About
How 35 & Thrive Started/ Where the Name is From: 35 & Thrive originated during college when an assignment prompted the creation of a business aligned with our individual passions. My focus was on plants, leading to the conceptualization of a co-working space seamlessly blending a coffee shop, office environment, and botanical garden similar to the aesthetic of the world famous Kew Gardens. The idea was to offer rental spaces within a botanical setting, fostering a work environment surrounded by greenery and the aroma of coffee. Although this was purely hypothetical, it was based on the fictional corner lot of 35th Street and Thrive Drive, which is where the name '35 & Thrive' came from. several years later, when the idea to start my own plant shop entered my brain and wouldn't leave, this assignment became the groundwork for starting 35 & Thrive.
About Me: I first fell in love with plants seven years ago, I started with succulents but soon found I didn't have the light requirements they needed to thrive so I soon transitioned into tropical houseplants for their unique interior design appeal. Eventually, I started exploring the world of rare houseplants which lead me to where I am today.
I have a background in UX design, photography, and digital marketing and am originally from a very small town in Kentucky. I moved to NYC after college to work on Wall Street then returned to Kentucky a couple of years ago. As I expand my business, my goal is to produce custom plant products and build a wholesale platform, supporting plant stores in sourcing high-quality products.
My Favorite Plant Quote: I grow plants for many reasons: to please my eye or to please my soul, to challenge the elements or to challenge my patience, for novelty or for nostalgia, but mostly for the joy in seeing them grow. -David Hobson
My Favorite Plant: As a whole, Anthuriums. Specifically, i would say either Anthurium BVEP or Anthurium papillilaminum 'Vanderbilt'
My #1 Wishlist Plant: Anthurium papillilaminum 'Vanderbilt' or various types of variegated Anthuriums.