2027.

While I’m excited to grow and sell plants like I did in the early days of Samara’s Plant Shop, I am re-branding to Samara’s Plant Design to emphasize my business’s focus on interior and exterior plant design. I have so many ideas that I hope to bring to life in the next few years. If you ever have a creative project in mind involving plants that isn’t included on my services page, reach out anyway! I am always looking to expand my creative capabilities. I will provide competitive rates while I am still learning to hone and master different skills.

Thank you for supporting my business! I can’t wait to see where Samara’s Plant Design goes in a few years’ time.