A Series of Fortunate Events

When Russ and I travel for more than a night or two, it’s usually for work — a green industry conference or trade show. And truthfully, we love those trips. We get energized by learning and connecting with colleagues.

This one, though, was just for fun — and it felt like such an extravagance! The weekend getaway wasn’t something we planned or even imagined. It’s simply where we landed after what I can only describe as a series of fortunate events.

It all really started with Jeanine. She’s part of both our Retail and Winery teams, and she came across a DIY hat bar workshop and suggested we host one at the Wine Garden. A few emails later, we had a class scheduled for August. The day of the workshop arrived, guests sipped wine and wine slushies while decorating their hats, and it just so happened that one of the hat bar instructors was also an organizer for a November gala called A Passion for Wine.

Before we knew it, we were invited to host a wine-tasting station at the gala — a fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

My role that night was Russ’ plus-one, and after his tasting session, we were invited to stay for dinner. Saying yes meant fancy rented clothes for both of us and a formal hair and makeup session for me. I remember thinking how much effort it felt like for someone who’s far more comfortable sweating in the sun, wearing sandals (or no shoes at all), and a baseball cap.

A big part of the fundraiser was a silent auction — one incredible item after another — complete with a mobile bidding site. A two-night stay at a resort in Key Largo caught my eye, and caught up in the moment, I placed a bid. Not long after, I received a text: I’d been outbid. Well, that wouldn’t do — so I bid again. (Bidding from your phone is dangerously easy and fun.) By the end of the night, I had won the trip.

Then reality set in. When could we actually go? Would Russ’ mom, Suzi, be willing to keep our two daughters and the dog? We’d have to fly and rent a car to get there? And how would the blackout dates possibly fit into our schedule? I honestly didn’t think we’d pull it off and was fully prepared to offer the trip to family members who already live in Florida.

And yet — somehow — everything fell into place. We just got back, and it truly felt like it was meant to be. We enjoyed a few days in paradise, weren’t attending a work event, and I had Russ all to myself for three whole days. It was such a gift.

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An added bonus was knowing we were supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. During the event, we heard from several speakers and learned more about CF and the life-changing work being done to find a cure. This touched us personally as we remembered Russ’ high school friend, Donny, who passed away about ten years ago from CF. I remember his Make-A-Wish when we were in high school, and how — thanks to medical advances — he lived much longer than expected.

This whole series of fortunate events got me thinking about how life works sometimes in the most unexpected ways. Call it serendipity, luck, or God-moments — do we notice these small, surprising blessings when they show up?

I think that through our shared love of plants and gardening, we often find ourselves in our own series of fortunate events. Some of my favorites are the people I meet, how much we learn from one another, and the joyful stories you share about the positive impact plants and gardening have in your lives and in the lives of those around you.

On a side note, our team is already in full swing with 2026 preparations and plans.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We’re excited to see what series of fortunate events 2026 will bring, and we’re busy planning and preparing in hopes that your time with our farm, goods, and services sparks the beginnings of many such blessings for you and yours.

Enjoy,

 

 

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