Meet Joy Boven of Wonder Gift & Garden

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joy Boven

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I have been in the horticulture industry for 15 years. Having accumulated experience in many tributaries of the green industry, my passion is for growing and selling native plant material as well as educating the public on their importance and role in our lives. In 2023, I started two businesses. Simple Joy Nursery, a wholesale nursery, and Wonder Gift & Garden, a retail garden center and gift shop. Both keep me incredibly busy and I absolutely love what I do!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Horticulture definitely requires that you put the time in. There are no short cuts to the time and dedication it takes to identify and cultivate plant material as well as learn about our local ecosystem. Putting the time in is not always easy but it is always worth it. I wouldn’t change a thing about the journey that got me to where I am today.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Wonder Gift & Garden?
Wonder Gift & Garden is an intentional, nature focused gift shop and also a native plant focused garden center. Our goal in the shop is to provide meaningful gifts to our clientele that highlight the wonder of nature and outside we provide our customers with native plant material and plants that produce food or have medicinal properties. What sets us apart is our dedication to educating the public (and ourselves) on the importance of native plants and the unique gifts we procure to inspire. We do our best to create an environment and experience that encourages others to care more for our wild spaces and to take the time to embrace the wonder that exists all around us.

What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are to simply maintain sustainable growth and to serve the needs of my community in Middle Tennessee. I had no idea just how much I would love business ownership and being able to provide product and services I care deeply about. The reward is truly the journey and in that simple joy, life is good.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @wondergiftgarden
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550094545865
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS4096990MYZkoZbA_7gsrw