My Story
Hi, I'm Rosie Yee. I live in the Bega Valley on the Far South Coast of NSW in Australia with my family and my houseplants. I've always loved plants; I was the kind of child who begged my parents to let me dig up the lawn and plant a flower garden. Once I left home and moved from rental to rental I developed a passion for indoor plants as a way to connect with nature without having a garden of my own.
I went on to study a Bachelor of Science at the University of New England, majoring in Botany, Ecology and Microbiology. This led to a wonderful job as the Herbarium Assistant at the National Herbarium of NSW, Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
Longing for a sea change I left the city with my young family and headed for the rolling hills of the Bega Valley. During this time I completed a Graduate Diploma in Education and began teaching Science at local Secondary schools and also taught for many years at Mumbulla School.
Over the past 16 years I have been integrating my knowledge of teaching with my love of indoor plants, nature, science and botany and as a result my business Botanically Rosie was born.
My Approach
The plants in my home are not unlike my pet dogs, they are living beings that have individual needs; they grow & change and bring me joy.
When I visit client's homes virtually or inperson I say "Introduce me to your plants". I like to meet each plant and hear it's story, how it came into their life, why they love it, how it makes them feel. Visiting people's homes and help them to care for their plants is one of my favourite things.
A number of clients have said their plants look healthier after only one visit from me, even when I haven't actually done anything to the plants yet. This puzzled me at first, my only conclusion is that the plants thrive on being noticed and adored. I help my clients to connect with their plants and notice their beauty and wonderment. It's as though the plants sit up straight & glow when they are noticed, adored and complimented, much like a child does.
Having plants in our homes provides many benefits to our health and well being. Having something to care for gives you a sense of purpose and service, the beauty of a healthy houseplant creates a feeling of calm & peace and brings a smile to your face as you pass it by. But most importantly indoor plants give you an opportunity to connect with nature. It is believed that humans have a deep, innate affinity with nature and we seek connections with it in our day to day lives, this hypothesis is called Biophilia. When I first read about Biophilia, my passion for indoor plants began to make sense.
I am captivated by the natural science that is in our day-to-day lives and around us all the time. The potted plant that lives on your kitchen window sill contains an array of scientific phenomena and the opportunity to observe & connect with it. If only we take the time to stop and notice.
