We recently connected with Gabriella De Souza and have shared our conversation below.

Gabriella, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I am a passionate scientist and educator, but I have had an entrepreneurial mindset my entire life. I had been selling plants at markets on and off for a few years, but I started to feel that the plant vendor market was becoming saturated. House plant supply was increasing and surely enough the demand began to decrease. In April of 2023, I had been growing a native flower patch on my property for about two years. I started the flower patch in honor of one of my best friends and neighbors, Lauren Orzechowski, who passed away in 2021. We bonded for years over plants and she had given me a giant bag of wildflower seeds. The flower patch started out small, but after two years it had taken up almost a third of an acre. By then, I decided that I should share the beauty of these native flowers with others. My goal was to offer $5 flower bouquets because everyone deserves fresh flowers! After making and selling bouquets for a little while, I came across a video online of someone encasing fake flowers in resin to make a necklace. It was pretty, but I thought if they used real flowers, it would be even more beautiful. I decided to take a risk and try my hand at resin art. I had worked as an herbarium assistant at the UNC Wilmington Herbarium for about a year, and had gained valuable experience pressing and preserving flowers! The first few pieces I made were not showstoppers…but after a lot of practice, I have begun to master my techniques! Since 2023, I continue to grow, press, and preserve flowers to create unique jewelry and accessories. I also use my passion for science to educate the Wilmington community through nature inspired workshops. The name “The Plant Ecologist” reflects my aim to build connections between individuals and the environment through my workshops and nature inspired accessories.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

The Plant Ecologist is a venture that combines my love for science, education, and nature. Native to and based in Wilmington, North Carolina, I’m an educator, environmental scientist, and entrepreneur. My journey into this field began with a deep-rooted passion for plants and the environment. I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Biology & Environmental Sciences and a Master of Science in Biology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, which laid the foundation for my career.

The Plant Ecologist was born out of my desire to share the beauty and importance of native plants with others. It all started with a native flower patch I grew in honor of my best friend and neighbor, Lauren Orzechowski, who passed away in 2021. This patch, which eventually covered almost a third of an acre, inspired me to create $5 flower bouquets, making fresh flowers accessible to everyone. My venture into resin art began when I saw a video of someone encasing fake flowers in resin to make a necklace. With my experience as a herbarium assistant at the UNC Wilmington Herbarium, I decided to try my hand at encasing real flowers in resin. This led to the creation of unique jewelry and accessories, each piece preserving a bit of natural beauty.

At The Plant Ecologist, we offer a range of products and services, including nature-inspired workshops, resin art jewelry, and accessories featuring pressed and preserved flowers. Our workshops aim to educate and inspire the Wilmington community about the natural world, fostering a deeper connection between people and their environment. What sets us apart is our commitment to sustainability and education. We use locally grown, flowers in our products, promoting biodiversity and environmental awareness. Our brand is more than just a business; it’s a platform for advocacy and learning.

I’m most proud of the impact The Plant Ecologist has had on our community. From educating children about native plants to providing adults with a creative outlet through our workshops, we’ve created a space where people can connect with nature and each other. For potential clients, followers, and fans, I want you to know that The Plant Ecologist is a brand rooted in passion, science, and creativity. Our products and services are designed to bring a piece of the natural world into your life, whether it’s through a beautiful piece of jewelry or an enlightening workshop. Join us in our mission to empower green thumbs through plant education!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

After hosting a few workshops, I started to see more and more workshops pop up in my community. I began to get a bit discouraged and worrisome about not getting enough participants or ticket sales. I had noticed two different businesses had used the exact same workshop theme and format as I was using–which maybe you could say I guess I was doing something right, but it began to really frustrate me. My boyfriend had been hearing and feeling my frustration, but one day said something that really stuck with me. I cannot remember the quote directly, but it was something to the effect of “Gabriella. Even if they host a workshop that is a copy of yours, there are more people in this town than it is possible for you to serve. You have so much to offer and your events are so unique.” This really stuck with me and I have had to teach myself that there really are way more people out there than I can serve on my own. I can’t let imposter syndrome or anxiety get me down.

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

I created my Instagram account in 2012. My old username on instagram was actually “TheAspiringBiologist”. As cheesy as it sounds, when I finished my master’s of science, I decided that it was time to change my username because I really was a biologist now. I went with “ThePlantEcologist” because throughout my college career, plant ecology and plant systematics have really resonated with me. They are topics that I am extremely passionate about and I wanted to share my knowledge online. Since 2012, I have grown my followers to a humble 2,500. I try my best to post reels and increase engagement, but it’s hard when you’re a “one-man-band” as they say. I appreciate each and every person that has followed, shared, liked, or commented along the way. Every little bit helps when you are trying to increase online sales. The only advice I have for those that are new to social media is to stick with it and keep the goal in mind that you are trying to build a community.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theplantecologist.com
• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/ThePlantEcologist
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/ThePlantEcologist
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielladesouza/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePlantEcologist

Image Credits
The featured photo of me is by Daria Amato Photography.