A Chat with Nantucket Flower Box Gardener

If you’ve ever had the pleasure of a stroll through downtown Nantucket, chances are you’ve seen the work of Virginia Cruz, window box garden designer and owner of Cruz Gardens. This spring, we sat down with Virginia to chat about this creative job and her successful career on Nantucket for the last 13 years.

Congdon & Coleman: How did you get into this career of flower box gardening?

Virginia: I started with a local gardening company that allowed me to learn and create my own designs. From there, I started to observe and study flowers.

C&C: Tell us about the process of creating a window box.

V: First, I like to know all the factors that will make the window box last the longest it can – things like sun exposure, temperature, and the season. As I do this, I also talk with my clients about their vision and formulate a plan according to their budget.

C&C: Is there any trick to creating a beautiful window box?

V: For me, the trick is caring and love! And you have to mix all the right ingredients – soil, water, fertilizer and the right mix of flowers with the same required conditions to grow and flourish.

C&C: Do you have a few favorite flowers you use for window boxes?

V: This is an ample question! I always take in consideration the season, the light, the color theme and the growing zone. Saying this, my favorites are Cape Plumbago, Geranium, Salvias, Petunias, Mandevillas, Verbena, Sweet Alyssum, Diamond Frost Euphorbia and Begonias but the list is endless.

C&C: What is your favorite time of year to create window boxes?

V: Summer! There’s longer days and the weather is perfect to plant and grow so many different varieties of window boxes.

C&C: What’s your favorite thing about being a window box gardener?

V: I love to create a reason for you to come out in your garden and enjoy all the beautiful colors and nuances that Nantucket nature offers. Nantucket offers you a gardening experience like no other place. From cottage gardens, Hydrangeas, Daffodils in the spring, beautiful fall foliage and a winter to remember that we cannot stop counting the days for summer to come again… my favorite thing is everything.

For new client inquiries, Virginia prefers phone calls or texts to (508) 332-9192. Garden Designs by Cruz Gardens