West College Corner is in bloom this spring.  Just down Brookville Pike, a country road that connects 27 and Contreras, Brian and Linda Henke have a specialty cut flower farm called HER Blossoms.  Their mission is simple:  “We cultivate a large array of seasonal blooms to be cut fresh and placed in the hands of those looking for the inescapable joy only flowers can provide.”  With a lot of years in landscaping and landscape architectural work under their belts, the Henkes decided to add something new to the mix.  Linda had always loved working with flowers, just never anticipated a time when she’d be able to do something with that passion.  But with granddaughters Hazel, Elsie, and Ruby an ever-present part of their lives, H.E.R. was born.  

There are plenty of opportunities for Linda to cultivate her love of flowers. HER Blossoms offers a flower delivery service, as well as pick-your-own bouquets for in-person visits.  Their website mentions “curating an arrangement for your special someone, Hosting an on-farm event designed especially for you and your guests, or delivering gorgeous bouquets through our subscription services.”  On this particular chilly Saturday morning in late March, it was a Spring Break Seedling Class.  The class included hands-on experience planting, watering, and discussing the growth cycle of the flowers. 

Sporting a sweatshirt that says “Flower Farmer,” Linda is a natural teacher, rolling up her sleeves and getting her hands in the dirt as a group of preteen girls gathers around her to watch.  The girls had witnessed each part of a flower’s growth, from holding the tiniest seeds to watering the triumphant little sprouts housed inside.  They’d been shown another station outdoors, where the plants go when they’ve grown taller but were not quite strong enough for full independence, placed in mobile carts just outside.  This allowed these in-betweener plants to be exposed to the wind in smaller doses, still somewhat protected while they strengthen themselves to withstand the elements on their own when they are soon planted in the ground. Metaphors in such lessons are difficult to miss.  It’s been said that “as the garden grows, so does the gardener,” and experiences like this are one of the reasons why.  With her daughters and granddaughters nearby, Linda was asked to choose her favorite flower.  “All of them!” was her first reply, though she conceded that it would probably be a daisy, her late mother’s favorite flower.  And suddenly, with just the mention of daisies, there were now four generations represented in the room.  This is one of the beauties of flowers, how they can so unexpectedly affect us:  the sight, the smell, the color, can bring back a person or place in an instant.  What a beautiful way to remember something beloved. 

HER Blossoms Flower Farm plans to offer all kinds of neat experiences, including workshops and classes, private parties, date night opportunities, crafting events, and even some pumpkin patch fun in the fall. Follow them on Facebook to see updated schedules, and check out their website at Herblossomsflowerfarm.com.