Our Story

Our story brought us to flowers. Yours is what inspires us to create.

Long before Podesta Botanica came to life, Joey and Alyssa’s individual stories were already rooted in the botanical world.

For Joey, it was a childhood immersed in the artistry and traditions of Podesta Baldocchi, his family’s beloved San Francisco flower shop. For Alyssa, it was summers spent in her grandmother’s garden, where a fascination with plants and flowers blossomed into a lifelong passion for horticulture.

Two different beginnings, each cultivating an appreciation for the natural world that would one day become the foundation of something entirely their own.

A fixture in San Francisco’s floral community, Podesta Baldocchi was a family-owned flower shop where Joey’s grandfather, Jack, and father, Steve, carried forward a tradition of floral artistry and craftsmanship. Joey grew up immersed in that world, working alongside his family and contributing to the elaborate floral installations they created.

For Alyssa, inspiration came from her grandmother, a woman with an extraordinary gift for growing things. She was one of those rare people who could put a stick in the ground and somehow coax it into flourishing. Her knowledge of plants, flowers, and the art of growing seemed endless. Summers spent in her garden, surrounded by her remarkable green thumb and endless curiosity for the natural world, nurtured a love of horticulture that would stay with Alyssa throughout her life.

Alyssa’s professional journey eventually led her to Napa Valley, where she spent nearly a decade immersed in luxury wine, hospitality, and events. There, she developed an appreciation for thoughtful details, beautiful surroundings, and the art of creating meaningful experiences.

As Joey and Alyssa built their life together, their shared stories and appreciation for the botanical world became intertwined. With Joey’s encouragement and Alyssa’s lifelong passion for horticulture and design, a dream that had been growing for years began to take shape. Together, they found a way to honor their roots while creating something uniquely their own.

Today, Podesta Botanica carries forward a family name with a rich floral history while embracing a vision uniquely its own. Every design is approached with intention, creativity, and the belief that flowers and plants should do more than simply beautify a space. They should evoke emotion, tell a story, and create memories that linger long after the moment has passed.