The Heart Behind the Blooms

A love for flowers that started in childhood.

My love for flowers began when I was just a little girl. When I was five or six years old, my mom would create flowers for weddings for friends and family. Back then, little puffs of tulle were a popular finishing touch for wedding bouquets and corsages. My mom gave me the very important job of making those little puffs and gently adding them to each bouquet and corsage she created. I loved it. It felt like my special job, and I was so proud to be a part of what my mom was doing.

By the time I was nine, my responsibilities had grown. I was choosing flowers and beginning to put arrangements together, with my mom right beside me, offering advice and teaching me along the way. By the time I was twelve, I had done my first wedding with very little help. Even then, I knew exactly what I wanted to be.

“I Want to Be a Florist!”

I remember being in third grade when our teacher asked everyone to stand up and tell the class what we wanted to be when we grew up. While many of my classmates dreamed of becoming firefighters, police officers, or nurses, I confidently announced, “I want to be a florist and work in a flower shop!” Some of the children didn't even know what a florist was. One of my childhood classmates is still a friend today, and she still reminds me of that story—and how I always said I wanted to be a florist.

Well… here I am!

Learning My Craft

When I reached high school, I took a job at a store called Old America Store, which was similar to what we know today as Hobby Lobby. I worked in the floral department, which featured all kinds of silk flowers. I designed everything from centerpieces to wreaths. Although the flowers weren't fresh, that job taught me something incredibly valuable. I learned the names of flowers, what they looked like, and how to work with different types of flowers, plants, and greenery.

That knowledge became especially valuable when it was time for me to take my Louisiana State floral licensure boards. Part of the examination required identifying not only flowers, but plants as well. After spending so much of my life surrounded by them, that part came naturally to me. That test also included a three-hour design portion, which I completed with plenty of time and a near-perfect score. It is hard for me to believe that I have now been a licensed florist and practicing floral designer for more than 43 years.

Fleur-de-Farber Florist Begins

My first florist shop was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and I named it Fleur-de-Farber Florist. At the time, my husband was in law school, and he would deliver flowers for me in between his classes. It was just him and me, and things certainly were not easy. I was blessed with a wonderful location right in the heart of town, and the business became a great success. One of the things I treasure most is that I still have customers today who were customers of mine all those years ago. Their continued support and loyalty mean more to me than I can put into words.

In 2012, I had the opportunity to bring Fleur-de-Farber Florist home to my hometown of Denham Springs, Louisiana. Denham Springs is where I grew up, went to school, and graduated from Denham Springs High School. Being able to have my business in the same community where so many of my family and friends live has been an incredible blessing.

Rebuilding, One Bloom at a Time

In 2016, our community experienced a catastrophic flood. Approximately 95% of our community was inundated with water, including my home and my flower shop. With the help of family and friends, I was able to keep going. I opened a small studio-style florist that was essentially one design room and a small bathroom with a sink. It wasn't much, but it was enough. For the next couple of years, that little space became the place where I continued doing what I love.

Then an opportunity came along that felt almost like it was meant to be. My husband and I had the chance to purchase the building where Fleur-de-Farber Florist is located today. The building was actually an older home, and it held a special place in my heart long before it ever became my flower shop. When I was growing up, my parents were friends with the people who owned the house. My sisters and I spent time there as children, playing in the backyard on a tire swing. And today, that same place is home to Fleur-de-Farber Florist. I don't think I could have written a better story.

My Home Away From Home

Fleur-de-Farber Florist isn't just a flower shop to me. It truly is my home away from home. One of my favorite things is watching people walk through the door and hearing them say how homey and welcoming the shop feels. That means so much to me because creating a place where people feel comfortable, cared for, and welcome is just as important to me as creating beautiful flowers.

After more than four decades of designing flowers, I am incredibly proud of the work I've done and of the reputation I've built for beautiful, unique floral designs. I am especially grateful for the people who have trusted me with their most important moments—from weddings and celebrations to birthdays, anniversaries, sympathy flowers, and all of life's little occasions in between.

In 2025 and again in 2026, Fleur-de-Farber Florist was honored with the Golden Award for Best of Baton Rouge in the florist category. Those recognitions have meant so much to me—not only as a business owner, but personally. They are a reminder of how fortunate I am to be able to do something I've loved since I was a little girl.

Where I Am Today

Today, I am blessed to be an extremely experienced floral designer and the owner of a thriving local florist. After more than four decades in the floral industry, I still have the same passion for flowers that I had as a little girl helping my mom. I take great pride in creating unique floral designs that are beautiful, personal, and never ordinary.

Freshness is at the heart of everything we do. We carefully source the freshest flowers available from local farms and growers around the world. Because our flowers arrive so fresh, our customers can enjoy arrangements that stay beautiful longer.

Even though Fleur-de-Farber Florist is a very busy shop, one thing has never changed: I still make time for my customers. I love speaking with them personally, learning what they are looking for, and helping create something that is just right for each person and occasion. To me, being a florist has never been simply about arranging flowers. It is about the people behind the flowers—the celebrations, milestones, memories, and sometimes difficult moments when a beautiful arrangement can say what words cannot.

I am grateful every day that the little girl who once proudly announced she wanted to be a florist actually got to live her dream. And after more than 43 years, I still love what I do.