Today we’d like to introduce you to Irene Lobeck.
Hi Irene, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I started gardening in Austin in 2012 with a group of gardeners through Urban Patchwork. We grew veggie and herb gardens in participating neighbors’ yards and collectively tended to, harvested, and distributed the food CSA style among our members. This led to working for various small landscaping companies and learning more about perennial and ornamental plants (specifically those native to central Texas). I also have a background and certification in Western Herbal Clinical Medicine from the Wildflower School of Botanical Medicine in Cedar Creek, Texas. My background has influenced how I think about the functionality of plants and the interaction between humans and the landscape. The launching of Moonflower Landscaping happened suddenly in March 2020 when I found myself temporarily unemployed due to the pandemic. I already had a few clients, and it just all came together to make the jump to full-time self-employment during that time of upheaval and uncertainty. And now, just about 4 years later, the company has grown to include 2 year-round employees and myself.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting a business at the height of the pandemic was interesting. But besides the challenges explicitly unique to that time, starting a small business is the most time-consuming thing I have ever done. I could potentially work all the time, and there is no “clocking out,” so to speak, particularly for the first few years. What has helped me is learning about time management, prioritization, and establishing healthy boundaries with work. Creating systems and sticking to regular schedules has also been immensely useful. I continue to refine these skills and create more workflow efficiency.
As you know, we’re big fans of Moonflower Landscaping. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
Moonflower Landscaping offers fine-detailed hand gardening services. We plant and maintain ornamental gardens for small to medium-sized yards. We focus primarily on native and well-adapted Central Texas plants that we know lend themselves long-term to more sustainable and drought-tolerant landscapes. Our services include soft landscaping design and installation (meaning plants and mulch) or one-time or ongoing garden clean-up services (tasks like managing garden pests and weeds and pruning plants for optimal health). We consider ourselves partners in the garden and assist clients with maintaining their garden goals.
Networking and finding a mentor can positively impact one’s life and career. Any advice?
Most of my mentorship has come through the people I have worked for while gaining job experience. I recommend diving in, working, or interning in your field to network and find mentorship. I also recommend taking classes and developing skills independent of work. For instance, I took various Landscape Design courses at Austin City College. Not only were the teachers in this department excellent, but they also worked in horticulture and landscaping, so their knowledge was extremely practical and relevant. My classmates were also great networking resources; everyone had a landscaping career or was interested in starting one.
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