Meet The Family
Nela Cambizaca
Co-Founder and Nursery General Manager
Nela is the eldest of the Cambizaca siblings and the guiding force behind Cattleya’s nursery operations. With more than twenty years of experience in nursery management, she has developed a deep understanding of annuals, perennials, natives, and the tender tropicals that have become favorites in New England gardens. Her knowledge stretches far beyond general horticulture. She has a remarkable ability to read a plant’s needs through careful observation, and she brings an almost instinctive sense for what will thrive in varying conditions.
What sets Nela apart is the generosity with which she shares her expertise. Customers often describe meeting her as warm and reassuring. She approaches every question with patience and clarity, creating an environment where beginner gardeners feel confident and seasoned gardeners feel understood. Nela’s passion for plants is deeply rooted in the way she and her siblings were raised in the mountains of Limón, where nurturing the land was a natural part of daily life.
At Cattleya, she ensures that every plant offered has been grown or selected with intention and care. Her commitment to quality, her love for teaching, and her ability to guide gardeners of all levels play a central role in making the garden center a trusted space for the community.
Giomy Cambizaca
Co-Founder and Landscape Designer
Giomy is the creative architect behind Cattleya’s landscape design and installation services. With a natural talent for envisioning spaces and a deep respect for the land, she transforms both residential and commercial properties into outdoor environments that feel harmonious, beautiful, and thoughtfully lived in. Her work blends artistry with horticultural knowledge, and she designs each project with a careful eye for structure, seasonality, and the emotional experience of moving through a landscape.
Her reputation for exceptional customer service was built long before Cattleya opened its doors. Local clients know her for her warmth, her work ethic, and her ability to listen closely to what they hope their outdoor spaces will become. From concept to completion, she leads with collaboration and care, ensuring every project reflects the style and needs of the people who will enjoy it.
Growing up in the mountains of Limón taught her the importance of resourcefulness, balance, and working in partnership with nature. She brings these values into every design and every conversation. At Cattleya, her creativity and hands-on leadership elevate the business from a garden center into a comprehensive destination for customers seeking inspired, personalized landscape solutions.
Juan Cambizaca
Co-Founder and Estate Care Specialist
Juan brings a rare level of estate management knowledge to Cattleya, shaped by years of caring for large New England properties that require precision, consistency, and a deep understanding of the land. His experience covers lawn care, orchard fruit tree care, irrigation, ornamental plantings, soil health, seasonal operational production, and long-term estate preservation. He understands the rhythm of the seasons and the long-view planning required to keep expansive properties thriving year after year.
Customers appreciate Juan’s calm presence, practical wisdom, and ability to simplify complex maintenance needs in a way that empowers them to care for their own outdoor spaces. He approaches every property as a living system, an instinct rooted in his upbringing in the mountains of Limón where the land was both home and teacher.
At Cattleya, Juan’s full-property expertise strengthens the family business by offering customers insight that extends beyond standard gardening advice. His guidance helps homeowners make decisions that support the long-term health of their landscapes, and his perspective ensures that Cattleya remains a trusted resource for gardeners, estate owners, and anyone seeking a deeper connection to the land they care for.
Diego Samaniego
Co-Founder and Estate Care Specialist
Diego Samaniego is part of the Cambizaca family and shares the same roots in the close-knit community of Limón, Ecuador, where a connection to the land was a way of life. He brings a focused expertise in irrigation systems and perennial garden maintenance, supporting the long-term health and sustainability of every landscape Cattleya helps shape.
His experience includes designing and maintaining efficient irrigation systems, along with hands-on knowledge of perennial care such as spring and fall cleanup, seasonal preparation, and ongoing maintenance. Diego understands how to work with the rhythms of New England’s changing seasons, ensuring that gardens remain balanced, resilient, and prepared for growth year after year.
Diego’s work often happens behind the scenes, but it is what allows a garden to truly settle in and thrive. His role is foundational to the long-term success of every landscape, ensuring that each element is supported in a way that allows it to grow and perform at its best. He pays close attention to how water moves through a property, how plants respond over time, and how each season builds on the last. It is this steady, thoughtful approach that helps customers feel confident their landscapes are not only beautiful in the moment, but cared for in a way that lasts.