Annette Pelliccio

The Happy Gardener began in April 2003 in Ashland, Virginia. Its founder, Annette Pelliccio, had been staying at home raising her two daughters when she and her husband decided to take a chance with a new gardening business. Annette grew up in a family of gardeners. Her father had taken over her grandfather's landscaping business, and he and her mother had established a successful nursery, floral and aquatic center in Long Island, New York. Between working at the garden center and playing with flower, fruit and vegetable gardening at home, Annette had developed a genuine love for the art of gardening.

During the spring of 2003, Annette began wondering what she was going to do about her career. With her daughters, aged 1 and 3, she could not see herself going back to her profession as an elementary teaching/reading specialist. She thought a lot about what was important. She desired a job where she could work alongside her family. Her dream career would include: family-first with flexible hours, financial security, social interaction, community service, professional growth opportunities, and of course...gardening! After much thought and research, Annette was able to incorporate each and every one of those job characteristics, and combine them with one of our country's fastest growing professions, network marketing, and our country's favorite past-time, gardening. She named it The Happy Gardener.