The Plant Girl Adventures
SAVING THE WORLD ONE PLANT AT A TIME!
mEET NASTYA VARLAMOVA, ILLUSTRATOR
FROM SKETCH TO STORY
I’m holding the result of a year-long journey — our book, The Plant Girl Adventures — a heartfelt collaboration between myself and author Richard Oshen. As I turn the pages and run my fingers over the cover, I’m instantly reminded of the Portuguese sky—the same brilliant tone of blue that now graces the book’s front. Each detailed illustration brings back memories of the long, creative days spent shaping this magical world.
It all began in the most unexpected way. Richard and I were having one of our lighthearted exchanges, and he joked that my habit of rescuing plants could be the basis for a story. “You’re like a PLANT GIRL,” he said with a laugh. But then… he sent a draft.
a real PLANT GIRL
That playful moment turned into something very real. As soon as I read the manuscript, I was inspired. The idea of a girl who could heal plants with kindness resonated deeply with me—and I knew I wanted to help bring Flora Mora’s world to life.
From there, the creative process bloomed. I began sketching Flora and her world: the gray, lifeless city of Grayland, the whimsical Marsik the cat, Speedy the snail, and of course, the plants themselves—each with its own personality and quiet resilience.
The process was anything but simple. For over a year, Richard and I exchanged ideas, refined illustrations, revised layouts, and reimagined scenes. Some sketches came to life easily; others were completely reworked. But each step brought us closer to the vibrant story you can now hold in your hands.
meet marsik the cat
For more than a year, Richard and I exchanged ideas, refined illustrations, revised layouts, and reimagined scenes.
Some sketches came easily; others took more time Each step brought us close to the vibrant story you can now hold in your hands
Creating The Plant Girl Adventures was more than a project — it was a shared journey of imagination, purpose, and plenty of heart.
I’m honored to see our story go out into the world, where I hope it inspires children to see plants—and kindness—in a new way.
Oh, Yes -- Marsik sends a BIG FURRY HELLO!
WITH LOVE, LIGHT AND PLANT POWER!
Nastya Varlamova 💚
mEET RICHARD OSHEN, AUTHOR
learning LESSONS FROM TREES
Living in the forest has taught me more than any classroom ever could. It’s where I began to understand how deeply connected we are to the natural world—and how that connection became the heart of The Plant Girl Adventures.
This story grew from a simple truth: We are not healed alone.
If we take care of the plants, the plants will take care of us. That message is woven into every page of Flora Mora’s journey, because it’s one I believe every child—and grown-up—should know.
The Language of Living Things
As I wrote The Plant Girl Adventures, I kept returning to a truth that’s been quietly rooted in me since childhood: everything is alive, and everything is speaking—if we learn how to listen.
Trees talk to each other through their roots, sharing nutrients and warnings. Mushrooms form massive underground networks that help entire forests thrive. Birds sing in code, and animals communicate in ways science is only beginning to understand. Even the soil—what we often see as just “dirt”—is teeming with life, messages, and energy.
We live in a world that hums, pulses, and vibrates with intelligence. It’s not always loud or always so obvious. It’s in the rustling of leaves, the spiral of SPEEDY THE SNAIL'S shell, the timing of a flower blooming --- even water in a stream speaks.
If we slow down enough… if we quiet the noise… we start to hear it. and once we hear it - we will never forget it!
"E" is for everything!
Here’s a fun thought that hit me mid-writing: Just ONE letter separates PLANT from PLANET — and that single letter stands ( in my way of thinking) for EVERYTHING! Because when we care for one plant we are, in essence caring for all plants!
Perhaps the greatest lesson of all is this: It’s up to us to slow down, to get still, and to listen. Because when we do, we begin to hear what the Earth has been saying all along — we belong to each other.
The Plant Girl Adventures is my way of making this message come alive for kids. To understand that they already belong to it, and it belongs to them. Caring for the Earth is as natural as breathing.
Grow and Be Magnificent
Richard Oshen 💚
the PLANT GIRL book - available now!
PLANT SEEDS AND WATCH THEM GROW!
Can one girl really bring an entire city back to life?
Can her belief that “If you take care of plants, the plants will take care of you” be enough to heal Grayland and its people?
Meet Flora Mora, a curious and kind-hearted girl who discovers an extraordinary gift—the power to heal plants. But when she arrives in the gray and lifeless city of Grayland, she finds a world in desperate need of a little green magic.
With her loyal sidekicks — Marsik her playful cat and Speedy the lightning-fast snail — Flora transforms into Plant Girl, a young eco-hero determined to restore life, color, and kindness to every corner of the city.
Join Flora’s Mission to Heal Grayland!
Can one girl’s kindness bring a whole city back to life?
Dive into The Plant Girl Adventures and find out! CLICK ON THE BOOK!