We recently connected with Jennifer Ruckman and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer , thanks for joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I definitely think that I started my career at just the right time. My kids are teenagers and more independent and I think it is so good for them to see me going after my dream career and literally building my brand from scratch. I love being a role model for them and showing them that there is value is loving what you do. Having a creative outlet, whether you monetize it or not, is so good for your soul.

Jennifer , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Jennifer Ruckman. I’m a plant stylist and owner of One Trick Peony Woodlands, a pop-up plant and flower shop in The Woodlands, TX. One Trick Peony Woodlands is about all things plant and garden. I do floral arrangements, Custom personal and corporate gifting, pop-up flower and succulent bars, gardening workshops, and personal shopping for and styling of indoor plants for residential and commercial homes and business. Many of my clients want to add a little green to their decor and don’t know where to start. I am their solution. I will consult with them about their interests (do they travel often? Do they have pets or small children? Are they a beginner “plant parent”?) I also assess their space (light, room temperature, direction it faces, etc.) and find a plant and pot combo that matches their aesthetic and comfort level.
I also do many flower bars and workshops for special occasions: Sweet Sixteen parties, bridal and baby showers, and staff appreciation events with delivery in The Woodlands. Participants can either learn how to make a floral arrangement or pick out flowers for a custom bouquet.
Most of my current floral work has been custom floral arrangements for seasonal activities: proms, graduations, holidays. One thing that sets me apart from others is that I offer two different payment options for clients hiring me to do a special event, let’s say, centerpieces for a dinner party : I offer one price if they want to keep the vase and one price for vase rental. Over and over I am told by clients how convenient this is. No one wants a house full of “stuff” and the convenience of renting the vessels helps to eliminate that. I am also working on a plant rental package for realtors who are staging homes for sale, so stay tuned!
I want clients to know that whether they are hiring me to add greenery and flowers to their indoor space or they want me to do a patio or front porch “refresh”, every job I take is customized to the needs of the client. I want whatever I bring into their lives to add a sense of joy, not stress. I am fortunate to live in an area where I have a lot of great plant nurseries at my disposal, so I am able to get the best plants. After I purchase it for the client, I repot it in nutrient rich soil, treat it for potential pests, and deliver it with detailed instructions on how to care for it.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I was hired to do a big patio install recently and I was at the nursery loading plants into my car. It was a LOT of plants. I had a mix of veggie starters for a small garden, indoor plants for a home office, and pollinators for a patio. A gentleman walked by ( I was parked right by the entrance) and said to me, “You’re not going to plant that all yourself are you?” I said yes and we chatted for a bit. He asked me if I was a landscaper and I said that I was a plant stylist. He responded, “Well that sounds made up..” He was not impressed! I went on to explain to him what exactly it is that I do, but I stopped myself half-way through and reminded myself that not everyone thinks like a creative and I don’t have to justify my professional choices to anyone, let alone a stranger who, clearly, thought everything I was saying was silly.
Part of the joy of being a plant stylist is that you get to introduce people to new plants or flowers that they may have never heard of. Our lives are SO busy…it is a great feeling to bring a few options to a client, give them a brief description, and watch them become genuinely interested in learning about something new. Many adults don’t feel like they have time for a new hobby or interest. Plants are great because they force you to care about something other than yourself and to slow down.
I think to exist simultaneously as a professional and a creative you have to have a steadfast belief in yourself and your vision. Everyone will have an opinion if your career is seen as “non-traditional”, but you just have to let your work stand for itself and trust the process. Eventually those clients that are like minded ; those that respect what you do and see it as a a service that can meet their niche/specific need, will seek you out.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Social media will either be the best thing that happens to your business or, the bane of your existence. Right from the beginning I decided that my IG was going to just be an extension of my personality. Trying to curate a “perfect” color-coded aesthetic with perfectly planned posts was just not for me. I want my clients to know that I am a working parent, I want them the see the “journey” that I am on to be the best professional I can be. I post every workshop I attend, bouquet I make, and cucumber that I grow. I want my clients to feel like we are on a journey to learn and about plants and floral design together. My biggest pet peeve is when a company or brand uses their social media to intentionally make their “followers” feel “less than”. My favorite thing to do is to post after a home install or floral delivery. When I finish a job there is such a satisfaction knowing that I left something more beautiful than when I first saw it. I love creating that feeling together with a client. I love making a home or office feel like a place that they want to spend their time. My last client told me, “I’m never going to want to leave my patio..” That makes me happy. For me, social media is just a platform to have fun with what I do. I keep it light and I think my followers appreciate that.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.onetrickpeonywoodlands.net
• Instagram: @onetrickpeonywoodlands
• Facebook: One Trick Peony Woodlands

Image Credits
@spryartphotography