When I was just 5 years old, my love for gardening began during a visit to my grandparents in Weiz, Austria. Their community garden felt like a wonderland to me, and I still remember pulling up carrots with excitement. That’s where my passion first took root. By 8, I was helping my dad sprinkle live worms onto our lawn to make the grass greener the natural way—an early lesson in how nature works its magic.

After college, my love for gardens only grew—especially after meeting Tommy, a farmer working in his family's nursery business. Marrying him meant free flowers for life! After my own wedding, I found myself helping friends with theirs, making centerpieces and container gardens. That’s when I realized my passion could become a career.

Since 2007, I’ve installed hundreds of gardens and thousands of containers. I’m self-taught, having made every mistake in the book, so you don’t have to. Over the years, my passion has blossomed into Carmen Johnston Gardens, where I’ve had the privilege of sharing simple, beautiful DIY gardening tips with millions of viewers. I’m a continuing presence on HGTV as their resident Garden Lifestyle Expert, and I’ve been featured on the HGTV Smart Home series, The Today Show, and in Southern Living, Country Living, and Better Homes & Gardens.

Through it all, the smell of geraniums still brings me right back to my childhood home, where red geraniums filled the window boxes. Gardening is a lot like cooking—it’s trial and error, but I’m here to share what I’ve learned to help your confidence in the garden bloom!