Bloom Charleston Featured Speakers

After graduating from Auburn University with degrees in horticulture and landscape architecture, Molly spent ten months in the U.K. working in some of the world’s most renowned gardens. In 2017, she returned to Alabama as Assessment Project Leader and Associate Director of Gardens Support at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, applying her training to future development efforts. In 2023, she founded her design firm, Roots & Ramblings. Molly now collaborates with the Conservancy horticulture team to apply her design expertise and knowledge of Southeastern plants to meet the unique challenges of Colonial Lake.

As Associate Editorial Director, Miranda Crowell oversees all garden content for Better Homes & Gardens magazine. With more than 20 years of experience, she has written about gardens and homes for national publications including Martha Stewart Living, Elle Decor, The New York Times, and Country Living. Miranda brings a seasoned editorial eye and deep horticultural knowledge to her work. She currently lives in the California Bay Area, where she tends her own small, low-water garden year-round.

Stephen Eich leads the design, development, and construction of city-based projects, from residential terraces to hospitality and park redevelopment. Since joining the firm in 2010, he has managed some of its most notable projects in NYC and abroad. His hospitality, residential, and office work has earned awards from ASLA, AIA, and ICAA, and has been featured in Elle Décor and Architectural Digest. A recognized expert in rooftop and on-structure landscapes, Stephen regularly speaks on the challenges and potential of urban landscape design.

Lucy is a multi-award-winning English landscape designer with over 20 years of experience creating gardens for clients at home and abroad. With a Fine Art degree and a background in photography, she is also the author of the bestselling books The Flower Hunter and A Floral Love Story. A self-described “restless creative,” Lucy designs gardens, teaches, and leads sold-out workshops that encourage creativity inspired by nature. When not traveling, she splits her time between Charleston, SC, and London, designing hand-painted wallpapers and mural panoramas for her company, The Flower Hunter LLC.

Michael P. Gibson is a self-taught topiary artist and founder of Gibson Works LLC, with 30+ years of experience transforming spaces through living sculpture. He developed his signature “illusion topiary” style blending geometry, symbolism, and storytelling. Featured on HGTV’s Clipped with Martha Stewart, he’s created over 600 topiaries and inspires others through workshops and demos. He lives in Columbia, SC, with his wife and two children.

A multihyphenate of the plant world, Michael Perry (aka Mr Plant Geek) is a TV presenter, speaker, hortpreneur, and author of Hortus Curious, a visual guide to the world’s weirdest plants. He began in product development at Thompson & Morgan and quickly rose to become an authoritative voice in horticulture. Michael has appeared on ITV’s This Morning, Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch, and speaks at RHS Flower Shows and global industry events. With a focus on the fun side of gardening and an eye on new plants and trends, he inspires and nurtures the next generation of gardeners.

Joan is a designer, educator, and floral artist with over 25 years of horticultural expertise. Known for transforming nature’s bounty into stunning floral displays for events, businesses, and celebrations, she is also a sought-after speaker and workshop leader. Joan fosters community through roles such as Director of the East Low Country District of The Garden Club of SC, President of The Garden Club of Charleston, and Garden Editor of Charleston Magazine. She embraces cottage living in downtown Charleston with her husband and a thriving collection of plants.

Ryan is a fifth-generation family owner at Bailey Nurseries, one of the country’s largest producers of shrubs and trees. He’s a garden designer, author, and spokesperson for Bailey’s consumer brands: Endless Summer® Hydrangeas, First Editions® Shrubs & Trees, and Easy Elegance® Roses. Passionate about connecting people to nature, Ryan travels nationwide to help home gardeners succeed. His work has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, HGTV Magazine, Martha Stewart Living, and more. His book, Field Guide to Outside Style, helps gardeners discover their own style and create joyful, welcoming outdoor spaces.

Catherine has over 24 years of experience in Charleston’s organic community and industry. She serves as the Certification Program Coordinator for the Clemson University Organic Certification Program, guiding both large and small organic producers through regulatory requirements. Catherine holds an MS in Horticulture from Virginia Tech and began her organic education at UC Davis. With a strong background in organic farming education and community gardening, she’s been an inspector and coordinator for Clemson’s program, focusing on increasing access to organic certification and education for small farmers.