Big Shifts, New Seasons

Seasons mean big change here in New England. As we step into September, the temperatures slip,

the days grow shorter, and the trees pull their energy back into their trunks, giving us those incredible, fleeting bursts of color in every direction. This year, those seasonal changes are mirrored by some big life changes, too.

Running a growing garden business in the middle of peak season is already a whirlwind. On top of that, my partner, Evan, and I have been navigating a mix of exciting opportunities and some really difficult decisions.

There are times in life when you’re asked to step into the unknown—letting go of what’s comfortable in order to discover something bigger. That’s exactly where we’ve found ourselves. So, with that being said, here’s the rundown on what’s new:

We Bought a House!

Back in late spring, Evan had the chance to purchase his grandmother’s home in Southwest Harbor on Mount Desert Island (yes, home to Acadia National Park!). At first, it felt almost impossible—our home base is Southern Maine, and the distance alone made us hesitate. But it was also an opportunity of a lifetime, one that immediately pulled at our hearts.

Originally, we thought we’d keep the house as a short-term rental. But the more time we spent there, the more it felt like home. Add in the fact that it’s just a quick boat ride away from Great Cranberry Island—where we're dreaming of building a homestead and, someday, a forever home—and it started to feel like the universe was nudging us in a very clear direction.

The challenge with that dream has always been time. Being so far away has made it hard to make real progress on those dreams (this summer it was July before we even made it up there for the first time!). But with the house now in the picture, we started to ask: what if we didn’t have to choose between places?

Expanding The Magic Sprout

That question sparked some new ideas. I started planning how The Magic Sprout could grow into two regions—continuing to serve our incredible clients in Southern Maine while also expanding services up on MDI.

I’ll be honest: that also meant slowing down growth in Southern Maine, and I felt surprisingly okay about that. 2025 was a huge year of expansion—we grew a lot, and we now have such an amazing collection of clients who are in a steady rhythm with us. Instead of chasing “more, more, more,” the idea of capping services locally and creating space for new growth up north felt grounding and right.

But with that shift came one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make: closing The Garden Shop in Kennebunk.

I love my little shop. I love the community, and I love the network of small businesses in our cute, coastal shopping center. But when I looked honestly at the direction of the business, it was clear retail no longer fit.

When I launched The Magic Sprout, our retail offerings helped carried the business while I built my client base. But in just one year, our services grew by 150%. That kind of growth required my full attention and the support of an incredible team. Trying to keep retail going on top of it all stretched me to my limits. I was worn down, spread thin, and constantly juggling.

At the end of the day, what lights me up is caring for plants and gardens, designing beautiful spaces, and building connections with clients. Retail taught me so much, and stepping away wasn’t easy—but it is the right call. So, over the next few months we will be searching for just the right person to backfill our spot as the new tenant (if this interests you reach out!) while we transition to online retail when things settle down this winter. In the interim we will be reducing hours at the shop as we say goodbye to our seasonal help and finish up our remaining fall garden projects.

What’s Next for Us

Our manifesting powers are paying off as Evan and I recently found ourselves with an amazing opportunity (details soon, I promise!) that will bring us north toward MDI even more. It’s definitely outside of our comfort zone—but in the best way possible.

Going forward, I’ll be splitting my time between active clients in Southern Maine and new work up north. The focus will be entirely on services—the work that fuels us. I’m excited to see what unfolds as we refine what we offer, how we support our clients, and what our work means for the communities we’re part of.

It feels good to finally share everything that’s been swirling around in my head these last four months. I can’t tell you how many times someone has asked me, “So, what’s new?!” and I’ve had to laugh and think, If only I could sum it up simply!

This season is about leaning into change—scary, exciting, beautiful change—and trusting that it’s all part of growing something even stronger.

Have questions?! Share them in the comments and we will clarify as much as possible:)

Cheers,

Sara