Paradise Yard Floral Design

10/29/2023

06/25/2023

I got to do two weddings this weekend. A dear old friend and amazingly talented designer and business woman helped me, and I her.

We are happy, and tired!

11/15/2022

If you’re here, still following my little flower business, thank you.

It’s been a crazy last two and a half years. Divorce after 29 years, and a move further west of Deephaven to Mound.

I’ve been working non stop on my yard and house, and am still not quite where I want to be as far as both. My house needed a lot of TLC. Luckily, I do that pretty well. And I learned that I am an excellent care-giver. I guess I was always doing it, anyway, but just never being appreciated for it, and definitely not paid.

A wife and mother is unfortunately, often under appreciated! I salute all of my fellow moms and women who keep the household running. I learned pretty quickly how hard it is to do this alone, and while also working as many hours as possible to survive. I get very little support from my ex, due to his loss of a long time job, and inability to find any meaningful work.

I have learned that I am fierce, can work hard all day, come home, and still work on my own space, take care of others very well, and I like it. I am now a certified Death midwife, certified in dementia care, and love working with elders. They are all so appreciative of me, and I am loved, and lovable! I hadn’t felt that for a VERY VERY long time.

I hadn’t felt that I was enough for many, many years in my marriage, unfortunately. I had also been gaslit into thinking I was a horrible person. I’m still learning that it is not true.

I am still doing flowers as often as I can. It helps me stay creative, and I have been able to do a couple days a week in the busy season, helping my fellow florists. In that regard, again, I have learned how loved and lovable I truly am.

To be doing this at 54 years old is brutal, but I am finally living my best life, and have had amazing people come into my life in these two plus years. I feel unbelievably overwhelmed with emotion some days because of it. I still feel sad and alone sometimes, but make myself snap out of it!

Anyway, I am still here, still doing flowers, taking orders, and working my tail off. If you ever want to reach out for flowers, please do. I’ll take good care of you.

Thanks for sticking around and following my little journey. ❤️

10/04/2022

Doing a few orders this week in between my clients of my new elder care business.

I’m working six days most weeks, but am fixing up my new home in between, and loving it more every day. Gardens are looking fairly good. These are all my own dahlias from this year, too. They really struggled this year, and I’m not sure exactly what happened. I’ve heard that everyone’s dahlias didn’t do so great, so who knows what happened. The earth is struggling to deal with what we humans have done to her, I think. They do look pretty good now, and love the cool weather. Let’s hope we don’t get a hard freeze too terribly early!

The soil was so hard, I no joke thought some of it was concrete underneath! My “tilly” the tiller has been in the shop getting an overhaul, she works so hard! 😂 I get her back today.

I’d like to extend gratitude to those who have continued to order, or at least reach out to see if I can do something for you. You are much appreciated! These two are for one new client, and one very dear regular client of mine. ❤️

02/10/2022

10/04/2021

Spent the last few days on homecoming bouts and corsages (yes, I forgot photos. I’ve been a little overwhelmed), and today on fall decor and pots for one of my best clients ever!

If you have homecoming pics, please share with me! Thanks to everyone who ordered. As always, your business is much appreciated. ♥️

09/27/2021

Hi everybody!! If you’re still here, let me begin by saying THANK YOU.

Most of you know that my husband of 29 years met someone while out walking in our neighborhood. Yep. You can’t make some stuff up, even if you try. Even better, it was the beginning of COVID!

Well, fast forward 18 months, and here I am. I am divorced, living in Mound now, in a home that I am working tirelessly to fix and make “my own”, while working five different jobs (three freelance, Paradise Yard, and a liquor store). I have a wonderful man in my life, and I have my beloved dog, Jackson (Cherokee has passed away), and I’m a f* WARRIOR.

I lost my cooler in the sale of my house, but plan to make my one car garage into an awesome studio for myself, and get an even better cooler! Baby steps, though. House comes first on the list of to-do’s.

I do miss my gardens like mad, and my dahlias really suffered this year. The soil here? Well…..mistreated is an understatement. I literally thought some of the areas were concrete as I was trying to till them up! Had me worried there for a while. I’ve amended like crazy, plan to make new beds, and grow again next year.

I have already placed orders for 55 tubers, and hope that some of what I did get in the ground this year makes it. Time will tell.

Don’t give up on me, folks. I haven’t! Not gonna lie, it has been wicked hard. The betrayal i feel is beyond anything I can imagine doing to someone myself.

Anyway, I am getting orders for homecoming at Minnetonka, and would love even more! I can do pickup in mound, or am happy to do a large drop in Deephaven, if someone wants to hand off the “loot” to people, or take it for their whole group of friends. Most of you know, above all else, I try to be flexible and easy to work with. Text me your pics of those dresses and ties, and let me do my creative thang, people!!!

I want to continue my freelance work, as I am too small to take on a lot of large events by myself, don’t want a big retail space, and love being with my old flower friends and comrades. One thing that came out of this is my renewed love of events, and reminder that I am really GOOD at what I do. I literally need to be a designer.

Onward.

Oh, and if you know anyone who makes voodoo dolls, pM me, I’m in need of TWO of them! 😂