Katie Elzer-Peters
The Garden of Words
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Katie Elzer-Peters got her professional start in public gardens and has now worked in the horticulture industry for over 20 years
Katie’s knowledge extends far beyond the garden, of course. She’s the woman behind The Garden of Words, LLC, a green industry digital marketing agency that helps companies develop websites, sell gardening products, publish books, scale up, and do email marketing.
Let’s learn a little more about Katie!
Tell us a little about what you do and how long have you worked in the horticulture industry?
I run The Garden of Words, LLC, a green industry digital marketing agency. We help companies large and small (including sole proprietors) develop websites (including ecommerce), sell gardening products online and at brick and mortar stores, publish books, scale their companies, and do email marketing. I have worked in the horticulture industry for about 22 years. I began working in public gardens and then transitioned to marketing. I’ve loved plants since I learned how to walk and talk.
What is the first garden-related experience you can remember?
I remember getting in trouble for putting sand from my sandbox in my mom’s flowerbeds. I told her “it improved drainage.” I was also completely obsessed with purple- and white-striped petunias as a kid. My first plants I really remember growing from seed are zinnias. I used to plant gobs of them. (We’re talking 6 to 8 years old here.)
Talk about a mistake you made in your garden once that turned into an unexpected learning experience.
Uh, all of gardening in the South! Right after I bought my house here I planted WAY too much too closely together. I did not realize that plants will legitimately engulf your house if you let them here. I learned to a) give more space, b) seriously shop for the compact varieties, and c) give my garden a good chop 2 to 3 times per year.
If you could only give one piece of advice to a new gardener, what would it be?
You will kill tons of plants. Everyone kills tons of plants. Don’t try once, fail, and give up. Keep trying and learning.
What’s a good teaser we could provide to audiences about your session content that might pique their interest?
I want to help people make their online footprint work efficiently and effectively without sucking their lives away.
What is your favorite plant to grow?
My favorite plants to grow are coneflowers and rudbeckias. I just love them so much—and so do the butterflies. They also last ridiculously long as cut flowers. I have a few that are on day 12 on my desk!
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