We are here to help you create the garden of your dreams.
Hey there -
We are The Thrive Guide!
We are energetic home gardeners and landscape design enthusiasts with a passion for playing in the dirt and growing something beautiful.
Based in Zone 8a, our experience lies in Southern gardening - but the principles of plant care ring true no matter where you live.
Our newsletter is where we share monthly gardening checklists, inspiration, plant fun facts, and the occasional cocktail recipe. It’s a fun place to be!
And if you’re craving more hands-on support in your own garden, reach out to us for a site visit and consultation.
We’re glad you’re here!
Happy gardening,
Caitlin & Mikel
About Us
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Since 2017, Caitlin has been transforming a historic 100-year-old property into a vibrant, functional outdoor space for her family. What began as a daunting challenge—managing quirky specimen plants, mature trees, and aging sheds—quickly became a passion.
Driven by curiosity and a love of hands-on learning, she immersed herself in gardening textbooks, online resources, and plenty of trial-and-error, digging hundreds of holes and experimenting with countless plants. Along the way, she earned a Landscape Design Certificate from Emory University, adding formal training to her years of practical experience.
Balancing a full-time marketing career and raising two energetic kids, Caitlin has dedicated countless hours to studying and practicing landscape design. Through this journey, she’s developed a unique perspective on creating outdoor spaces that are both beautiful and functional for everyday life.
With The Thrive Guide, she now shares her hard-earned knowledge and approachable style, helping others discover the joy of gardening and create outdoor spaces they truly love.
Caitlin Watkins
Founder
Mikel Vann
Contributor
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Mikel has decades of gardening experience. She is a Master Gardener through the UGA Extension Program, a former president of the Marietta Council of Garden Clubs, and is an officer for the Laurel District of the Garden Club of Georgia. She has enjoyed participating in the North Georgia State Fair Flower Show and has taken home quite a few blue ribbons. She has also been a liaison for the Cherokee Garden Library for the Garden Club of Georgia. Her own garden has received designations as a habitat for pollinators and connecting with wildlife.
Mikel serves as a Thrive Guide newsletter contributor and garden consultant.