We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Ruckman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

It all started with a plant named Virginia… My Mom was going out of town and asked me to look after her Peace Lily, Virginia, named after a dear friend who had passed away. I half-heartedly took the plant home with me and kinda-sorta threw some water in it and put it near a window. Needless to say, it did not look great upon her return and seeing how disappointed my Mom was made me feel terrible. I vowed to do better next time, and began researching and purchasing my own houseplants. I learned about essentials like light and humidity, location and pests and learned how to place the right plant in the correct environment. I have always loved styling my own home and began incorporating flowers and a bit of greenery here and there. One plant led to thirty more and next thing I knew I was helping friends do the same and fielding calls and texts about their own houseplants. Plants can give us a much-needed connection not only to the natural world, but also to other people. No matter your budget, your taste, or your lifestyle, houseplants and flowers can add a little happiness and vitality to everyone’s home or place of work. I tried to figure out how to marry the two concepts and decided on a pop-up plant shop concept.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love to watch someone’s face when they ask what I do and I tell them that I am a “plant stylist”. It even sounds ridiculous to me and I AM the stylist! I’m excited to be doing something that is such a niche area. I always joke that I am the “Snoop Dog of plants”, meaning, there is little that I say “no” to. Do you need a pop-up flower bar for a Sweet Sixteen, bridal or baby shower? You got it. Do you need a succulent planting party for your book club? I’ll be there. Want to show your client, hostess, or friend some appreciation? Let me make them a custom greenery basket. Want to grab some bubbly with your friends and make bouquets? Let’s do it. Do you have an empty space in your home or office that could use some plant love? I’d be happy to find something for you!

There are so many ways that plants and flowers can bring people together. I am excited to bring One Trick Peony Woodlands into The Woodlands community and get people excited about plants. They are such a great way to slow ourselves down in such a busy world. Owning plants can help with stress and anxiety, add life to sterile spaces, improve indoor air quality, not to mention, they are extremely therapeutic to care for. I want people to know that not only can everyone have a green thumb, but it is extremely beneficial to your heath and wellness.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

If I had a friend in town, we’d start by grabbing a coffee at Lovebeans in Creekside here in The Woodlands, then head over to the Woodlands Waterway. We’d walk the three-mile waterway, and check out the 35,000 ft. mural in Waterway Square by Alex Katz, see the Koi in the Koi Garden, and rent a kayak at the River Row Boat House. If we are lucky and there is a concert at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, we’ll check that out later that night after we have dinner at Uni Sushi.

If we are heading into downtown Houston, we are definitely going to the Cockrell Butterfly Center at the Museum of Natural Science or, we’ll walk the Houston Botanic Garden. Dinner at B&B Butchers?
Let’s hope there is an Astros game in town, too!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I was trying to figure out a way that I could create a plant pop-up shop when I came across a sweet, little, yellow, single-horse trailer and I thought, “that’s it!” So, I’d like to thank Mr. Stephen Davis from Rio Rico, AZ for his amazing craftsmanship and attention to detail. Without him, “Buttercup” would never have become part of my family (and stolen my husbands parking space).

My parents have been incredibly influential in my plant journey. My Dad always took such pride in our yard (especially his roses; It’s no accident that I now have a huge backyard vegetable and flower garden along with almost 20 rose bushes!) and My Mom still loves her patio and houseplants. We spend the first 10 minutes of each visit checking them out (I recently stole her fiddle leaf fig and brought it home to “rehab” it..guess it’s mine now!)
I could spend hours naming the various “plant instagrammers” whose tips and tricks I have learned from. In a world where social media can be toxic, I am grateful for the positivity and encouragement I have found there.
A big “thank you” to my kids, who have learned to just look the other way when Mom comes in with another plant or takes over the kitchen making more bouquets…I hope that they see the importance of doing something that makes you genuinely happy, whether you make money from it or not, and that there is value in investing your time and care in something so it can thrive and bring you happiness for years to come.
And finally, thanks to my husband, who no longer bats an eye when I say things like, “can you help me bring something in from the car?…” He already knows it’s probably a plant… or a flat of vegetable starters…. or a bucket of flowers….or, is that another planter?…

Instagram: @onetrickpeonywoodlands

Facebook: Jen Ruckman, One Trick Peony Woodlands

Other: email: 1trickpeonywoodlandsjen@gmail.com

Image Credits
Tracy Robinson, SpryArt Photography

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