About Garden Charms™ Garden Markers

When she couldn't tell her new herbs apart, Jackie Compere of San Antonio, Texas, invented Garden Charms™. Through trial and error Jackie found just the right recipe for rain and heat resistant plant labels. Her pretty terra-cotta markers quickly became a garden staple among gardeners all over the U.S. thanks to herb festivals, word-of-mouth and a serendipitous magazine article. The Garden Charms™ line was then expanded to include frog hide-outs.

After 13 years Jackie decided to pursue other interests but first she wanted to find someone who would enjoy creating garden decorations as much as she did. Who better to carry on the Garden Charms ™ legacy than a happy customer? Satisfied customer Stephanie Frogge was eager to take over Jackie's "charming" business. Same garden markers, same frog hide-outs - but an expanded line and easy internet access. Read on for the whole Garden Charms™ story!

History

The seed for Garden Charms ™ was planted in 1992.

Jackie Compere of San Antonio, Texas, bought a pot of marjoram and a pot of oregano…and couldn't tell them apart!

"The plastic tags that came with the pots had broken off and the nursery didn't have any kind of plant label or anything that would help me," said Jackie. "I thought about it for awhile and decided, 'I can make something,' so off I went to a craft store, bought some stuff and made a couple of labels. They were great until it rained…then they melted!"

Never having worked with clay before, Jackie remembers with a laugh, "I taught myself, so I probably did everything wrong. I went to a place that would fire clay pieces for you but they ruined so many - they were like burned cookies - so I finally bought my own kiln and put it in my garage."

An avid gardener, Jackie joined her local herb club where other gardeners began to clamor for their own garden markers.

She began to travel to local herb festivals where, at one such event, her garden markers caught the eye of a photographer from Texas Highways.

After information about Garden Charms™ appeared in that publication, gardeners from all over Texas and beyond began to place their orders. More than 200 plant names and whimsical sayings became popular with customers.

Jackie's next inspiration, a frog hide-out, began to take shape when she remembered a trip to an artist's studio she took as a Brownie Scout.

"I remember we pressed leaves into soft clay and made little ashtrays. I had a plant called 'hoja santa' in my backyard and had often admired its beautiful leaves with their deep veins and wondered how I could use it."

Although the process is a bit more complicated than that early ashtray, it is a real hoja santa leaf serves as the mold for the clay "roof" on the Garden Charms'™ frog hide-outs.

I liked Jackie's products so much - I bought her company!

My name is Stephanie Frogge. In 1997, when I lived in Fort Worth, Texas, I met Jackie at the annual Fort Worth Herb Festival. According to Jackie's records, I bought three garden markers. As my own herb garden grew so did my collection of garden markers. Once or twice a year I would call Jackie with a list of the newest additions to my garden and she would send me new garden markers.

In 2005 with newly planted echinacea and germander, I called Jackie only to learn that she was selling her business! Oh no!!! What was I going to do for plant labels? What was I going to give as gifts to all my gardening friends? Long story short…after much discussion with Mike, the chief cook and bottle washer and now Prince "Charming," I am now the proud owner of Garden Charms™. We're eager to continue sharing Jackie's whimsical garden decorations with garden lovers everywhere and look forward to serving you. And Jackie hasn't gone far. We frequently talk on the phone or email one another to catch up or in my case, to ask for her advice! She says she's "into" aromatherapy these days and her herb garden reflects her new interest. So now you know the Garden Charms™ story!

About Us

Mike and I live in Huntsville, Texas, and when we're not playing with clay, Mike inspects houses and I teach at the local University and work on getting a Ph.D. We are VERY excited about our new business and hope that you will let us help you tell the difference between oregano and marjoram in your garden!

Contact us for more info