Meet Samantha Owens | Business Owner & Landscape Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Samantha Owens and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Samantha, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Thinking back 18 years ago, the idea of opening a brick & mortar business as a 20-something was a huge risk but at the time, it didn’t seem like it. When you consider the size and scale of an acre retail plant nursery along with a landscaping business, it does seem daunting. But I grew up in the agricultural industry and was confident that given that history and the help of my business partner at the time, as well as the people surrounding me — family, friends, employees and customers — that it could work. I don’t want to say that risk-taking comes easy to me but I don’t shy away from it, and I think that that comes down to having a specific mindset, a strong work ethic and sheer stubbornness.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
So I grew up in Encinitas which was the Flower Capital of the World at the time, and opening my own nursery was always in the back of my mind. Has it been easy? Not at all, but it’s so worthwhile. The rigorous work of creating and installing gardens coupled with the physicality of running a nursery can be brutal at times, especially being open 7 days a week. An added challenge is that our inventory is quite perishable so the stakes are high. It can feel like the work never ends. But helping customers find something that delights them, and creating gardens that clients spend time in & love is what it’s all about for me.

What I’m most proud of is that we’re still in business. The pandemic was a frightening time to be a business owner but it really brought into focus what’s important to me — living up to the responsibility I feel for the employees under my leadership, doing my best for the clients who hire me, and carving out a life that feels meaningful.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First off, I’d take my friend to Encinitas 101 Cafe, my favorite, or if we wanted breakfast with a view, we’d head to Kai’s. A visit to the Self Realization Fellowship Garden would be next, followed by some retail therapy at Aloha Collection, Child of Wild or any of the cute boutiques in North County. If it’s summer, we’d grab some burritos or poke bowls from Seaside Market and head to the beach for a quick swim, followed by afternoon coffee at Pannikin. After stopping back at home to get ready for dinner at Cicciotti’s, we’d check out what band is performing at BellyUp. I try to go see music every chance I get. It’s one of the best things in life, in my opinion. We’d wrap up the night with drinks at The Roxy. And if we had a few days to explore, a trip to Mount Laguna and Ocotillo are always at the top of my list.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d want to single out my parents for igniting the spark in me that grew into a love for plants, a love for the natural world — especially big California oak trees — and for instilling in me the discipline and drive that have been the foundation of my life and career. A big shout-out has to go as well to my team, both past and present, who have weathered all the storms with me, and have supported this crazy business throughout the years.

Website: www.barrelsandbranches.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/barrelsnbranches

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