RE Plants - she has had a nature passion her entire life - her main focus has been ornithology and she has spent her free time being a naturalist, giving talks, presentations, working with the public, peers and mentors. She decided that she wants to keep that as a personal passion, not academic.
After her summer internship (where the did basic work (and loved it - watering, grooming, digging, pretty physical labor with time set aside to problem solve, do research, create a public document with her knowledge) but also had field trips with horticulturists to different gardens, scientists, and businesses who work with plants), she feels like that is something she’d like to pursue.
Arch Landscaping combined the creative part with plants more than plant science alone. Personally, I think she liked the people - all creative, brilliant, passionate, calm and interesting. It “fit her” personality well and colors her decision.