The L.A. Times pays me to make plant memes. Here are my favorites from 2020

Since starting my job in June 2020 as an illustrator and designer for the Los Angeles Times, I’ve made more than 40 plant memes for our plants Instagram account, @latimesplants.

My main motivator for doing anything creative is to be able to have fun and ultimately make myself and hopefully others laugh along the way. I’ve never been an awfully serious person and I never hope to be, so I’m thankful I’ve found work that aligns with my ambition to joke through life.

Here’s a look back at some of our favorite plant memes of the year.

The L.A. Times? More like …

Where it all started. The first plant meme. A personal favorite.

Fernie Mercury

The alternative caption for this was “Is it just plantasy?” Punny, right?

Megan Thee Succulent

Ready for hot plant summer. 2020 would have been the summer of our discontent if it weren’t for Megan and hot girls around the world.

A little plant self-care

I feel like in a lot of ways plants and people are pretty similar: We both need some time in the sun, have to drink water regularly and need room for growth. This comic was a sort of personal reminder.

Pictures of Spider plants

Sometimes I rack my brain for plant puns and other times they’re delivered to me on a silver platter. Shout-out to every plant with an easily pun-able name. You’re all the true MVPs.

F.E.R.N.S

Are you more of a Moss or a Rachel? I’ve actually never seen “Friends” but I couldn’t pass up the pun opportunity. I’m more of a “How I Met Your Monstera” kinda guy.

Dandelion DeVito

Danny’s latest role, coming to a lawn near you. Most of my plant-celeb memes are essentially fan art. I wanted to pay my respects to national treasure Danny DeVito.

Peas in a Podcast

When I drew this, I had just picked up the practice of listening to podcasts during work — a truly transformative experience that I had to document.

The native Coffeeberry Bush

This was my favorite piece from a short series on illustrated native plants in California.

DISCLAIMER: We don’t condone overwatering your plants.

I was surprised my editors let this one get posted — but to be fair the first version didn’t say “aerated.” I may or may not have an ongoing personal quest to sneak curse words by the editors.

We love @gameofthrones

I’m exposing myself again, but I’ve never seen “Game of Thrones” either. I couldn’t pass up the easy pun opportunity, though.

Mac DeBarko

“We love Mac DeBarko even if his music is a lil sappy.” Another fan art piece.

Anxiety, depression and plant growth

“When that special person texts you back.” Full disclosure: I was going through it when I made this one. This meme had a pretty good audience reception and I had a moment of realization: “A lot of people were going through it, dang” — lol, I hope we’re all drinking water.

Check out my new leaves

“Things are heating up on this week’s episode of ‘Real Houseplants!’” I was pretty starved for iillustration ideas and someone else on the plant team suggested I do “Real Housewife” memes. That’s lightning in a bottle.