Member Spotlight: Kelly Tesiero

Kelly runs The Elegant Garden, LLC and Nurture Nature in Your Yard© in Northeast Florida. She holds a degree in landscape architecture from the University of Florida and grew up in a family plant nursery. She consults, speaks and gives hands-on workshops specializing in wellness and wildflowers.

Q&A with Kelly

Why do you support the Florida Wildflower Foundation?

I support the Foundation because it grows my network of native plant and ecological experts, educates me with seminars and makes it super easy to access wildflower information. 

Why should others care about Florida’s native wildflowers?

Florida wildflowers bring beauty and are the foundation of our state’s ecosystems that support a healthy environment and our food from farms.

What is your favorite Florida native wildflower and why?

Firebush (Hamelia patens) is my flat out favorite Florida native plant species. It brings bounty, beauty and wildlife action to the garden for zero work! The leaves are wide and lush. The form is soft and mounding. It takes full sun to full shade and varied soils. The tubular flowers constantly attract hummingbirds and butterflies. Firebush functions as a host plant for the gorgeous Pluto Sphinx moth — mostly in South Florida. This plant really has everything and is a sustainable staple for anyone wanting a wildlife-friendly yard.

Join Kelly in supporting the Foundation by becoming a member or making a donation to support our work.