Today we’d like to introduce you to Kalen Snyder
Hi Kalen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Rio Brazos Plants started as a passion for the beauty of the national parks in southwest Texas. Our owner, Dean Williams, often visits places near Big Bend and knew we needed a place here in north Texas for low maintenance plants that thrive in our summer heat and winter frosts. We became established in September 2024 with big ambitions to be a reputable source for resilient, hard to find Texas natives and desert specimens.
As the general manager, I have an extensive background in plant and animal husbandry, working in a variety of garden nurseries and pet stores. My passion for knowledge has aided me in helping hundreds of people with their landscape needs and goals. With Rio Brazos Plants, my goal is to bring a new appreciation for our native wildlife in north Texas, offering plants that not only thrive in our metroplex, but ones that provide shelter, food, and beauty to your backyard.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Opening a garden center has been as rewarding as it has been challenging. At 31, my career has just begun, and the learning curves we have faced were uncharted territory for me. Even as an experienced manager with operational knowledge, creating these things from scratch is much different indeed. From creating logos, to newsletters, and check lists, on top of keeping our plants alive and our projects on schedule, hiring a helping hand from the start is something I would highly recommend.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
From a very young age, I was fascinated by everything outdoors. The animals, the plants, and the bugs became teachers that showed me a beauty and partnership that I feel most people don’t look twice at. One could not exist without the other, and that is the balance I want to bring back to the DFW.
My background in pet stores and garden centers made me the first person to ask questions to regarding the little lives I was selling, and to me that is a huge responsibility. You may have seen me around Lemmon Ave, Dallas selling fish, or in Coppell educating about canine nutrition. I am extremely proud of the lives I’ve helped save and the friends I’ve made through doing this.
I have since switched directions around 5 years ago into the landscaping and floral industry. My passions for teaching have spilled over into food education and nature preservation. I am currently working on some projects that would include school trips, workshops, and special guest speakers to bring knowledge and wonder into the joys of working outside.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is community. Unity is powerful, and the changes we want to see in the world starts with us.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rbr_plants/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562474817484
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rio.brazos.plants?_t=ZP-8tivM4NdtAV&_r=1
Image Credits
Bailey Mize
