About Us — The Gathering Garden
Our Story
The Gathering Garden was born from a childhood spent in the beauty of Southwest Florida — tomatoes picked warm from the vine, fresh citrus from my grandparents' yard, and a backyard garden that taught me everything I needed to know about the gifts nature gives us.
From an early age, I understood that nature sustains us, nourishes us, and — when we slow down enough to notice — endlessly delights us. That love of the natural world is something I've carried with me ever since, and something I try to pass on to our children today. You'll find us at local u-pick farms, farmers markets, planting herbs and flowers out back, or simply outside breathing in the fresh air.
A Little Obsession Called Lavender
I was lavender-obsessed before I even knew lavender was a flower. Growing up in Florida, where it's rarely grown, I thought lavender was just a color. Then in college I stumbled upon a little lavender wreath — and everything changed. Lavender was an herb. It was gorgeous. It was fragrant. And I fell completely in love.
That discovery turned into a passion: I learned to craft with lavender, made my first wreath, and before long had sold hundreds through our first online shop. A small obsession had quietly become a calling.
Tuscany Changed Everything
In 2004, my husband and I were married in Italy and honeymooned in Tuscany. On our first morning, I woke up to the most familiar scent — lavender, growing wild and gorgeous in every direction. We spent the day wandering in and out of little shops filled with lavender goods, botanical home decor, and the kind of beautiful, natural things that make a house feel like a home.
That day, I knew exactly what I wanted to bring back to the US: that same feeling. Lavender and all the lovely gifts and goods inspired by the beauty of nature. Our first stores came to life not long after.
The Gathering Garden Today
Today, The Gathering Garden is a labor of love — a curated collection of dried botanicals, floral home decor, seasonal arrangements, and handcrafted goods, all rooted in that same original love of nature's beauty.
We hope you find something here that brings a little of that beauty into your home.
With love,
Samantha Azzarelli
Owner, The Gathering Garden