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During the 15 years since she established The Creative Touch, local designer Jackie Ruane has filled all sorts of places &mdash; from bank entrances to insurance offices to restaurant doorways, from reception halls to residential backyards &mdash; with flowers and other natural elements.
				&ldquo;I&rsquo;m all about enhancing spaces,&rdquo; she said.
				But earlier this year, when COVID-19 concerns led to down-sized businesses and postponed social events, she found orders tapered off.
				So the entrepreneur, who works out of her home in Jenkins Township, pivoted and added a new dimension to her repertory.
				Turning to the hardy plants known as succulents, she began to create grow-it-yourself succulent kits that proved popular with families who were spending more time at home and looking for new projects.
				&ldquo;It&rsquo;s working out great,&rdquo; Ruane said, explaining how she offers contactless delivery to local residents, bringing them succulent kits that include a young plant plus sand, potting soil and tiny stones, a container in which to arrange all those layers and instructions for growing the plant.
				&ldquo;I put a lot of heart and soul into this,&rdquo; she said, adding that her teen-age son Patch is &ldquo;my right-hand guy.&rdquo;
				It&rsquo;s been fun to tailor-make kits for kids, Ruane said, noting &ldquo;if a little girl likes unicorns or a little boy likes robots or dinosaurs, we can find a way to personalize the kit.&rdquo;
				Of course, you don&rsquo;t have to be a child to enjoy growing a succulent &mdash; and adults will appreciate the instructions Ruane includes, along with advice on what to do if your plant doesn&rsquo;t seam to be thriving.
				Is it turning yellow? That sounds like a sign of too much water.
				Is it shriveling? That can mean you&rsquo;re not watering it enough.
				Ruane also has enjoyed collecting the recyled glasses and mugs that she uses as containers, with thrift stores or flea markets being good sources.
				The designer said she &ldquo;always had an affinity for flowers&rdquo; and earned a degree in biology. She worked in the pharmacy lab at Wilkes University for more than 20 years until being laid off in late June amid down-sizing due to the coronavirus.
				She wasn&rsquo;t happy about leaving that job, Ruane said, but she&rsquo;s philosophical.
				&ldquo;When one door closes, another opens.&rdquo;
				Ruane can be reached via email at: creativej3156@aol.com or via Facebook: The Creative Touch @creative3156 or via Instagram: the_creative_touch

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‘The Creative Touch’ owner creates succulent kits