Susan Dajao Tusoy, CPA, DPA
Founder, Green Desert Agritourism Park
The Cactus Queen of the South
My Story
Every garden has a beginning, and every dream has a story.
My journey began not in a garden, but in years of government service. For many years, I devoted my professional life to serving the Filipino people, an experience that shaped my values and strengthened my commitment to excellence, discipline, and service. These principles, nurtured throughout my years in public service, continue to guide me today as I pursue a different kind of service—one rooted in nature, education, innovation, and inspiration.
Although my work was deeply fulfilling, my heart had always been drawn to the natural world. Plants fascinated me because they quietly demonstrate resilience, patience, and hope. Among them, cacti and succulents captured my imagination. Their remarkable ability to thrive under the harshest conditions became a powerful reminder that beauty and strength often grow together through life’s greatest challenges.
When I retired from government service, I embraced a new calling. Rather than slowing down, I chose to pursue a lifelong dream of creating a place where people could experience the wonder of plants, learn from nature, and find inspiration. That dream became Green Desert Agritourism Park.
What started as a personal collection gradually grew into a destination for families, students, researchers, plant enthusiasts, and travelers. More than a garden, Green Desert became a place where education, conservation, creativity, and faith come together. Every path, every greenhouse, and every carefully nurtured plant reflects my belief that nature has the power to teach, heal, and inspire.
As the collection expanded, I realized that knowledge should be shared as generously as the beauty of the plants themselves. This inspired me to establish the Green Desert Botanical Library, a digital resource dedicated to providing free, reliable, AI-assisted botanical information for students, educators, researchers, hobbyists, tourists, and future generations. Through carefully curated plant pages, QR-code integration, and educational resources, the library fulfills its motto:
Where Every Plant Has a Story.
and its guiding invitation:
Discover the Story. Grow the Wonder.
My passion for storytelling also led me to write two books:
- Lessons From a Desert Garden: Where the Soil Still Whispers
- The Hidden Oasis: A Garden of Wings, Water & Wonder
These books reflect the lessons I have learned from both life and nature—lessons about perseverance, hope, gratitude, and the quiet wisdom found in God’s creation.
Today, my vision extends far beyond growing plants. I hope Green Desert will continue to inspire people of all ages to appreciate the beauty of nature, value environmental stewardship, and discover that every living thing has a story worth telling.
I warmly invite you to visit Green Desert Agritourism Park, explore the Green Desert Botanical Library, and join me in celebrating the extraordinary world of plants.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
— Susan D. Tusoy, CPA, DPA
Founder, Green Desert Agritourism Park
Founder & Curator, Green Desert Botanical Library
The Cactus Queen of the South