Leslie Halleck of Halleck Horticultural, LLC is DFW Style Daily's featured local influencer in today's (Secret) Local List.

 

  Living in the jungles of Puerto Rico, working in rainforests, and studying formal gardens around the globe, Leslie Halleck has traversed the world’s most remote destinations to conduct critical ecological and vegetative research. Stateside, she served as Director of Horticulture Research at the beloved Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden before founding her own firm in 2000.  

  Through Halleck Horticultural, LLC, she provides consulting services to green businesses, affirming her status as an industry innovator. Halleck also shares her influential ethos as a sought-after contributor for magazines like Fine Gardening and D Home, as well as her own blog, growLively (pictured below, from a post on Texas Sage).  

  Today, we polled Halleck for a list of favorite places to find delicious food, natural beauty, and unique goods, right in our own backyard.  

  Foodie Favorite: To start, Halleck picks a trio of morning must-haves at mouthwatering Metroplex mainstay La Duni. To begin a day in Big D, she orders up a mug of the restaurant's signature Duni Cappucino, followed by a plate of chilaquiles and a refreshing grapefruit mimosa.  

  Artistic Addiction: Next up, Halleck owns several abstract works by local artist Jennifer Morgan. Morgan’s recent commissions have included Neiman Marcus and the Omni Hotel, where she has more than 80 pieces on display within the venue’s permanent collection.  

  Best Boutique: Heading to a neighborhood haunt for one-of-a-kind items, Halleck turns to Curiosities in Lakewood for eclectic steals. The hidden gem is a reliable source for natural home accents such as shells, bones, and terra cotta pottery.  

  I Heart Dallas: A fun tour of the city concludes this (Secret) Local List. Our expert enjoys comedy at the Majestic Theater, and for music, her pick is the Winspear Opera House. She and her husband are also White Rock Lake regulars, favoring sunrise kayaking trips at the central Dallas recreation destination. Images credit individual restaurants, retailers, and artists.