For many of us, spring is not official without a trip to the flower greenhouse. But Mary Bailey specializes in flowers all year round. Bailey, owner of Mary’s Rustic Rose, says that her journey in the floral industry began when she was 18 years old. She began working in floral shops, and she has continued to enjoy the work because of the flexible schedule and the opportunity for her to express her creativity. Bailey says, “I am an artist, and I love plants and flowers, so designing is something I really enjoy and [it] came naturally to me.” In addition to her own artistic designs, Bailey also gained knowledge from Judy Smith, owner of Judy’s Floral Design in Northfield. Today, Bailey says, “I have found my own style and learned new methods over time, but I still occasionally call her [Judy] with questions about different or new situations. It’s good to know others in the business or to have mentors.”
But Bailey’s career did not begin in the floral industry. After graduating from art school, she became an art teacher. However, Bailey reflects on that season, saying, “the job was very unsatisfying. The kids were great, and having a classroom was great, but working for the school system was really disappointing in many aspects. Art was not taken very seriously; the pay wasn’t great, and there was always a threat that my job was on the chopping block. It was summer, and my teaching position had been cut to part-time right at the end of the year.” That summer, Bailey worked with Judy Smith again, and Smith encouraged Bailey to start up her own floral business. In 2013, that is exactly what Bailey did.
Bailey says, “having a business in Kenyon has been a great way for me to do something I love while raising a family and building connections within my community. I have gotten to know so many people, and the support for my business and family is just a priceless gift.” While owning Mary’s Rustic Rose has been a great blessing, it still presents challenges. Like any business, Bailey needs to manage many behind-the-scenes details. Bailey reflects, “I have had people tell me that they ‘want a flower shop after they retire’ or that they ‘would love to play with flowers all day.’ Playing with flowers is the fun part, but there is ordering, cleaning (lots of cleaning), chopping, pricing, delivering, hauling, wrapping, and constantly repairing. [It’s] like owning another house, but with more going on. When it’s busy, you are constantly running.”
Bailey encourages everyone to “support your local businesses as much as you can.” Bailey says, “I always have some things on hand, but I’m not a big box store, and I don’t carry everything all the time. BUT if you give me a heads up, I can very often find what you’re looking for. We get product in multiple times a week, so sometimes it’s just a matter of a day or two. Call ahead or send a message, and I will do my best to get you what you need.” So, whether you are planning a wedding, a funeral, or just want to add some floral color to your porch, Mary’s Rustic Rose is eager to help make your floral designs a reality.
