We were lucky to catch up with Kimmi Nguyen Lehr recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kimmi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you have any key partners or vendors – if so, how’d you find them and start working with them?

Building a Meaningful Partnership with Sienna Mulch

I first connected with Sienna Mulch, a local landscape resource company, while organizing a charity garden workshop last Fall for families about growing lettuce greens and wildflowers to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts. To make the event as impactful as possible, I reached out to local businesses for donated supplies. Sienna Mulch responded with enthusiasm and generosity, donating all the locally crafted premium soil needed for the workshop.

When I visited to pick up the soil, I quickly realized they were more than just a mulch supplier—they carefully curate high-quality products, primarily sourced from Texas, and have a deep commitment to supporting small businesses and the local community. Their values aligned perfectly with my own, and what started as a one-time collaboration turned into an ongoing partnership.

Since then, I’ve worked with Sienna Mulch to:
• Design and plant their raised garden beds, showcasing the materials they carry.
• Source plants from local nurseries and develop seasonal planting plans.
• Decorate and market their Spring Fling event with planted up Talavera planters.
• Engage with their customers at their annual Spring Fling event, leading to new clients and business opportunities.
• Plan an upcoming workshop at their location, expanding access to gardening education.

I always look for partners who share a genuine desire to serve the community, and Sienna Mulch embodies that wholeheartedly. Their willingness to collaborate, support local businesses, and build long-term relationships makes them an ideal partner. This experience has reinforced that collaboration over competition leads to stronger businesses and a more vibrant gardening community.

Kimmi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

About Nurtured Garden Studio

I’m Kimmi, the founder of Nurtured Garden Studio, a garden consulting business dedicated to helping people create beautiful, productive gardens—without the overwhelm. I specialize in culinary gardens, cut-flower gardens, and pollinator-friendly spaces, designing lush, abundant landscapes that are both functional and inspiring.

My gardening journey started as a simple experiment with my kids, but it quickly blossomed into a deep curiosity, love for nature, and appreciation for the wonder and peace it brings. Over time, it became a gift I wanted to share—helping others experience the same joy, fulfillment, and connection that gardening has brought to my life.

I work primarily with busy individuals, families, and businesses who are eager to grow their own fresh herbs, vegetables, and flowers but don’t have the time to figure it all out on their own. My clients want someone with experience and local expertise to walk alongside them, providing customized, nurturing, and holistic support to make gardening simple, enjoyable, and successful.

Through consultations, garden designs, planting plans, installations, plant shopping, planting sessions, coaching, and workshops, I help people turn their garden dreams into reality. Many of my clients start out feeling overwhelmed—unsure where to begin, lacking confidence, or frustrated by past gardening attempts. My role is to simplify the process, provide tailored guidance, and create gardens that thrive long-term—so my clients can enjoy the rewards without the stress.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

When I first started building my social media presence, I followed the steps I learned in my Gardenary Garden Consultant Certification course and focused on posting consistently—about once a day—without overthinking it. As my business grew and I began partnering with other local small businesses, I shifted my focus to cross-promoting, engaging in different groups, and fostering real connections both online and in person.

For me, social media has been less about chasing numbers and more about building community. I’ve found that genuinely engaging with others—responding to comments, sharing valuable insights, and showing up authentically—has been the most effective way to grow. My biggest advice for those just starting out? Be consistent, be yourself, and don’t just post—connect. Social media works best when it feels like a conversation, not just a broadcast.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to unlearn is the idea that saying yes to everything is the best way to serve others. As someone who naturally gives a lot of myself and finds joy in helping people, I’ve had to learn how to set healthier boundaries—both to protect my time and to ensure I can show up fully for my clients, my family, and myself.

Early on, I had a tendency to overdeliver, sometimes going above and beyond in ways that weren’t always sustainable. I’ve since realized that when I overextend myself, I’m not actually serving anyone well—I’m just draining my own energy and limiting how much I can truly give. Having a husband who is great at setting boundaries, along with a strong network of fellow garden consultants to bounce ideas off of, and a few wonderful garden consultant mentors to lean on has helped me gain a clearer sense of what’s reasonable for a client to ask and where I need to draw the line.

Now, I remind myself that kindness and generosity don’t mean saying yes to everything—they mean offering my best, within healthy limits, so that I can continue to do what I love without burnout.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://NurturedGardenStudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nurturedgardenstudio?igsh=MWt4OHNxdThmNmZzaw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14tSb1xdz2J/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Image Credits

Preethi Bosco