My relationship with the landscape began long before Wildflower Escapes.
I grew up in BC, spending a lot of time camping in the mountains and getting my feet wet along the beaches of the Pacific coast. My dad had a 1960s Volkswagen Westfalia for some time starting from when I was about 9 years old, and I remember that van bringing so much joy. I remember sitting under the stars listening to owls in what seemed the middle of nowhere, and from that age I saw nature not simply as something to look at, but as somewhere to explore, learn, create and feel safe and connected.
Over time, that relationship with the natural world began to shape both my education and my work. I went on to complete a Master's in Landscape Architecture at the University of Toronto and an undergraduate degree in Environmental Studies from York University. I also completed the Arts Fundamental program from Sheridan College and completed a certificate in Ecology and Management of Urban Green Space from University of Helsinki.
But some of my most valuable learning hasn't happened in a classroom, its come through travelling, building things, learning new skills, sharing and listening to stories, finding hiking spots with friends and quite literally putting my hands in the soil to feel the land.
I love the creative process of imagining what a place could become, as well as the practical side of bringing those ideas to life. Whether I'm working in a garden or guiding a forest therapy walk, I am inspired by the same thing-creating meaningful experiences through our relationships with nature.
In 2025 this relationship led me to become a certified Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT). I'm excited to share experiential ways of feeling the land and to create opportunities for people to reconnect with themselves, with one another and with the places around them.
Nature is the greatest teacher, reminding us of the interconnectedness of us all.
~Caroline