Meet Mike Brewer | Plant records manager, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

From rock and roll dreams to camellias and cacti, Mike Brewer's path into horticulture has been anything but ordinary. After years in the music industry, a chance role at Home Depot opened the door to a new passion. Volunteering at Naples Botanical Garden, guided by generous mentors, introduced him to the world of plant collections — and to IrisBG. Today, as Plant Collections Manager at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, SC, he blends curiosity, technical know-how, and artistry while stewarding a historic living collection.

When did you know you wanted a career in Horticulture?
I grew up in Kansas. As a kid, I was sure I’d be a rock star or music producer. After a long career in the music industry (not the glamorous side), digital downloading pushed me to find a new path. My love of horticulture began when I became the Outside Department Head at Home Depot in New York. Eventually, I transferred to Florida, where I continued working for Home Depot while volunteering at Naples Botanical Garden (NBG). The horticulture staff there — especially Sandra Rigotti-Santos, their Plant Collections Manager — were incredible mentors. It was also where I first learned about IrisBG.

I soon began working at NBG, where I spent over a decade. During that time, I became an orchid enthusiast, developed a passion for collecting cacti and succulents, and soaked up as much horticultural knowledge as I could. When I later moved to Charleston, SC, I brought only a basic understanding of IrisBG with me as I stepped into the role of Plant Collections Manager at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens — another remarkable garden, home to a historic collection of camellias.

What is the plant or horticulture event that started it all for you?
Living in Florida, I became obsessed with orchids. At NBG, I had the chance to work with Nick Ewy, whose depth of knowledge — especially about orchids — fueled my enthusiasm. Now, at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, I’m quickly becoming a camellia expert. Identifying cultivars dating back to the 1800s still blows my mind.

Which garden tool can you not live without?
My Craftsman Battery Operated Pruner! Charleston is home to several invasive vines that can quickly take over. Keeping Wisteria sinensis and Smilax under control is a daily task while accessioning plants. We also couldn’t manage without our Arrow 200 GPS receiver.

What IrisBG report do you find most useful?
I still feel like I’m discovering new ways it can streamline our work. I regularly run Taxa reports to gather data on plant breeders and registration dates. Since we’re constantly adding new plants to the database, I also run stat reports all the time.

Do you have a mentor in the horticulture field?
So many. Naples Botanical Garden is full of amazing horticulturists, many of whom have since moved on to other gardens — Brian Galligan, Nick Ewy, Liz Chehayl, Elizabeth Beans, and Sandra Rigotti-Santos all played important roles in my development. At Magnolia, I’m fortunate to work with Jim Martin, who brings both horticultural expertise and an artist’s eye. He treats the landscape as a canvas and has been teaching me about color theory.

What's the handiest IrisBG function?
I’m diving into Maps and preparing for Garden Explorer. I’m very excited to create a web interface that shares valuable plant information directly with our guests.

Is there a particular plant you have learned a valuable lesson from?
I collect Euphorbia and other succulents. They taught me about convergent evolution — how unrelated organisms develop similar traits when adapting to comparable conditions. Euphorbia and cacti both evolved thick stems to store water and spines for protection, even though they aren’t closely related. It’s a great reminder that appearances can be deceiving. (And yes, a baseball cactus is actually a Euphorbia, not a cactus!) Convergent evolution happens in animals too — echolocation in bats and whales.

What is one thing most people wouldn't guess about you? 
I wanted to be a rock star when I was younger. That didn’t happen, but I did spend many years in the music industry working in marketing and graphic design. Along the way, I hung out with Jay-Z, Alanis Morissette, Tracy Chapman, and many others. I even met my all-time favorite artist,  Kate Bush — twice!