Hello, I'm Erika!
I’m originally from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, but I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. After graduating from college, I was offered a job in Washington state, and I made the leap to the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been calling WA home for the past seven years and I absolutely love it!
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In July 2020, during the unpredictable early days of COVID, I went on a blind date that would change my life. That date turned into something special, and now, just over a year later, my husband and I are happily married. We share our home with our two doggos, Hank and Murphy, who are always by my side—whether I’m spending the day in the garden or working from my desk.
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I love connecting with people, embracing new experiences, and finding balance in both my professional and personal life. Every day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and appreciate the little moments—especially those shared with my family and our fur babies.
My Story
Growing up, summer vacations were spent traveling around Ohio to visit family and friends. One of my favorite places to visit was my godmother’s home in Rocky River. She had a garden that I can only describe as magical—lush, colorful, and so beautiful that it was featured in local magazines. I remember thinking, “One day, I want a garden just like that.”
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When I moved in with my now-husband, it was the first time I had a yard of my own. Over the last four years, I’ve loved watching our garden evolve into a magical place of our own. I adore all flowers—whether they’re meant to be cut and brought inside or simply planted to bring joy along the garden borders. But there’s one flower that has become my true love: dahlias.
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My husband’s grandfather was a dahlia farmer in South Bend, Washington, known for growing incredible blooms that became local legends. Some of his tuber varieties were passed down through the family, and I knew I had to incorporate them into our garden. At the time, I didn’t even know how to pronounce "dahlia" correctly, but I was determined to learn everything I could about these gorgeous flowers so I could preserve the legacy of my husband's grandfather's farm.
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When I first started planting, I chose flowers that reminded us of loved ones who had passed away. I also grew plants that had been gifted from my mom and mother-in-law’s gardens. But as my love for dahlias grew, I took a deeper dive into learning about them. I enrolled in two "Dahlia 101" classes with Kelsey Hall at Cattle & Cut Flowers, where I learned the ins and outs of planting, propagating, digging, and dividing dahlias. Fast forward to today, and what started with just six plants in my first summer has now grown to over 70 varieties and about 100 plants spread throughout our yard. And next year, we’ll be adding five new raised beds specifically for dahlias!
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Now, enough about flowers—let's talk about what I really do. My professional passion is marketing. I graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. Though my path to this career wasn’t linear—I spent about seven years in college, exploring website and graphic design as well as computer engineering and IT—I found my way to marketing where I could combine my creativity and analytical skills.
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In a bit of an unexpected turn, during my recovery from a serious accident that shattered my left ankle, I was laid off from my marketing role. While it was a tough setback, it also sparked something I’d dreamed about for a long time: owning my own marketing business. I’ve always admired my dad’s entrepreneurial spirit. After he was laid off when I was in sixth grade, he started his own communications company. His response to that challenge shaped who I am today, and I’m grateful for the time I spent watching him build something of his own.
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While I never expected my journey to take this path, I’m excited to be here, today, turning a series of unexpected events into something amazing. Combining my love of flowers with my passion for marketing has opened up new possibilities, and I’m excited to see where this next chapter takes me.
Let's grow together!
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities.