We had the good fortune of connecting with Teresa Speight and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Teresa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was on a journey seeking other African Americans in horticulture that looked like me doing more than mowing grass. At the time I wanted to be a garden writer and wanted to connect. I found Anne Spencer and Lee May. I began a conversation with Mr. May prior to his passing. He encouraged me to write and keep sharing the garden from our perspective. It’s quite meaningful to do this work exposing seeds, us – black people in horticulture, that might otherwise never see the light of day.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am Director of First Impressions for a Commercial Developer in Washington DC – by day. I coordinate events, meetings, and make everyone feel welcomed from our internal clients (co-workers) to our external clients. Cottage in the Court was born post-divorce. I moved back to Maryland from Virgnia. It was a time where I found myself immersed into the garden as it was where I felt safe and found joy simply by touching the earth. When I lived in Virginia, I was Head Gardener for the City of Fredericksburg, became a Central Rappahannock Master Gardener, and a started a small landscape maintenance company. When my life changed and I became single, my daughters and I moved back to Maryland, and I began to write. Sharing all things beautiful made me feel alive and I started blogging. I joined Garden Writers Association (now GardenComm, International), became a Region II Director, obtained a few clients who needed a Garden Visionary for their Estate Gardens, traveled back and forth to Paris all while trying to grow my brand.
I still work full-time, minimized my private clients, travel and freelance write articles for private concerns, back to blogging, traveling, speaking, and more with more. I have become an author, Black Flora, and co-author, The Urban Garden – 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City- with more books on the way.

No, it has not been easy – but eye opening about the intentions of people along the way. I used to trust everyone, now I m a bit cautious and much more aware…and have legal counsel. Pushing through the challenges I have encountered was bearable due to the advice of my dad. He would tell me to just be still. I have always had a lot of energy. Being still allowed me to think things through and not react without thinking.

Cottage in the Court was a tattered fixer upper Cottage in the middle of a Cul de sac that now shines with bodacious blooms. Some thought I could never own my own home, never write (I have written one book and co-authored another), establish an Estate Garden Service, offer advice to those who want to understand gardening, and travel speaking about the beauty that surrounds us. My next act is a micro cut flower farm and garden coaching service at the Cottage in the Court so as many as possible can see that beauty can be homegrown.
Lessons learned – I have to have faith in myself, be my best cheerleader, and my key phrase – the calvary is not coming, I need to stay ready and become my own calvary.
I want the world to know I am not done yet…stay tuned.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Monday – Start at the US Botanic Garden. Visit the grounds, see inside, then wander down to the Native American Museum, grab a bite to eat and walk the Capitol grounds. Head back to Maryland and cook a meal together with my crazy dog Precious.

Tuesday – Visit the Smithsonian Gardens and Castle including the Enid Haupt Garden, this would take most of the day as there would be aa lot of ground to cover. perhaps have lunch at Teaism. The day would end at the Hamilton for nosh and drinks.

Wednesday – Visit Hillwood Historic House and Garden to tour the house, grounds and have lunch in the cafe without rushing.

Thursday – Visit the Museum of African American History and Culture to spend one of two days. It would take at least two days to really absorb the power of this museum. With a cafe onsite, we would take a moment to eat and reflect. Weather permitting, we would walk through the midtown area and have a cocktail at the Old Ebbitt Grill…and see a famous person or two.

Friday – back to the Museum of African American History and Culture to see as much as possible. Enjoy a lite lunch there before heading to NIDO-DC for a bit of nosh, a wine tasting and great company.

Saturday – rest, sleep in and go back to NIDO to enjoy a little Mediterranean nosh, wine, and mingling with the coolest people in DC.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
One is hard – however I will be brief. I want to honor those who inspired me to pick up the torch and be authentic. Lee May. The few conversations we had, he encouraged me to write it my way, through my eyes, and from my heart.
Anne Spencer. Her story inspired me to write down my flowery thoughts to document what I felt as I watched a mere Crocus arrive in the springtime, to the warmth of the sun on my face while weeding. No thought should go unwritten to be shared by those who might be willing to pause and reflect in the garden.
Jamaica Kincaid. Her thoughts on gardening as a way of possessing something and manipulating it to fit a personal narrative, have helped me hone my words.
My brother Jimmy. Knowing I was an extremely shy child, third of four, he encouraged me to ‘cross the street’. That is a metaphor for don’t be scared. Jimmy encouraged me to write, share and inspire others to speak their truth.
These people helped me decide to write and garden unapologetically MY WAY…and lead the way for others to speak truth as we garden and create.

Website: https://www.cottageinthecourt.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cottageincourt

Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/teresa-speight-28642611

Twitter: @cottageinthecourt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cottageinthecourt

Image Credits
2ND IMAGE ONLY: Isaiah D. Woolfolk Founder and Visual Creative Legac Virginia

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