May 2026
Nurse shares homegrown flowers across hospital
Most team members bring a lunch or a laptop to work. Rachel Tibbe brings dahlias.
Tibbe, a utilization review RN at University of Michigan Health-West, has spent the last six years growing flowers in her home gardens and passing out bouquets to colleagues across the hospital. In 2025 alone, she shared more than 120 arrangements filled with dahlias, hydrangeas, gladioli and snapdragons. Her generosity earned her the May Team Member Spotlight.
“I don’t do it for recognition,” Tibbe said. “I do it because flowers make people smile.”
Tibbe traces her love of gardening to her grandmother, who also grew flowers. She said those childhood memories stayed with her long into adulthood.
When the flowers are ready to be picked, Tibbe arrives at UM Health-West with buckets of fresh-cut blooms. She does not limit her gifts to her own department. Team members in the cafeteria, environmental services and patient floors have all received bouquets.
“Everyone deserves a little beauty in their day,” Tibbe said. “You never know what someone is going through.”
Tibbe’s quiet kindness reflects UM-West’s culture.
The Team Member Spotlight recognizes team members who exemplify the health system’s core values of compassion, dedication and professionalism in service to patients and colleagues.