| Happy Holidays! |
| 2009 A year in review. |
2009 has been another whirlwind year for me. Most of my time has been
spent developing and maintaining my business, RHR Horticulture & Landwave
Gardens, but in the very little spare time I have, I'm constantly trying to find
that illusive balance of life and work that allows me to not only do what I love
for a living, but also find the time to explore other keen interests. On top of
that, I've really made more of an effort to spend time with those that are near
and dear to my heart, my family and friends .
This holiday greeting was suppose to highlight all of the wonderful things that
happened with my business, RHR Horticulture & Landwave Gardens. But, I
think it's also worth emphasizing some of the other things this 27 year old is
involved in.
spent developing and maintaining my business, RHR Horticulture & Landwave
Gardens, but in the very little spare time I have, I'm constantly trying to find
that illusive balance of life and work that allows me to not only do what I love
for a living, but also find the time to explore other keen interests. On top of
that, I've really made more of an effort to spend time with those that are near
and dear to my heart, my family and friends .
This holiday greeting was suppose to highlight all of the wonderful things that
happened with my business, RHR Horticulture & Landwave Gardens. But, I
think it's also worth emphasizing some of the other things this 27 year old is
involved in.
I have much to be proud of in 2009. RHR & Landwave are finally getting established and more and more
people are catching on to my shenanigans. I can’t believe all that has happened and is currently happening to
me at this point in my career. I’m so thankful for the many wonderful opportunities I’ve had and the people that
made them possible.
people are catching on to my shenanigans. I can’t believe all that has happened and is currently happening to
me at this point in my career. I’m so thankful for the many wonderful opportunities I’ve had and the people that
made them possible.
To those who I haven’t talked to in awhile or those who don’t really know exactly what it is I do, here’s a little
overview:
overview:
| RHR (my initials) Horticulture encompasses just about everything I do that’s related to plants and gardens: from consulting, garden design, installations, maintenance, writing, photography, and lecturing; I also have Landwave Gardens, which is my small specialty nursery operation where I grow, propagate, trial and evaluate garden plants that I eventually offer and sell to avid gardeners, both beginners and professionals. |
Business FIRST.
One of those people is my cousin, Nio Subaran, who helped me develop a unique
and elegant logo to reflect me and the work I care so deeply about. As a graphic
artist, Nio truly understands the sacrifice and hardships one endures when he pursues
a passion to make a living. He also understands what it means to be grounded by
paying respect to our cultural heritage and working hard to accomplish our dreams
and aspirations in life. So, it was kind of an honor when he offered to come up with
the logo for me.
and elegant logo to reflect me and the work I care so deeply about. As a graphic
artist, Nio truly understands the sacrifice and hardships one endures when he pursues
a passion to make a living. He also understands what it means to be grounded by
paying respect to our cultural heritage and working hard to accomplish our dreams
and aspirations in life. So, it was kind of an honor when he offered to come up with
the logo for me.
The amount of "press" I continue to get is UNREAL! Am I just a notorious self-promoter that people will get so
sick and tired of hearing about OR could this be the start of something really really cool??!! Hahah...who,
knows!
It just surprises me that something I do each day is interesting enough for someone to feature me on a
magazine spread or television profile.
I've been trying to do more writing (whether it's for articles for our local horticultural organizations or my blogs),
photography and speaking engagements. All these seem to generate a presence and people around me have
been so encouraging and thoughtful, it's been absolutely tremendous!
sick and tired of hearing about OR could this be the start of something really really cool??!! Hahah...who,
knows!
It just surprises me that something I do each day is interesting enough for someone to feature me on a
magazine spread or television profile.
I've been trying to do more writing (whether it's for articles for our local horticultural organizations or my blogs),
photography and speaking engagements. All these seem to generate a presence and people around me have
been so encouraging and thoughtful, it's been absolutely tremendous!
*Speaking gigs.
Never did I expect to see so many people come to hear me
speak at the 2009 NW Flower and Garden Show. I did a
demo on how to propagate plants and the swarm of audience
members at the end as I gave away starts and divisions of
plants was probably the most memorable moment. I'm slated
to speak again in 2010. This time it's on Summer Flowering
Bulbs! Click here for more info!
I gave numerous talks to local garden clubs and even held
tours of our humble front yard in Shoreline. I also gave a
version of my propagation talk in a workshop for Northwest
Horticultural Society, which was held in a famous estate
garden in North Seattle.
*Being featured on our local public television station.
It was a tremendous honor to have been asked by our local
PBS station, KCTS 9, to do a brand story to share my work
and how public television has greatly influenced my career. I
did an in-studio interview and a camera crew actually came
to Landwave to film parts of the garden and nursery. The
garden was a disorganized mess, but then so is my life at
times. Haha.
Never did I expect to see so many people come to hear me
speak at the 2009 NW Flower and Garden Show. I did a
demo on how to propagate plants and the swarm of audience
members at the end as I gave away starts and divisions of
plants was probably the most memorable moment. I'm slated
to speak again in 2010. This time it's on Summer Flowering
Bulbs! Click here for more info!
I gave numerous talks to local garden clubs and even held
tours of our humble front yard in Shoreline. I also gave a
version of my propagation talk in a workshop for Northwest
Horticultural Society, which was held in a famous estate
garden in North Seattle.
*Being featured on our local public television station.
It was a tremendous honor to have been asked by our local
PBS station, KCTS 9, to do a brand story to share my work
and how public television has greatly influenced my career. I
did an in-studio interview and a camera crew actually came
to Landwave to film parts of the garden and nursery. The
garden was a disorganized mess, but then so is my life at
times. Haha.
*Writing for and appearing on a national
gardening publication.
Fine Gardening magazine found some of my design
work on my website and asked me to be a featured
regional designer for a special container gardening
issue. Later on they asked me to write up a few plant
profiles on "must buy"plants they will publish next
summer. This will be the first time I've ever been paid
to write and contribute photographs!
gardening publication.
Fine Gardening magazine found some of my design
work on my website and asked me to be a featured
regional designer for a special container gardening
issue. Later on they asked me to write up a few plant
profiles on "must buy"plants they will publish next
summer. This will be the first time I've ever been paid
to write and contribute photographs!
*Teaching for a second time around.
Summer brought with it another teaching gig at Edmonds Community
College where I guided my students to some fabulous private gardens
in a course I put together called "Plant Collectors of the Pacific
Northwest." In this course, I gave an overview about the different
kinds of plant collectors that exist and how they can utilize rare and
unusual plants in the landscape. It seemed to be a big hit and my
students were just awesome and so supportive in my teaching efforts.
Here are my students with local gardening celebrity, Ciscoe Morris,
who generously gave our class a tour of his garden/plant collection.
Summer brought with it another teaching gig at Edmonds Community
College where I guided my students to some fabulous private gardens
in a course I put together called "Plant Collectors of the Pacific
Northwest." In this course, I gave an overview about the different
kinds of plant collectors that exist and how they can utilize rare and
unusual plants in the landscape. It seemed to be a big hit and my
students were just awesome and so supportive in my teaching efforts.
Here are my students with local gardening celebrity, Ciscoe Morris,
who generously gave our class a tour of his garden/plant collection.
| *A new blog, "The Next Generation Gardener" With print newspaper disappearing from breakfast tables all across the country, I felt compelled to start a new blog that is a little more open and unattached. While I'm still trying to develop a regular readership, I need to find the time for consistent, almost daily, posts so I can keep people informed of my activities, observations, and recent discoveries in the plant world. Visit: nextgenerationgardener.blogspot.com/ |
*Meeting the garden writers!
Early fall, I had a tremendous opportunity to travel and
attend the Garden Writer's Association Symposium in
Raleigh, North Carolina. Not only did I expand my
horticultural aspirations, I expanded my network and truly
felt like I really belonged in the field with the tremendous
kindness and support people showed. Aside from getting
the flu on the way back, it was a marvelous trip and I hope
to attend future meetings!
Here is my badge as a "First Timer". Note the plants I
hauled into my hotel room from the nursery visits and
vendor samples I received!!
Early fall, I had a tremendous opportunity to travel and
attend the Garden Writer's Association Symposium in
Raleigh, North Carolina. Not only did I expand my
horticultural aspirations, I expanded my network and truly
felt like I really belonged in the field with the tremendous
kindness and support people showed. Aside from getting
the flu on the way back, it was a marvelous trip and I hope
to attend future meetings!
Here is my badge as a "First Timer". Note the plants I
hauled into my hotel room from the nursery visits and
vendor samples I received!!
from rizreyes.com
ENOUGH WORK....time to live a little.
Yeah, it's pretty obvious where most of my time went this year. I'm constantly being reminded that I have to
take breaks, take days off, keep weekends free so I can catch up on sleep, chores, and quality time with others
besides my plants. It's so hard to leave an unfinished project, leave a loose end undone, and, of course, the
never ending demands of a garden throughout the seasons. During hectic times, I still manage to sneak in a
weekend getaway with friends and family and I make sure to make of the most of these rare experiences.
take breaks, take days off, keep weekends free so I can catch up on sleep, chores, and quality time with others
besides my plants. It's so hard to leave an unfinished project, leave a loose end undone, and, of course, the
never ending demands of a garden throughout the seasons. During hectic times, I still manage to sneak in a
weekend getaway with friends and family and I make sure to make of the most of these rare experiences.
I work part-time at the University of Washington Botanic Garden's Center
for Urban Horticulture as the Soest Gardener. I oversee the main
herbaceous perennial garden and I also work in other landscapes within
CUH. This was my department as an undergrad and I've been staff for
almost 3 years now.
for Urban Horticulture as the Soest Gardener. I oversee the main
herbaceous perennial garden and I also work in other landscapes within
CUH. This was my department as an undergrad and I've been staff for
almost 3 years now.
Early February of last year, friends invited me up for a
weekend in Whistler, B.C. While my bum left knee and
extreme clumsiness prevented me from taking in any
skiing, being with friends and enjoying the gorgeous
setting one year from the Vancouver 2010 Olympic
Games was tremendous!
weekend in Whistler, B.C. While my bum left knee and
extreme clumsiness prevented me from taking in any
skiing, being with friends and enjoying the gorgeous
setting one year from the Vancouver 2010 Olympic
Games was tremendous!
Come spring, I scheduled a special day to spend time with my
nieces and nephews, who live in West Seattle, to see the tulips in
full bloom in Skagit Valley. My nieces, Trisha and Alex and
nephews Benjohn Jr. and Jean Paolo roamed and ran across rows
and rows of spectacular tulips in full bloom. It's rare that I get to
share my interests with my family because I never want to force
them to do anything that they don't really enjoy, but I'd like to instill
in them to respect nature, the environment and appreciate the often
fleeting beauty that plants and flowers often possess. I was
unsuccessful in getting them to plant a vegetable garden with me
this season, but there's always next year!
nieces and nephews, who live in West Seattle, to see the tulips in
full bloom in Skagit Valley. My nieces, Trisha and Alex and
nephews Benjohn Jr. and Jean Paolo roamed and ran across rows
and rows of spectacular tulips in full bloom. It's rare that I get to
share my interests with my family because I never want to force
them to do anything that they don't really enjoy, but I'd like to instill
in them to respect nature, the environment and appreciate the often
fleeting beauty that plants and flowers often possess. I was
unsuccessful in getting them to plant a vegetable garden with me
this season, but there's always next year!
Also during the spring season, one of my closest friends tied the knot this year and it
was so heartwarming to see. Joyce was a very close high school friend. If I would of
had a high school sweetheart, it would have been this beautiful young woman!
was so heartwarming to see. Joyce was a very close high school friend. If I would of
had a high school sweetheart, it would have been this beautiful young woman!
Summer arrived and friends had to coax me
out of my garden and up the mountains for a
fun and relaxing weekend at Lake Kachess.
I'm too lazy to upload more photos, click
here instead and see the full album.
out of my garden and up the mountains for a
fun and relaxing weekend at Lake Kachess.
I'm too lazy to upload more photos, click
here instead and see the full album.
Click on the photo for more photos!! (ones where the kids are
sort of smiling and having a good time)
sort of smiling and having a good time)
We remained good friends as we
both went our separate paths after
hs and several years ago, she met
her future husband, Pat. Both
pharmacists, they discovered a love
for one another and vowed to write
each other a lifelong
both went our separate paths after
hs and several years ago, she met
her future husband, Pat. Both
pharmacists, they discovered a love
for one another and vowed to write
each other a lifelong
prescription of love and happiness together. Wow, friends and
colleagues getting married and some having children this year,
sheesh....I gotta pick up the pace, eh? hehe.
colleagues getting married and some having children this year,
sheesh....I gotta pick up the pace, eh? hehe.
2008 Hilo Family Reunion
With family from my mom's side coming in from all around the US and Canada, we gathered for a reunion
to reconnect with one another. To this day, I'm still quite confused who's who and how we're related exactly,
but I remember how great it was to see everyone and meet cousins I've never even heard of until this
summer!
We're a family that LOVES to eat, be lazy, and do as little as possible! LOL!! Sorry, I should have taken
more pictures rather than stuff myself with lumpia and lechon!.
to reconnect with one another. To this day, I'm still quite confused who's who and how we're related exactly,
but I remember how great it was to see everyone and meet cousins I've never even heard of until this
summer!
We're a family that LOVES to eat, be lazy, and do as little as possible! LOL!! Sorry, I should have taken
more pictures rather than stuff myself with lumpia and lechon!.
So much more happened this year; I couldn't possibly list them all, but every event, work site project,
and experience made for a remarkable year. In a fragile economy and several hurdles I still need to
continue to try and overcome, my work and passion for plants still burns strong inside and I'm more
compelled than ever to take it as far as it will let me.
There are baby steps to make, mistakes to be made and as many will often say, "there will be dues to
pay!" I aim to continue to grow and develop and evolve as a professional, but I also have to continue to
strive to be a good uncle, a friend, a family member and, overall, a good person towards everyone I
come across. As each year passes, they seem to come up faster and faster. Each moment has to
count.
Now comes the holiday season where I look forward to the upcoming year and prepare for yet another
crazy season. I certainly learned a lot about my business as work got to be too overwhelming at times; I
have to really learn to cut back and ask for help; make more time for other interests and have a stricter
work schedule so I'm not working more than I really need to. These are my ultimate main goals for 2010.
The pressure to earn a "real" living has certainly been building so there may be some significant
changes along the way as expected, right? Funny how I feel old at 27 y/o and others keep saying,
"You're too young, you're still so young!". I like to hope that I have time to get things together and find a,
maybe not perfect, but ideal balance.
Thank you for taking the time to read my little "Year in Review" and for being a part of my life.
My warmest holiday wishes to you and your loved ones.
Riz
and experience made for a remarkable year. In a fragile economy and several hurdles I still need to
continue to try and overcome, my work and passion for plants still burns strong inside and I'm more
compelled than ever to take it as far as it will let me.
There are baby steps to make, mistakes to be made and as many will often say, "there will be dues to
pay!" I aim to continue to grow and develop and evolve as a professional, but I also have to continue to
strive to be a good uncle, a friend, a family member and, overall, a good person towards everyone I
come across. As each year passes, they seem to come up faster and faster. Each moment has to
count.
Now comes the holiday season where I look forward to the upcoming year and prepare for yet another
crazy season. I certainly learned a lot about my business as work got to be too overwhelming at times; I
have to really learn to cut back and ask for help; make more time for other interests and have a stricter
work schedule so I'm not working more than I really need to. These are my ultimate main goals for 2010.
The pressure to earn a "real" living has certainly been building so there may be some significant
changes along the way as expected, right? Funny how I feel old at 27 y/o and others keep saying,
"You're too young, you're still so young!". I like to hope that I have time to get things together and find a,
maybe not perfect, but ideal balance.
Thank you for taking the time to read my little "Year in Review" and for being a part of my life.
My warmest holiday wishes to you and your loved ones.
Riz
Fall was just ridiculously busy, I can't really think
of something outside of work that's worth
mentioned and the same kind of goes for
winter, so I'll wrap things up with a winter scene,
a video actually, of a favorite past time that I
actually got to do outdoors for the first time
ever.
of something outside of work that's worth
mentioned and the same kind of goes for
winter, so I'll wrap things up with a winter scene,
a video actually, of a favorite past time that I
actually got to do outdoors for the first time
ever.