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An early curiosity about fruits and flowers turned Rizaniño “Riz” Reyes, originally from the Philippines, into an award-winning garden designer and avid plantsman in the Pacific Northwest. This led him to start a small specialty nursery, get involved with various horticultural organizations around the country and then obtain a Bachelor of Science in environmental horticulture from the University of Washington, where he worked at the Botanic Garden’s Center for Urban Horticulture. On the side, he supports and collaborates with local cut flower growers for his unique floral designs for special occasions and seasonal events. He is also a regular speaker and writer for various local and national organizations and publications. “Horticulture is a collaboration of science and art,” says Riz Reyes, silhouetted in the verdant twilight of his greenhouse workshop. As founder and sole employee of RHR Horticulture, his landscape and floral design company, Reyes is one of Seattle’s busiest green thumbs—and one of its most expressive. He’s operated out of this glorified terrarium in the Roosevelt neighborhood for six years; the owners live across the alley and donate the space, which would otherwise go unused. At roughly 225 square feet, it’s a jungle-dense menagerie with representatives from around the world: red banana tree, flowering maple, princess flower, pincushion flower, sheflera, angel’s trumpet, hellebore (Reyes’ personal favorite). He continues: “I’ve always liked art”—he was a dance minor at the University of Washington, the complement to his degree in environmental horticulture and urban forestry—”and the science kicked in because of my curiosity about how plants grow and function. To have the two come together is incredible.”

Grace Tsang, VP & Program Chair