My first venture into the fascinating world of plants & gardens was selling plants at the local church fair; I couldn’t wait for the next fair to come around & started producing my own plants to sell.
David Domoney
This kindled my interest in gardens and as a cheeky yet enthusiastic teenager I was soon spending all my spare time helping the pensioners in my community by cutting their lawns and doing some of the grafting and donkey work on their plant beds for pocket money. Talking to these garden lovers, asking questions and gaining information developed my passion for gardening that’s stayed with me.
Leaving my school days behind, it seemed an easy choice to move into the horticultural world by taking an apprenticeship with one of the largest plant nursery growers. Not content with just the practical knowledge I needed to study the academic side and spent time at three of the UK’s horticultural colleges to obtain my professional pedigree and gain all the qualifications I felt I needed.
Being hungry to start my career I took a business management course followed by a course in teacher training with a view to embarking on a career teaching horticulture.
However the plant knowledge bug had bitten so I made a clear choice and joined a garden centre, starting as plant advisor, progressing through supervisor and management roles to become the plant buyer. I took great pleasure in the latter role sourcing the best quality and range of thousands of plants and offering them to discerning consumers.
After a decade as head of garden buying departments for multiple blue chip retailers, I left corporate life to become totally immersed in gardening. Trading the Boardroom for the shrub border and my suit for jeans I was a Born again Horticulturalist!
Now, with my own company creating garden designs for the RHS shows I’m allowed the opportunity to front TV programmes and have a client base of TV Celebrities and sporting personalities. But most importantly, I can once again indulge my passion for plants.
It’s great to have you with me.
