Kindness is a Virtue

I am fortunate to work with amazing colleagues and a great company.   I was recently referred by my coworker Yasmin to team up with our Old Navy employee only store at HQ to sell goods from Monarch 12.  The store manager, Kevin was looking to collaborate on a new collection Old Navy was introducing in the month of May called Havana Prep.  He had visions of succulents and cactis to counterbalance the botanical prints in the Havana Prep collection.  Kevin had asked Yasmin for her floral expertise but she pointed him to me instead, knowing that i had a side business selling succulent arrangements. 

Yasmin, Kevin and I settled on a cohesive selection of concrete and gold containers to offset the textures, lines and striking colors of succulents and cacti.   Furthermore, the arrangements subtlety matched back to the store's interior aesthetics without distracting from the apparel they sold.

All in all, the collaboration was a Hit!  We received raving reviews of the arrangements and how well it resonated with the HQ employees.  Without Yasmin and Kevin, Monarch 12 would not have had this unbelievable opportunity to display what we could do.  Here's to awesome colleagues and future possibilities.  

Karma-go-round

Earlier this week i notice one of the succulent arrangement my colleague purchased from me was not doing so great.  One of her succulents gave up on life while the others had new growth and were happy to be in the office.   I knew i had to help, not because I felt responsible (though I have been secretly watering her arrangement - shhhhh) but because I wanted to see her continue to smile at her desk.  I took some clippings from the planters on my deck; a reddish color Jade plant and two type of aeoniums.  I planted them as soon as I arrived at the office the next day.   She was thrilled with the Jade plant, as she loved the rich red color and how it popped against the white pebbles.   Another satisfied customer :-)   Ironically, on my way back from a jog this morning, I saw there were cuttings of medium to large size aeoniums on a driveway.  It looked as though someone had just trimmed their front yard. There have been times where I have been tempted to take home broken sections of succulents that I'd stumble upon on the sidewalk.  However, i always felt funny about it soI would place them back in the pot or yard it had came from.   Though today I felt a strong urge.   I looked around and saw the gardener and asked it was okay to take the cuttings.   He replied "Yes".   OMG!  FREE Succulents!   This totally made my day!  I wish I had more than two hands so I could carry as many as I could.  I grabbed a bundle that was too big for my planters but recalled my neighbors had a big pot that I could plant it in.   They were the SUCCULENTs that kept on giving :-) My neighbors were happy, I was happy, even my colleague was happy from earlier this week.    

Later in the day, I found more broken succulents on the sidewalk by the beach.   I placed them back to where they belong and knew that if I took them without permission my gift giving Karma would disappear.    All in all a fabulous way to end the week.  

A Start of a New Beginning

We have been working diligently to set up our website in order to share our wonderful miniature gardens with you.   We originally developed Monarch 12 as a creative outlet to balance our chaotic daily lives.  We wanted to promote sustainability through drought resistant plants while livening a space or room.  Overtime, we love the smiles that our arrangements brought to our clients faces upon seeing them for the first time.  I still look fondly at my own arrangements with great pleasure and excitement especially when they are thriving and blooming.   Thank you for visiting our site and we hope there is a smile is on your face :-)  Please contact us for any inquiries at info@monarch12.com.