Willie Rodriguez: Ornamental Plant Grower

Willie Rodriguez has learned a lot through working with plants. He basically grew up with them, working on his parent’s farm and then getting into landscaping at the young age of fifteen. 

After his father’s business suffered when the economy crashed, Willie took what he learned and started his own nursery.

“Plants have taught me discipline like you wouldn't believe...it takes discipline to be in this industry.”

When Willie was trying to improve his health, he had to take those philosophies of hard work that he’d been used to applying to plants and apply them to himself. 

“I had became to be able to invest so much into plants and over time continue to just invest time and love and passion into them. And I said, ‘Why can't I do that in myself?’”

He believes in instilling this passion for plants into upcoming growers. One of the ways he is encouraging the new generation is through a podcast he started, where he can tell stories of how plants have affected people’s lives. 

“I see us creating something powerful, engaging more of the youth into the industry…just knowledge and being able to implement it in a way that makes sense for the next generations to come in and do something powerful.”