There is a rich, beautiful, complex, and diverse narrative being told by African Americans and other persons of color in the floral marketplace. It is long past time to recognize their excellence and contributions to cut flower farming and floristry. Garden writer, podcaster, and blogger Teresa J. Speight of Cottage in the Court shares her interviews and profiles with leading pioneers and explores their lives rooted in the floral world.
"With ancestral sharecropping roots, connecting with the earth is authentic to me. My ancestors' hands have helped build and feed our family for generations. To not honor this earth would disrespect my heritage. I am passionate about sharing the stories of Black voices in the green world." -- Teresa J. Speight
Black Flora: Profiles of Inspiring Black Flower Farmers + Florists
ABRA LEE is an Atlanta-based horticulturist, author, and speaker. Abra’s career milestones include serving as the arborist for the City of Atlanta; managing the landscapes for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston; and member of the Longwood Gardens Society of Fellows, a global network of public horticulture professionals. Her career now
focuses on researching and writing about Black American garden history and she is the author of the forthcoming Timber Press book, Conquer the Soil: Black America and the Untold Stories of Our Country’s Gardeners, Farmers, and Growers. Learn more at conquerthesoil.com.