About Us
Ruth at Firetail Garden with her dog Keenly
My name is Ruth Downham, and I have been gardening and growing plants my whole life. As a child, my sister and I always had our little veggie patch as part of a much larger family one. We always had chickens, sheep, cows, and the occasional pig, with fresh milk and eggs daily. I grew up in a family that went to all the Organic Gardening and Farming Weekends around Tassie. My parents, who are now in their 80’s, still have a great vegetable garden with 12+ beds. I have a Batchelor of Science with a Diploma of Education and a Certificate IV in Horticulture.
I teach three days a week, spend hours in the garden, visit my glass studio occasionally, and enjoy time with family, friends and my pets.
I have been selling dahlias (Firetail Dahlias and Artful Dahlias) for quite a few years. I enjoy propagating plants and sharing ‘the love’, so I am now venturing into daffodils and other little gems.