Stronger Than Dirt Gardens

I'm Julie Clark, and I started Stronger Than Dirt in 1998. From the beginning, what I really loved was being in the gardens.

I love developing relationships with clients and their gardens. I love seeing the changes over time, from season to season and year to year.

When I was still teaching middle school English (SO many years ago…), I spent my weekends hiking the greenbelt, and I would carry my plant ID books, stuffing the pages full of leaves and flowers to identify later at home.

When I was pregnant with my now-grown son, I worked in a retail nursery, learning so much in a short time! I learned most of what I know from getting dirty, making mistakes, and asking lots of questions.

When I started Stronger Than Dirt—with much support from many gardeners, designers, and horticulturalists here in Austin (thanks FLORA!)—I hired all of my friends to work with me. Those of us who had infants brought our babies to work, putting them on blankets nearby until they were mobile and could get in trouble!

So began the homegrown model, and it’s been an amazing journey ever since, filled with wonderful clients, gardens and workmates.