MEET SUSAN & FLORA
Since she was a little girl, Susan wanted to play with flowers and be in the mud.
After a too-long time in the corporate world, Susan decided to follow her dream and enrolled in a residential landscape design course. Over the next 3 years, her love for plants and design grew and after receiving her certificate she branched out on her own to create The Gardener Landscape Design which she ran for 15 years before moving to the Comox Valley in 2015.
Today, she runs Sleeping Dog Plants, offering garden consulting, mentoring and seasonal planter services as well as growing drought tolerant and specialty plants from seed. She’s inspired to create landscapes that tie in with the surrounding areas by use of natural materials and hard working perennials and annuals that can stand up to the climate changes we are all facing in the Comox Valley. Susan can most likely be found getting her hands dirty in her greenhouse or half acre garden or baking up a storm in her kitchen.
Flora is Sleeping Dog’s beloved mascot and guardian. She was named for Flora Islet off Hornby Island, but the name, of course, is just right for her duties in the garden.
meet flora
Built in 2017, this west coast style greenhouse sits amongst the half acre gardens and is where Susan raises and tends to all the seedlings she grows. The connecting shop holds all of her curated garden goods that she sells throughout the year.
the greenhouse
Sleeping Dog holds its Spring Fling sale in April or May, depending on the weather. Stay tuned as more details and events are added right through the year.
events
European inspired traditional boules and breads. Special occasion sweets. Every Friday. Head over to the bake shop to purchase Susan's delicious baked goods!
THE BAKE SHOP
Since she was a little girl, Susan wanted to play with flowers and be in the mud.
About SUSAN
After a too-long time in the corporate world, Susan decided to follow her dream and enrolled in a residential landscape design course. Over the next 3 years, her love for plants and design grew and after receiving her certificate she branched out on her own to create The Gardener Landscape Design which she ran for 15 years before moving to the Comox Valley in 2015 and starting Sleeping Dog Plants.
Flora is Sleeping Dog’s beloved mascot. She was named for Flora Islet off Hornby Island, but the name, of course, is just right for her duties in the garden.
meet flora
This west coast greenhouse sits amongst the half acre gardens and is where Susan raises and tends to all the seedlings she grows. The connecting shop holds all of her garden goods.
The greenhouse
European inspired traditional boules and breads. Special occasion sweets. Every Friday. Head over to the bake shop to purchase fresh baking!
farm baking
Sleeping Dog holds its Spring Fling sale in April or May, depending on weather. Stay tuned as more details and events are added right through the year.
events
favourite garden BOOKS
2.Planting the Natural Garden, Piet Oudolf
3. The Complete Gardener, Don
4. Sunset Magazine
favourite garden BOOKS
2.Planting the Natural Garden, Piet Oudolf
3. The Complete Gardener, Monty Don
4. Sunset Magazine
our philosophy
The plants Susan has chosen to grow from seed, propagation or division are based on the new climate reality we are facing in our gardens - hot dry summers, deeply cold snaps, or damaging rains. Her goal is to raise plants that are resilient, require low water, and little maintenance, and yet, are unique and beautiful enough to stand out in both gardens and cutting flower arrangements. All her plants are grown in small batches without harmful chemicals or pesticides.
