Robin Hills plant nursey owner stays strong through the challenges
Plant nursery owner loves to connect with his neighbours in Robin Hills.
Few people fight as hard for their areas as Irvin Sammons, and that is why he is the chairperson of Robins Residents and Ratepayers Association (RRRA) and was recently elected the public relations officer for Linden Community Policing Forum.
But few people stop to ask him about his personal life, and nine years as a Robin Hills resident.
“Robin Hills is quite an oldish area, and with this come streets adorned with beautiful large trees and then, of course, established gardens and pavements,” he said.
“So entering the Robins is one thing. Then you go down the neighbours and this area is filled with the most fantastic residents one could ever ask for. There is always a friendly wave when you walk or drive around, and always a neighbour offering a hot flask of water when load-shedding comes around in the early hours of the morning.”
Sammons ventured out of the corporate world in December 2020 and opened a plant nursery.
He ran Staghorn and Pitcher from home for just over a year before recently opening a shop in Linden.
“I discovered I had green thumbs from a very young age, and that had blossomed the older I got. Working with plants is incredibly relaxing (except when they die on you) – also being very hands-on in my business you get to meeting fantastic plant-crazy people.”
Sammons says he usually doesn’t have free time, but he sees free time differently.
“It’s time that is often filled with meeting neighbours, community work, gardening, woodworking, reviving half-dead plants – and, of course, enjoying a good glass of wine with my hubby at the golf course.”
But being self-employed is not for the faint-hearted and even though Sammons says he is living his dream, there are still days when he wants to stay in bed and be miserable.
“Fortunately, I see my ADHD as a gift, so I quickly get distracted from being lazy or miserable,” he added.
“There was a particularly rough start of the year when I lost my father in January, so add a good dose of grief into the equation… I’ve always been blessed with amazing family and friends and an incredibly supportive husband – so when I do really have my bad days, I make sure to pick up the phone to call someone to have a good chat.”
Sammons said even though Robin Hills and Robindale have high walls and electric fences, the neighbours are always friendly and helpful. There is always a cup of tea or glass of wine to share.
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