The caribbean plant mama Annie stole our hearts a long time before Black Girls With Gardens was created. Her refreshing business NaturalAnnie Essentials consist of soy candles, bath and body products, and cutesy handmade crafts (which you can explore here) and she has managed to share her plant addiction while maintaining mommyhood, wife duties, entrepreneurial lifestyle, and OGD (obsessive gardening disorder). From herbs, veggies, and sunflowers to an indoor jungle, Annie has been slaying her gardening obsession for years so it was a MUST we got this jewel from the plant universe to share her plant story with us!
What inspired you to start your garden?
Well I grew up with my Grandma in Jamaica and now I look back at it I think we pretty much lived in a full blown botanical garden! There were plants of all kinds EVERYWHERE! I hated it back then because it was so much work having to water everyone of those and what teenager wanted that life lol! Fast forward to my days in the US I realized my mom was the same kind of plant junkie. When I bought my home the same addiction fell upon my yard. First it was a bunch of roses and within months my entire yard was just stacked! Outdoor gardening became my thing and every year I’d do something different with my outdoor gardens-it became the talk of the neighborhood. I really only started moving my plant babies indoor in 2016, and this in itself is a whole other level to this plant addiction. My house is pretty much a little jungle now.
What does being a plant mama do for you? Is it a form of self care? Coping method?
For me-it’s the beauty, the growth, and the calmness it brings to my home. Now believe it or not I enjoy watering my plants- it mellows me out and takes me away from my extremely busy life.
What do you love the most about gardening?
Seeing each one grow! The way each plant grows so uniquely is simply mind blowing. And it’s pretty! I love pretty things 🙂
What do you dislike the most about gardening?
BUGS! I hate bugs , bugs of every kind, they creep me out ! (I can relate soooooooo much! -Jas)
What do you struggle the most with in your garden or gardening in general?
Coping with the bugs and other pesky little insects they sometimes attract (AGAIN – I feel her -Jas)
Tell us something unique and different about you and your garden.
Each plant for me tells a story-I don’t usually double up on my plants because I have a lot of stories I associate each with.
If Annie’s garden doesn’t inspire you, I don’t know what will. Find Annie just like we did via social media on IG @Annya_WB or her business IG @NaturalAnnieEssentials.