My father was wildly brilliant. He was innovative, creative, savvy and a visionary. But he was also profoundly soft hearted.

As the youngest of his three girls, I believe I may have had the opportunity to see that softness most often during my childhood.

He worked hard, traveled much and created extraordinary places and businesses. He endured many trials and enjoyed much sucess. However, at the epicenter of all he did was his steadfast commitment to do the right thing and to never stray from his internal compass’ true north… unwavering integrity.

He was a renaissance man in many ways as he got older. His brilliance never dulled, but he’d find an interest in a new creative endeavor and then work hard to master it.

Whether he was tending to his vast koi ponds, working on new ways to help people, pruning and harvesting his masterful garden, mentoring young entrepreneurs or even creating an extraordinary meal in his kitchen, there was little at which his natural aptitude paired with his exceptional work ethic couldn’t excel.

My father’s kitchen sink was where you could always find a work in progress. Whether it was an orchid being watered, a clipping from a distressed plant or a new recipe being prepped, there was never a time he wasn’t ‘tending to’ or nourishing something or someone.

Shortly before he passed, my dad discovered instagram. He would post verdant images of his rambling garden and ponds and whether the image was of one extraordinary bloom or a landscape in full – he would tag it with #thegratefulgardener.

This foundation is born of his hard work and the lessons he taught so many.

Work hard, do the right thing, take care of your community, feed, guide, empower, inspire…

It is with this in mind, that we bring you The Grateful Gardener Foundation, LLC