Crazy Plant Lovers of Metro St. Louis A Modern Twist on the Traditional Garden Club by Jennifer Schamber
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Aspin Kleiboeker
lant people have always is by no means an offensive been the best people. stereotype, it is actually They value the gifts something a large group of that nature has bestowed, they both women and men have now are generous and helpful, and embraced. It was through this they are always excited to get channel that plant enthusiast, dirt (okay, soil) under their Aspin Kleiboeker, had a vision fingernails and on their boots. to start a new Facebook group They are natural nurturers where these “crazy” people and tend to keep trying, could have a safe haven to regardless of the risk of ask for advice, post their finds failure. These types of people and make new friends. Aspin tend to gravitate towards one and fellow co-founder, Sara another, traditionally through Cooper, launched “Crazy Plant garden clubs, societies and Lovers of Metro St. Louis” on associations. Over the past A Crazy Plant Lovers meet up in the fall of 2019 pre-COVID-19. Facebook in August of 2019 few years, there has been (after several name changes to a resurgence of interest in growing plants, driven primarily by be all-inclusive). An affiliate group called “Crazy Plant Lovers of millennial consumers and the influential power of social media Metro St. Louis BST” (buy, sell, trade) quickly followed and the platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. The traditional “crazy cat group has had several in-person meetups (pre-COVID). The very lady” figure has jokingly evolved into the “crazy plant lady,” which active group is now around 2,500 people strong. Here’s what Aspin and Sara have to say about this new era of houseplants and what excites them.
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Sara: There are so many reasons why new people are being drawn to plants. A very large facet is interior design, but I believe people are also drawn to them because it helps them feel grounded in their spaces, whether they are in a city-style lofted apartment or out in the country. The ability Co-founders Aspin Kleiboeker, to pause with nature helps calm left, and Sara Cooper. and re-center the mind. Starting a collection usually happens when you fall in love with plants. For Jennifer Schamber is the General Manager of Greenscape Gardens, and plays leaderships roles in the Western Nursery & Landscape Association, GrowNative! and the Landscape & Nursery Association of Greater St. Louis. She has earned Green Profit Magazine’s Young Retailer Award, and Greenscape Gardens was named the National Winner of the 2015 “Revolutionary 100” Garden Centers by Today’s Garden Center Magazine.
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The Gateway Gardener™ SEPTEMBER 2020
Aspin Kleiboeker
Jennifer: Why do you think people are being drawn to plants (is it mostly for interior design, collecting, therapy, etc...)?
