"I water plants for a living, so when I come home and don't have to worry about the plants that are planted in my Marly for 30 days, it’s bliss!"
- Alexa Tarriba, Marly Grower
As Mark Twain once wrote, “find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life”.
Alexa Tarriba has done just that, turning a lifelong affinity with nature into a successful career. Through her company, Green Mood, she offers a full-range of plant care and maintenance services to residential and commercial clients.
Her customers include beauty salons, tattoo parlors, coffee shops, restaurants, offices, and private homes, with each location requiring a personal touch and an expert’s green thumb.
As you can see from the photos below, the results are beautiful as well as beneficial. Alexa's curated sanctuaries provide eye-catching decor, clean air, and a much needed dose of greenery.
Having followed Alexa’s work for some time, we were keen to learn more and what gardening means to her, both personally and professionally.
We joined the Arizonan to talk desert flora, horticultural accessories, favorite stores, where she finds inspiration, and her experience with Marly.
Check out the full conversation below 👇
Marly: Can you provide a mini bio on yourself and your background?
Alexa: I'm a Sonoran desert native based in Phoenix, AZ. I grew up in a small town in southern Arizona called Rio Rico.
I went to school for Graphic Design but my love for indoor plants grew around the time that I graduated and I’ve been studying them ever since. I now spend my time taking care of indoor plants for residential and commercial spaces through my business, Green Mood.
When I'm not working, I like to hang out with my friends and enjoy a glass of natty wine, cheers!
What do plants, nature and gardening mean to you?
To me, nature is the core of our humanity. We can’t exist without it and we need nature more than it needs us. Plants and gardening have healed me through depression and anxiety - I can't recommend gardening as an antidepressant enough!
What's your favorite thing to grow inside your home or in the garden?
I love growing Cacti.
Growing up in southern AZ, I was exposed to the grasslands where small Mammillaria cacti grow alongside mesquite and ocotillos. When I moved to Phoenix, I started collecting cacti from north, central and southern America.
Do you have any unusual tips or tricks for keeping your plants healthy?
Lately I've had a wild pest infestation so I have resorted to trying beneficial insects. It's my first time using beneficial insects so I'm feeling hopeful!
Are there any home or garden accessories/tools/products that you would recommend to our community, and why? (other than Marly!)
I recently bought Mossify’s microfiber gloves and they are niiiiice. I was able to clean a large Dracena without leaving streaks or dust behind, in half the time it usually takes me to clean it.
How has your Marly planter helped you on your gardening journey?
I water plants for a living, so when I come home and don't have to worry about the plants that are planted in my Marly for 30 days, it’s bliss!
You're based in Arizona. How do you think the climate and geography of that location influences you and your business?
In the summer it's so hot that it's normal for people to leave town to avoid the heat. No one likes to come home to casualties so we offer plant-sitting. My clients really appreciate the service.
What are you listening to or watching right now?
I always listen to music or a podcast while working. My go-to podcast is Hidden Brain. I love psychology and especially love to get nerdy explanations as to why humans behave the way we behave.
Music-wise, it depends on my mood but I can never get tired of Nick Hakim, Sade or anything with Thom York.
Do you have a favorite plant store?
Phoenix has a lot of plant stores but I find myself returning to Summer winds and Berridge Nursery. I used to work at a plant store called Pueblo, they have a specialized selection of plants and home goods. Tucson has some of the best nurseries in the state so I like to plan trips to my favorite nursery there, Plants for the Southwest.
Which bar, restaurant, park, or public space do you always recommend someone make a visit to? Domestic or international!
I always tell people to visit the botanical gardens or arboretums of the cities they are visiting. It’s the best way to get to know the ecology of the city.
What's the best gift you've ever received?
My Marly planter was honestly a really great gift that I wasn't expecting to receive! Thanks guys!
What's something or someone that inspires you?
I recently visited New York, specifically Brooklyn, and it was an amazing experience. I loved seeing Brooklyn in the summer. There was greenery everywhere. I came back to the desert feeling very inspired!
What are you working on this year? Are there any projects you'd like us to give a shoutout to?
For the rest of the year, I'm working on growing my team at Green Mood and bringing in some cool, like minded people. Once my team is bigger, I want to work on big plant installations for local spaces or some kind of flagship collaboration. I’m always open to do cool stuff, so whatever comes my way, I'm down!
Amazing! Good luck and we look forward to seeing you continue to grow!
Thank you!
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Alexa Tarriba is a plant care specialist working with commercial and residential clients in Phoenix, AZ and beyond. Check out her company, Green Mood, here.
At home, Alexa grows using Marly's Larger Sage Green Self-Watering Planter plus legs (as pictured in the images above).
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