Today we’d like to introduce you to Jo Batzer
Hi Jo, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Garden-Lou’s creation was a long and winding road.
Like Tootie from the film Meet Me in St. Louis, I was lucky to be born in my favorite city! The Lou has issues like any other metropolitan area, but we are also teeming with outstanding and remarkable advantages that the media seems to ignore. I often wished for something positive to counterbalance all the negative aspects the world seems to focus on about St. Louis. I just never felt I was the one to start “it.”
I was an honors art student in high school and a graphic art/fine art photography major in college, planning on a career in advertising or animation. However, I entered the floral industry after marrying and moving out of state to a small town. Floral design incorporated my love for plants and flowers with the design principles I learned in college, but after moving back to St. Louis, I felt horticulture was my true calling since I’ve always been drawn to anything that combines art with science. I obtained a second degree from the well-known St. Louis Community College-Meramec Horticulture program. While working at Missouri Botanical Garden, I did landscape design and maintenance for 14 years on the side until 2011, when I took it full-time and started JB Design.
Throughout this, I kept one foot in the door of the floral design world, doing seasonal commercial holiday installations all around St. Louis for the past twenty-seven years. (Think 25’ Christmas trees in hotel lobbies and office buildings, etc.!) One would think juggling two jobs, taking care of a family, a home, and my own garden would be enough, but during the pandemic, the light bulb clicked, and with all events and gatherings canceled, the timing seemed perfect.
And so, Garden-Lou was born; a passion project that takes my art/photography background, adds in my professional experience and love for plants, gardens, and floral design, with a healthy dose of my other love-writing, into a combination that showcases St. Louis in a positive light full of color, information, and inspiration. When I check a post’s analytics and see so many other countries represented, it makes my heart sing show tunes. The world is watching St. Louis and seeing it bloom!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The first challenge was taking that first step. Not only for the timing or the website and social platform details but for putting my quiet, little introverted self out there…FOR THE WORLD TO SEE. One moment, it was exciting; the next, it was terrifying. It changed everything once I took the leap and started getting positive feedback. For those of you with a dream, the worst thing isn’t that it might fail; the worst is living with the regret of never trying it.
Another challenge that concerned me was whether I would find enough content for an entire year or, hopefully, decades? Three and half years in, and there has never been a shortage of material. I’m positive Missouri Botanical Garden is why we have so many outstanding gardens in our area…and, of course, the gardeners and professionals that tend them. Garden-Lou isn’t just about pretty gardens or interesting plants. I feel it’s important to spotlight professionals in the area who make a living as “plant-geeks” since we have such a shortage in the horticulture industry.
Focusing on floral design mainly in the winter months when gardens are dormant helps to fill the gardening void in winter. St. Louis absolutely sparkles during the holidays. I love showcasing holiday floral work around town, including my team’s commercial work and especially what other creatives do, like Jennifer Hayes during Halloween or Dave Zettler during Christmas. The St. Louis Art Museum’s Art in Bloom event is the highlight of the floral industry calendar. It’s one of my favorite events to cover, not only for the fabulous designs but also for meeting the designers behind the floral pieces!
Finally, the biggest challenge is just finding the time. Never think bloggers, vloggers, content creators, etc., just make a quick video in a few seconds with their phones and relax the rest of the day with a fruity drink in hand…Garden-Lou is a third job, granted it’s a volunteer job, but still, the hours that go into shooting a garden or event, interviewing and putting together an article, plus a 3-minute video, could equal a full-time job if I had time to stop and tally up the hours. I wouldn’t change anything other than taking the leap earlier.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve been transitioning the landscaping side of JB Design into more garden design and garden consultation only recently. I get such a thrill combining magic and wonder into a living, breathing garden space for clients. I’m also super excited about focusing the floral design side more on residential holiday design for the upcoming season. (Christmas is only 8 months away and always in the back of my mind!) So, I’ll also be bringing some of that same magic and wonder indoors for the holidays this year.
Throughout it all is Garden-Lou, where all the roads I’ve traveled on throughout my life converge and where I’ve met some of the most creative, inspiring people on the planet. Nothing in my life has pushed me more out of my comfort zone than Garden-Lou, showing myself and the world just how great our little, big city can be.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I’m a YouTube and TCM junkie but also enjoy reading or listening to literary fiction.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://garden-lou.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gardenloustl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gardenloustl
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCH4Wqs57wcJhUJivqy7tHlw
Image Credits
Kim Dillon for the personal photo
Jo Batzer for all others.
