About Me
Welcome to Joyful Gardens! My name is Melina Mantey, and I am so glad you are looking to add some joy to your life or someone else’s through plants. The idea for this company stemmed out of my experience with trauma. I am a domestic violence survivor, and gardening is how I waded through the aftermath of that experience. It is what brought wholeness and healing back to my soul, and joy back into my life. And as I saw what it did for me, I thought about what it could do for others.
I started making flowerpots for the people in my life who had just lost someone, or who were going through a hard time. Then I started growing cut flowers so I could make bouquets to give out. I shared photos of my garden on social media, documenting my progress, and showing what was making me smile that week. And in the process of all of that, my friends started asking me questions about which plants to grow, or how to take care of their flowers. I started planting flowerpots for people in the Fall so they would have bright colors in our grey, gloomy Seattle winters. I was then approached about helping someone do a bit of landscaping in their front yard. We talked through what colors made her smile, what kind of maintenance she wanted, and we put together a garden that still makes her smile every day as she walks down her stairs and looks out her window. With each opportunity I had to help someone else in the way that my garden had helped me, I knew this was something I wanted to do not just for my circle of friends and family, but for anyone who needed a little joy added to their life.
I have a lifetime of experience that has taught me what works and what doesn’t work. There is always so much more to learn and new plants coming to the market, and I can’t wait to continue on this never-ending horticulture journey.
I can’t end this without giving credit to my Grandma June for introducing me to the joy of gardening. When I was growing up, we made snapdragons talk and she taught me what was edible in the garden. She taught me how to put plants (gently) in a pot, and spot colors that go together. She made me stop and look at the “blue” of the hydrangeas, and the size of the rhododendron blooms and hosta leaves. So, years later when I was in desperate need of color and light and joy, I took that small seed she had planted and have grown it and surpassed it (according to her). I can’t think of a better compliment than knowing I have taken her passion, and not only increased it in my own life but also shared it with others. This is all because of and in honor of her.