FAIRFIELD, Ill. - Combining their shared love for gardening and a desire to turn their hobby into a thriving enterprise, mother-daughter duo April Smith and Alyssa Short have transformed their family land into a vibrant oasis where rows of colorful blooms now flourish. Blessed Blooms brings natural beauty to homes and events by providing fresh, locally grown flowers for events and everyday enjoyment.

For Short, flowers are more than just a product. It’s a family affair. With flowers being grown on her grandparents’ property and her mother taking the reins growing and caring for the flowers, they have grown a business that’s become a staple in the Fairfield community. They provide fresh blooms from April through October and specialize in wedding florals, market bouquets, and floral subscriptions.

In 2023, Blessed Blooms expanded into a location with a local vendor farmers market and events, as well as a vintage furniture and decor storefront. The market, which is open each Saturday morning from May to September, can accommodate up to 17 local vendors. 

“We require all vendors to have home-grown or homemade items. Nothing resale,” said Short. “We want sustainable farm to table products and to connect our community with locally grown and made items that are better quality and comparable in price to what you would find in the stores.”

On July 15, Blessed Blooms welcomed local growers and community members to their storefront location, and they also made a stop at their flower farm to get a close-up look at the flowers all while answering questions on their production and marketing practices. 

The program was part of the Southern Illinois Summer Twilight Series hosted by Illinois Extension. For nearly a decade, the summer series has showcased diverse farming enterprises across the lower counties of southern Illinois. Katie Bell, local foods and small farms educator, said the programs provide hands-on learning experiences and the chance to network with others.   

“We have covered a wide range of site locations, from livestock farms to orchards, flower farms, and more,” said Bell. “We just want to provide an opportunity for growers to network with one another, ask questions and get feedback to take back with them on their own farms and fields.”

The final program of the summer series is on August 19 at Sunnybrook Gardens in Carmi. To learn more or register, visit go.illinois.edu/twilightseries. To learn more about Blessed Blooms, visit blessedbloomsflowerfarm.com.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in the upcoming event, please contact Katie Bell at klbell@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. 

Photo caption: Participants display their handpicked bouquets from Blessed Blooms following an on-site visit during the Southern Illinois Summer Twilight Series.

SOURCE:  Katie Bell, local foods and small farms educator, University of Illinois Extension, klbell@illinois.edu, 618-395-2191