I remember when we were just a party of two.

I met Tyler James Hogan while sipping lattes and reading scripts at a cafe he worked at in Parkdale. He says he got my order wrong the first time, just so he could talk to me a little longer.

 

I asked him to watch my expensive laundry soap while I ran across the street to throw my clothes in the dryer—just so he would know that of all the people in that cafe, I wanted his help.

We were pretty inseparable from the start. I’m an idealist. I believe you can fall in love with a smile from across the room. But staying in love—really persevering—is a different thing. The way he still looks at me after a long day of parenting, a stressful business day, or when I’m just not feeling loveable—that’s the real love. He’s my Mr. Darcy.

 

Photo: Joseph & Jaime

 

My dream, Coriander Girl, was born just months after we started dating. It’s no coincidence.

 

Tyler made me feel like I had an army behind me, championing my ideas. He always had my back.

We were married on my Mom and Pop’s farm in 2011. 

After the wedding, we turned our sights on buying something lovely. We found a beautiful old church as an idyllic spot to getaway from Toronto. It quickly became our full-time sanctuary while I commuted back to the city weekly for business. When we found out our first babe was coming, we decided to move to Prince Edward County. Having Hattie would be the catalyst for major change—no more commuting to Toronto. I gave the reigns to my then Manager and 10 months after our girl was born we opened the doors on our second location in Picton.

Tyler is the reason I could even consider opening another shop at such an early stage of motherhood. He is truly the most generous and loving father. It's no surprise that I chose a man not unlike my Dad.

Those early shop days were magical. My two favourite people would trudge up through the snow to see me, Hattie would breastfeed and then they’d go thrifting. 

 

Photo: Tyler Hogan

Photo: Coriander Girl

 

A couple of years and hundreds of shop visits later, we bought our dream farm—a gorgeous 15-acre parcel of land with a 200 year-old restored farmhouse and an old church. I know. I cried when I saw it for sale 3 years earlier, knowing we couldn't swing it. Somehow, it was still there when we were ready. I believe the house waited for us.

In the spring of 2015 we moved in. We are slowly chipping away at projects around the property. We welcomed our second beautiful girl, Adeline, in July of 2017. If you can believe it—she was born the exact day, down to the minute, that her Dad was born. I know! You can’t make this stuff up.

 

Photo: Coriander Girl

Photo: Karyn Valino

Photo: Karyn Valino

Photo: Tyler Hogan

 

Our family is the driving force behind this operation. My husband and girls keep me focused on building something meaningful. Together we are so inspired for what lies ahead at our farm. With Tyler’s background in hospitality and my floral business we have big dreams for hosting joyful events, growing flowers, raising small animals, and a gaggle of geese!

We don’t do all of this alone, our family extends well beyond these plastered walls. Tyler’s Mom and Dad have been an integral part of our success, always helping when called upon. My Mom, Pop and brother Josh are always cheerleading the dream and helping in any way they can. Coriander Dad—he gets his own page! My Nana and kindred spirit, Ruth Voigt, loaned me the money to get this dream started. She's no longer with us. Our friends are endlessly supportive and make us feel held in times of strife. And lastly, our team of extraordinary women and the talented freelance florists who help us on the regular are truly the life force behind Coriander Girl.

 

I don’t do it all. It’s one big happy, messy love in. Family.

 

Photo: Coriander Girl

Photo: Coriander Girl

Photo: Tara McMullen

Photo: Coriander Girl

Photo: Coriander Girl

Photo: Tara McMullen

Photo: Coriander Girl