I have been procrastinating writing about this for 8 months, since last October, when Lily Belisle told me that she would be leaving at the end of the 2026 busy season, and that her 16 year career at Red Wagon would be coming to an end. Lily has been managing our retail operation for most of our 20 years, and deserves so much of the credit for what makes Red Wagon so special. She has been the steady hand that keeps us consistent, organized, beautiful and welcoming. She has trained countless people to excel at customer service; she has worked through heat, hail, cold, and sheer exhaustion season after season. Lily’s passion for gardening and plants comes through every day while patiently answering countless customer questions, taking great care of the plants in our displays and keeping the inventory moving at a break neck speed.

Alongside all of that hard work, Lily has been my ballast. The person that keeps everyone steady when the ideas spin out of control or the vision extends past reality a little too much. My tendency is to always push for more, and Lily has helped me remember over and over that days off are important, time in our own gardens is valuable (literally and metaphorically) and that there is deep beauty in living a balanced life. She has taught me to take time to look for those moments in the garden that are fleeting vignettes when the bloom, the light, and the neighboring plants all work together to achieve a fleeting sense of balance and harmony.

She forgives errors by calling them “whoopsies” and moving on.

Lily will be leaving at the end of June, but hopefully we can have her come back for the occasional watering shift, or potting up strawberries in March when the wind is howling and time in the greenhouse with friends feels extra special. We will miss you so much, Lily! Thank you for a glorious and special run. It has been a true pleasure and an honor to build this business with you.

With heavy hearts but many good wishes for the future, we love you, Lily!

- Julie