2025 PGSU Garden Story: Twila

Through a series of unexpected twists, Twila moved to St. George in 2015 and ended up with a property she had once only dreamed of owning. Thanks to her mother’s sharp eye, a good realtor, and a failed offer just ahead of hers, she became the owner of a large pioneer-era home and retail shop downtown, with space for parking and gardens.

For the next eight years, life was consumed by running her retail and wholesale Polish Stoneware business in the shop, while she lived in a small apartment above it. Renovations were constant—difficult, expensive, and often exhausting. Today, that pioneer home is known as Blooming Heart Village: Urban Oasis, a lovingly restored Airbnb property that welcomes guests from near and far.

A Garden Slow to Arrive

While the buildings demanded her attention, the gardens had to wait. Coming from Seattle, Twila knew little about desert gardening and leaned on landscapers to help realize her vision. Some of those early encounters were discouraging—dishonest contractors cost her both time and money. Then, a few years ago, she met Tony McCammon of Bloom Horticulture, who finally brought her vision into focus. His AutoCAD garden map was, in her words, “everything”—a tool that gave her both clarity and control.

Even with Tony’s help, the process was never easy. Orders fell through, some workers disappointed, and progress often felt slow. But Twila learned patience. “Due diligence is everything,” she says now. “Don’t rush into the choice of a contractor or landscaper.”

A Garden Built for Guests

Unlike a private backyard, Twila’s gardens had to serve multiple purposes. They needed to be distinctive—not a copy of her neighbors—and welcoming for overnight guests. She designed resting places, colorful beds, and a large open event space shaped like a shallow amphitheater. At the center is a striking brick paver floor she designed herself, framed by shrubs, trees, and flowers that change with the seasons.

Around the house, winding paths lead to desert-loving perennials, a veggie garden with hexagonal raised beds, young fruit trees, and even an artificial turf putting green guarded by a whimsical ceramic bulldog. Mature shade trees, along with new plantings, form a buffer from the busy street, enclosing the property in greenery. In the back, a chicken coop adds rustic charm (though it may one day give way to parking, with the current parking area becoming another garden).

A Winding Path

Reflecting on her years of effort, Twila has become philosophical about the creative process. She believes the state of mind you bring to a project shows in the final result. “The garden is the window into your soul,” she says. “If your soul is not in a good place, step back, get it in a good place, and then when you start creating, you’ll be so proud of what you’ve done. It might not be instant. It’s not Kool-Aid, you know—it’s growing the sugar cane.”

Her lesson has been to slow down, accept the pace of the work, and find the right people who are willing to do it right. The result is a home and garden full of vitality and spirit, reflecting Twila’s own energy. Visitors find themselves drawn into the experience, delighted at every turn.

And if you’d like more than just a garden tour, you may want to book a stay at Blooming Heart Village—a retreat as welcoming as its gardens.

Garden Wisdom from Twila

• Don’t rush into contracts. Take your time choosing landscapers and contractors—due diligence pays off.

• Design for experience. Gardens can be more than beds and trees—think about places to rest, gather, and celebrate.

• Balance patience with persistence. Projects that feel slow and winding often produce the most lasting results.

• Your mindset matters. A peaceful state of mind will be reflected in the beauty of the space you create.

• Use maps and plans. A detailed design, like the AutoCAD map from Bloom Horticulture, provides clarity and confidence.