May marked the first-year anniversary of Haven Flower Farm, a small operation at Reesa and TerriLynn Gravois-Arabie’s home in Lockport.
The journey started last spring when Reesa looked up “How to grow black and white anemones in Zone 9b." The online search led her to Floret Flowers' website, where she found a detailed article on how to grow her favorite flowers.
The couple started planting three rows in their backyard.
The Gravois-Arabies are farmer-florists, which means they specialize in both growing and designing with seasonal flowers.
Last year, they overcame difficulties such as being new to gardening, an active hurricane season and figuring out scheduling to lengthen their growing season.
“Coming into year two, we know what we can grow and then we can try to experiment with other things that we didn't get a chance to grow last year,” Reesa said.
Sunflowers, peonies, cosmos and more mark the seven rows in the 3,000-square-foot space the couple uses for summer blooms this season. They tend their garden in the evenings after returning home from their full-time jobs.
The farm has led to a plethora of opportunities. The pair have helped supply flowers to weddings, shared their gardening skills with others and led a workshop at a local market to teach children how to build their own Halloween bouquet.
“I was thinking, 'Are the kids gonna want flowers? Because they usually just want candy, right?' But they were really into it. We had to come back twice to the garden and cut more flowers because they were so stoked to make their own bouquets,” Reesa said. “So that was fun. And it was cool to see the kids really get excited about it too.”
TerriLynn said she enjoys the engineering behind flower arranging.
"The fun part for me is the functions that we get to do. It's fun to work on projects. It's fun to make installations," Terriynn said. “We've done several of them now, and it starts looking like nothing, it looks like a crab trap. ... And then when you're done with it, it's this beautiful piece.”
Haven Flower Farm's clients agree.
"My mom was given a beautiful, fresh bundle from y'all's farm this past Saturday for her 90th [birthday] celebration,” Jackie Bonvillain said. “They were not only beautiful but smelled so good too.”
Another client, Janie Hebert, said the flowers have marked important moments in life.
“Haven Flower Farm has helped to bring warmth in my home, comfort to a friend who lost her mother, joy to a new mamma, solace to a friend who longs to be a mom, excitement on birthdays and wonder in my niece’s eyes,” Hebert said. “Their love for flowers, attention to detail and work ethic is unmatched and is showcased in every single arrangement they make."
Reesa said the long hours it takes to maintain their passion are worth it.
“I really like hard work, I enjoy it. I don't mind it. And the gardening piece for me is something that is just really what I'm interested in,” Reesa said. “The future of Haven Flower Farm would be just to predominantly grow flowers and sell them and supply this local area with something that looks different from what they're able to get from regular wholesalers.”
Looking to the future, the couple hope to grow the business by offering opportunities for people to cut their flowers at the farm. They want to be a part of local weddings, establish new perennial flowers to add to arrangements and build partnerships with other local businesses.
“It’s just awesome," Reesa said. "You get to really be part of people's special days."
Want to order or learn more?
For information or to place an order, check out thehavenflowerfarm.com, email at havenflowerfarm@yahoo.com. Follow their work on Facebook at Haven Flower Farm or on Instagram at @haven.flower.farm.
The Link LonkJune 21, 2021 at 08:00AM
https://www.houmatoday.com/story/news/2021/06/21/lockport-couples-homegrown-flower-business-begins-bloom/5294630001/
Lockport couple's homegrown flower business begins to bloom - Houma Courier
https://news.google.com/search?q=Flower&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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