The dream of Zadies was launched partly from our desire to showcase succulents as art, and partly because we were “teched out” and needed a change. Recently, urban life meant spending over an hour commuting to work where we spent most of our days looking at a computer screen. Sound familiar?

If you are like us, you know how difficult urban life can be and how disconnected from nature we can feel. Initially, we weren’t sure we could create a new life for ourselves, but at our core we believed that gardening and plants would us help us breathe again.

So we started with that core value in mind, and turned those small breaths of fresh air into our business.

Now we proudly specialize in creating lush tabletop succulent gardens for urban retail and events. Each design is uniquely handcrafted, locally-sourced, eco-friendly, and blended with other natural elements such as crystals and flowers for added vibrancy.

What started as a pipe dream has become a reality, and we give thanks for that gift every day. We’ve learned that everything grows better in gratitude, and so from that place we look forward to connecting with you, and are excited to provide just the right living art that can support your own dreams.

We are a small business, but you could say we are mightily working to revitalize the world - one succulent at a time.

At Our Core

We respect the earth and hold reverence for her beauty, so you will see our mission to be both playful and exalting being borne out in everything we do.

We respect our community and regularly hold DIY workshops so people of all ages can come dig in the soil, find succulents they love, and learn to confidently care for their own plants.

Proud Partner

Our Founder

Growing up in a small farm town in Iowa, I was keenly aware of the power of plants at an early age. I fondly remember harvesting potatoes with my dad and sharing bountiful tomato crops while the fireflies lit up our summer nights.

As a Midwesterner, you can imagine my surprise when I first saw succulents in California! After living in San Diego for 16 years, I have cultivated a deep appreciation for the grace and resilience of these plants – all while spending days as a college professor (I also hold a Ph.D. in Psychology).

Yes, it’s a rather eclectic background, some of which I owe to the encouragement of my grandmother who was willing to try most anything and always said, “If it can be done - you can do it.” She was a pioneer, a historian, and a remarkable woman who was not afraid to take risks. In fact, the name Zadies is directly inspired by her.

“The name Zadies is rare, unique, and independent. My grandmother embodied all those qualities and taught me to do the same - with an unapologetic sense of color and style whenever possible.”

Today, Zadies brings all the riches of my rural upbringing into current city life. I now delight in combining my treasured love of plants, my penchant for art, and my experience in the classroom by creating succulent gardens and teaching others to do the same. Granted, it’s been one of the biggest risks of my life to step out into this unknown world of business, especially as a woman. But my passion for rekindling people’s connection to nature and my commitment to being a “force of beauty” in this world keep me going. Plus I keep a picture of my grandmother close by and know she would be whispering, “You got this.”

I hope you enjoy these living art creations and I would love to hear about your own journey too. We are all in this together, so we might as well plant some love along the way...

In beauty and boldness,