The tables turned for Allison Hurley of Jackson when she was setting a scene for a holiday party.
Hurley had become known for creating elaborate tablescapes for dinner parties at the time, and her designs always included spectacular floral arrangements.
“One day, as I was doing a tablescape for someone’s Christmas party, they asked me if I did planters, and I said, ‘Sure!’” Hurley recalls. “That’s when my focus and passion switched from creating tablescapes to creating container arrangements.”
Lovie Dodd Designs was born from that new passion. Hurley’s company’s name came from the names of her grandmothers, Lovie Barrett and Mary Dodd Ables—both of whom were avid gardeners. “I remember many times taking pictures with them by their prized camellia bush or massive snowball tree,” Hurley says. “It’s such a fond memory of mine that their love of nature and beauty were always present throughout my life. I don’t claim to have their expertise, but I think their love of growing beautiful plants influenced me tremendously.”
Hurley launched her container planting business in November of 2019, and word of her artistic assemblages of lush flora quickly spread. She made it her mission not only to create attractive arrangements that would enhance the beauty of her clients’ homes, but also to “bring happiness and joy to people’s lives through flowers and plants.”
“I really think my success first came from just having an eye for how to arrange plants and flowers, and knowing what looks good together,” she reflects. “The learning about each plant and its needs came secondary, but it came quickly because I was hooked on this new hobby and wanted to learn as much as I could about making beautiful designs that thrived.”
As her business has grown, Hurley says she has relished the opportunity to learn more and more about plants, both from experts at nurseries and from a landscape-company-owning friend. On her list of goals is to become a master gardener through the Mississippi State University Extension Service one day. “I never stop learning, nor do I want to,” Hurley says. “I feel like I am always evolving through experience.”
In addition to window boxes and outdoor planters of all kinds, Hurley also offers small indoor arrangements to clients, and she even creates Christmas-focused planters with a touch of sparkle. It’s all part of her desire to bring blooming happiness to homes and a few commercial spaces around the Jackson metro area. “Just to be able to drive up to your house every day and see beautiful, thriving plants at your front door, or to entertain by the pool with lush planters all around, is just such a game changer in the look and feel of a space,” Hurley says.
The process of working with Hurley begins with a consultation, either in person or through text messages, to determine the client’s needs and wants. “I always start with finding out what type of sunlight their planters get throughout the day so I am choosing the right plants for their space,” she says. “Also, there are many times that my clients don’t even have containers yet, and I am more than happy to work with them to find the perfect containers. I look at their space and choose the size, shape, and color alongside them.”
Hurley spends her days outdoors sifting soil and sorting plants, or visiting nurseries and consulting with knowledgeable staff members as she selects specimens for her next container. She says her favorite projects are those near water—whether it’s a pool, lake, or water feature—but she’s not picky when it comes to planting. “Just put me outside with some dirt and flowers and I’m a happy girl,” she says. “Planting and being outside are so therapeutic to me. It’s also my time to talk to God and thank him for this opportunity and talent he has given me.”
Despite the increase in orders, Hurley says she’s still a “one-woman show”—though she dreams of a day when her 11- and 13-year-old sons might take an interest and start helping with the planting. “Maybe we could call ourselves Lovie Dodd & Sons,” she says with a laugh.
Pressed to name her favorite plants, Hurley has trouble narrowing down the field. “I love them all,” she proclaims. “I love to discover new plants each season at nurseries around town. I do love a good ‘spiller’ like creeping Jenny or English ivy, or a cascading vinca. And I love caladiums, begonias, lantana, coleus, and ferns. The list goes on and on!”
This garden guru says there are truly no plants that can’t do well in a container garden, given the right tender loving care. “If plants are maintained with proper watering and pruning and they’re planted where they’re getting the amount of sunlight the need,” she says, “they’ll thrive all season long.”
Create a Great Container Garden
Ready to dig in and build a pretty presentation in a planter? Allison Hurley shares her tips for container success:
- Start with soil. “A good soil is key for sure,” Hurley says.
- Don’t forget about drainage. “Any container you use should have drainage holes to ensure the longevity of the plants,” she says. “I make sure that the drainage holes are clear that there isn’t anything constricting the drainage.”
- Combine a thriller, a spiller, and a filler. “This is the basic rule of thumb for a no-fail containers,” she says. “It’s fun to find this combo in all types of plants.”
- Consider color. “I try to use complimentary and contrasting colors to create depth and interest in all my containers,” she says.
- Water with the weather. “Watering needs are all based on drought vs. adequate rainfall, and on conditions like sunlight exposure and outside temperatures,” she advises. “I always say to just pay attention to your planters and don’t neglect them. Feel the soil and pay attention to their appearance.”
Find Lovie Dodd Designs on Instagram @loviedodddesigns.
