November/December 2023 - 50

5 MINUTES WITH ...
5
MINUTESWITH
Ashley Molion is director of marketing
and communications at McDonald Garden
Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
How did you get involved in horticulture?
When I was growing up, my mom kept a pristine
garden. I always remember that " Yard of the Month " sign
welcoming me off the bus from school like a beacon,
flanked by perfectly pruned boxwoods, enveloped into a
bed of black-eyed Susans, one of mom's favorites. But the
real passion came when I stumbled into this position [at
McDonald Garden Center]. Even though I had a background
in business development in the landscape architectural
industry, something about moving into the retail side of
horticulture ignited a lifelong passion - so much so, there
may have even been a Yard of the Month sign on my own
front lawn, complete with black-eyed Susans.
What keeps you up at night?
Honestly, not much! I sleep with our 100-pound
Doberman, so sometimes he can get in the way. If there is
anything, I do seem to be the most creative in the middle
of the night (I know, not the most convenient time, right?),
so I have gotten used to getting up and writing just a few
notes of whatever idea I've had and then going back to
sleep. Some of our more successful campaigns have come
from those late-night iPhone notes!
By Teresa McPherson
What advice would you give to someone just
starting out in hort?
Don't be afraid to fail. I work with some of the leaders
in the industry, including our company's founder, Eddie
Anderson, who I dare anyone to go toe-to-toe with when
it comes to growing just about anything (that man has
a golden thumb!), and he will even tell you about all the
times he's failed. No one is perfect.
What's something that few people know
about you?
In addition to being a marketer, I also love group fitness.
I've been teaching fitness classes for nearly 20 years,
including three years in Paris, France.
Favorite plant to grow? Why?
Although my obsession is houseplants, I have had so much
fun with Proven Winners' 'Supertunia Vista Bubblegum'.
It's a tried-and-true performer in both containers and in the
landscape. One year, we had an awesome hanging basket sale,
so I nabbed some and planted them in an empty bed where
I knew they'd be happy. And happy they were - by summer,
my neighbors all commented on the mounding heaps of
bright pink clouds.
50 | LAWN & GARDEN RETAILER | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023

November/December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November/December 2023

Editor's Letter
Table of Contents
AmericanHort/Headlines
Headlines/Calendar
Editors' Picks
Green Goods: Trending in '24
Green Goods: Winners' Circle
From the Road: Cincinnati Sights
Outdoor Living: Crafting an Outdoor Oasis
AmericasMart Product Reviews
From the Road: Finding Inspiration in Milwaukee
Pohmer On...
Marketplace
Ad Index
Resources
5 Minutes With ...: Ashley Molion
November/December 2023 - 1
November/December 2023 - 2
November/December 2023 - 3
November/December 2023 - Editor's Letter
November/December 2023 - 5
November/December 2023 - Table of Contents
November/December 2023 - 7
November/December 2023 - AmericanHort/Headlines
November/December 2023 - 9
November/December 2023 - Headlines/Calendar
November/December 2023 - 11
November/December 2023 - Editors' Picks
November/December 2023 - 13
November/December 2023 - Green Goods: Trending in '24
November/December 2023 - 15
November/December 2023 - 16
November/December 2023 - 17
November/December 2023 - Green Goods: Winners' Circle
November/December 2023 - 19
November/December 2023 - 20
November/December 2023 - 21
November/December 2023 - From the Road: Cincinnati Sights
November/December 2023 - 23
November/December 2023 - 24
November/December 2023 - 25
November/December 2023 - 26
November/December 2023 - 27
November/December 2023 - Outdoor Living: Crafting an Outdoor Oasis
November/December 2023 - 29
November/December 2023 - AmericasMart Product Reviews
November/December 2023 - 31
November/December 2023 - From the Road: Finding Inspiration in Milwaukee
November/December 2023 - 33
November/December 2023 - 34
November/December 2023 - 35
November/December 2023 - 36
November/December 2023 - 37
November/December 2023 - Pohmer On...
November/December 2023 - 39
November/December 2023 - 40
November/December 2023 - 41
November/December 2023 - Marketplace
November/December 2023 - 43
November/December 2023 - 44
November/December 2023 - 45
November/December 2023 - 46
November/December 2023 - 47
November/December 2023 - Ad Index
November/December 2023 - Resources
November/December 2023 - 5 Minutes With ...: Ashley Molion
November/December 2023 - 51
November/December 2023 - 52
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https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/january-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/greatamericanmediaservices/LGR/thriveguide-2021
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