Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqueline Thain-Garver.
Hi Jacqueline, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was raised by two parents who didn’t know how to live a small life. They built businesses, restored a Victorian home (and many others), and raised seven children with grit, imagination, and heart. That foundation shaped me — it gave me guts, tenacity, and the ability to keep showing up even when life is hard.
For 20 years, I built a career in the restaurant industry, until life brought me to my knees. In 2019, after nearly dying, I realized I could no longer avoid my pain. That experience gave me the clarity and permission to finally show up for the life I was meant to live — a life worth living.
I have known deep heartbreak, including major childhood trauma, the loss of my child to SIDS, and the devastation of alcoholism as a response to unhealed pain. I have learned to love the pain of my story — to let it transform me. My faith has been my constant; even when I wavered, my God did not.
After working hard and leaning into the beauty of sobriety, my journey in a B2B restaurant job no longer made sense. I returned to my primary childhood dream: owning my own business (I started my first one around the age of 12). Raised on what would now be considered a sizable micro-farm, my first thought was heirloom tomatoes — because, let me tell you, I can grow gorgeous tomatoes. But the universe and pragmatism led me another way. I realized I’d have to grow a mountain of tomatoes to make it work, and the logistics just didn’t add up.
Then flowers found me.
Turns out I had a belief that my value was tied to producing tangible (edible?) things — and flowers taught me otherwise. They showed me that my true worth isn’t just in what I can do; it’s in who I am. It’s in the being. That’s something I’m still learning.
With Zac — my best friend, my home, the person who has seen me at my most lost and stood by me as I found myself again — I’ve had the freedom to pursue this dream. His unwavering support, taking on the majority of our livelihood, has given me the space to build something beautiful. Our three children cheer me on, sometimes working beside me, learning the value of hard work and the joy of creating something from the ground up. Building my flower farm and design business has been a journey marked by challenges, growth, and resilience, but most of all, it’s been filled with a kind of goodness, and support I never knew I needed. It’s a life richer than I could have ever imagined.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
8,000 plants being destroyed by hail, falling and severely spraining my ankle, murdering lots of plants,
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Rue & Pear Flower Co. ?
At Rue and Pear Flower Co., we create florals that evoke timeless elegance and playful grandeur — crafting unforgettable moments of beauty, wonder, and connection. As a farmer-florist based in Loveland, Colorado, we take pride in growing our blooms with sustainable practices that honor the earth and support our local community.
Our passion for color theory guides our design process, allowing us to create floral arrangements that inspire emotion and connection, whether through vibrant, bold palettes or soft, understated hues. We don’t just arrange flowers; we curate experiences that reflect the heart of every occasion, from intimate gatherings to grand celebrations.
What sets us apart is our commitment to authenticity and intentionality — from how we grow our flowers to how we design with them. Our work is rooted in community — whether it’s making sure a husband’s love is truly felt on an anniversary, helping a bride or wedding planner’s vision come to life with ease and elegance, or creating striking floral installations for corporate events and galas. We are dedicated to creating floral designs that feel as unique and special as the people they are made for.
Our offerings range from bespoke wedding florals and seasonal arrangements to corporate events, galas, and flower subscriptions. Whether celebrating love, honoring tradition, elevating a corporate gathering, or simply bringing beauty into everyday life, we approach each project with the same care, artistry, and heart. Choosing Rue and Pear Flower Co. means choosing flowers that go beyond aesthetics — they tell stories, build connections, and create moments that linger long after the petals have fallen.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My mom never knew what to expect from me. Raising a gregarious, creative, and fiercely determined child was equal parts exciting and exhausting. I was always up to something.
But nothing prepared her for the day Mrs. Bagby, my kind piano teacher pulled her aside.
“In all my years of teaching, I’ve never seen anything like this,” Mrs. Bagby said, My mom froze, unsure if I’d set the piano on fire or composed a masterpiece.
“She played ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ flawlessly,” Mrs. Bagby continued, “with her toes.”
My mom’s had an instant realization I had indeed been practicing the entire week, just as she’d asked — I just happened to use my toes instead of my fingers. Mrs. Bagby couldn’t stop laughing.
That moment summed me up pretty well — I never just followed instructions. I had to twist them, spin them around, and make them my own. It wasn’t just about playing the song; it was about seeing if I could play it differently — and having a little fun along the way.
My mom just shook her head, smiling. “Of course you did,” she said. She didn’t know what my next idea would be, but she knew one thing for sure: it would probably be unexpected, slightly outrageous, and somehow — surprisingly — pretty impressive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://RueandPear.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rueandpear?igsh=d2cwcmdoeGxzcDln&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/196QD6e4dY/?mibextid=wwXIfr
