About Us

As an Eagle Scout, outdoor adventures and weekend camping trips constituted the majority of my childhood free time. During my years of scouting, I found a special bond with animals and nature and focused on activities that opened up the curious world of the natural sciences.

One summer, I started doing yard work for a retired botany professor, and in her lush gardens I learned the names of her odd plants and how each contributed to a bigger community. In college, I pursued bioengineering where I learned about the complexity of living systems, the beauty of animal and plant physiology, and the ugliness of environmental carelessness. After graduating, I filled up a backpack and hit the dirt to through-hike the Appalachian Trail. 2,200 miles and six months later, I popped out of the trees with a clear head, strong legs, and even deeper inter-connections with nature. Now my goal is to bring people closer to fulfilling wonders of nature!

 

Kevin Byrley

Landscaping Manager

I attribute my love for plants to the beautiful Appalachian Mountains where I was born and raised. I spent most of my free time hiking, biking, and swimming in the woods, surrounded by an abundance of biodiversity. After graduating from Appalachian State University in 2016 with a degree in Recreation Management, I moved to Charleston and fell in love with the tropical environment. Working with Living Landscapes and Roots and Shoots Nursery gives me an opportunity to create healthy yards with like-minded gardeners and support Charleston's unique ecosystems.

 

Rachel Carey
Nursery Co-Manager

Convinced by a friend to take a botany class in college, I ended up loving it! I had already enjoyed hiking and it just became more fun knowing anecdotes about the plant friends I was passing. I kept up with that interest, however it wasn’t until years later I met a mentor who is very adamant about invasive plant control and has made me realize the detriment exotic plants can have on our special ecosystems.  From that point on, I became very appreciative of native plants. There's so much variety here in the southeast! Come by the nursery and we can teach each other things.