The Monrovia & RYG Connection

 

On my post from earlier this week I shared a video I did with Monrovia on fall shrub care. I know, right? Little ole’ me…RYG… just trying to help others get outside more, working with Monrovia…the end-all-be-all of plant companies. Whhhhaatt?!?

Monrovia & RYG

So how did I get connected with Monrovia? Well, I guess I have Google and a healthy dose of God’s favor for that. From what I understand, Monrovia found Redeem Your Ground through a Google search and they liked what & how we were doing things. And who we’re doing it for…which is y’all!

That led to their inviting me to attend their 90^th Anniversary celebration all the way on the other side of the country. It was an email…so at first I honestly thought it was spam or some sort of fluke. But clearly I was wrong.

Fast forward to the first weekend of August and I was hanging out with some other (really great!) garden bloggers and the folks from Monrovia at their beautiful nursery in Dayton, Oregon…just outside of Portland. It was a really incredible experience. Not only did I meet some truly amazing people, I also learned a lot about plants and about Monrovia…the company & the people (See the Top 3 Things I Learned below.)

So when I got back from Oregon, excited about all that I had learned…on a whim, I reached out to say thank you and to suggest a few ways we could work together. Why not, right? As my dad always says…You can’t catch a fish unless your hook’s in the water. So I guess you could say I was fishing.

Fast forward again…to the beginning of October…and there I was, in my back yard…awkwardly in front of the camera, being directed by my videographer friend, Joe Braun, and Monrovia’s Chief Marketing Officer, Katie Tamony. Crazy right?!? [If you missed the video, you can check it out below.]

 

I was so honored to play a role in the production of the video…and hoping that it’s well received and that it will encourage others to get outside more.

Top 3 Things I Learned on My Monrovia Trip

To whet your whistle a bit, here are 3 things I plan to write more about from my trip to Monrovia’s nursery in Oregon.

1. There’s a Ton of Science behind Everything Monrovia Does.

While in Oregon I discovered that there is so much science behind everything that Monrovia does. From their soil mixes, water management, and tissue culture labs…to their hybridization & grafting methods, production schedule, and pest & disease control…it’s all steeped in science. And.Oh.So.Cool!

2. Monrovia’s Always on the Hunt for the Next Greatest Plants.

Whether it be in the far-off forests of China or in the plant breeding labs of Europe, Monrovia is always in search of unique, strong, beautiful plants that could one day be in your yard.

We met two of their leading plant hunters…who introduced us to Monrovia’s new plant collections. The stories they shared about each plant were really fascinating. So I look forward to sharing more on future posts.

3. Monrovia & RYG Want the Same Thing.

What I learned on my trip that encouraged me the most was how in line Monrovia’s and RYG’s passions and missions are.  They say “Grow beautifully” and we say “Redeem Your Ground.” Tomayto, tomahto.

Yes, they may be a huge company and RYG is…well…not. But at the end of the day, at the core we’re a lot alike – we both want to help people make the most of their outdoor spaces and lives…and if that bubbles over to the inside of their homes, literally & figuratively…all the better!

 

So there you have it…how RYG got connected with Monrovia and a bit about what I learned on my trip there.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there will be more to share about this connection in the future.

Oh…and please check back to read more about what I learned from my trip to Monrovia on future posts.

Take care friends,