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Local voices matter. Help us amplify them by contributing to your local newsroom. DECORAH — Tucked along College Drive, a little flower cart with a big heart is drawing attention with vibrant blooms and a vision. Flora Flower Cart, the one-woman stand run by Talia Lewey, aims to make the community a little more beautiful, one bouquet at a time. "I've been flower gardening for a few years and ended up having so many bouquets that I wanted to share the abundance with the community," Lewey said. "However, I knew that I wanted to take it a step further than just a transaction... I really wanted to make the flower cart an experience every time you come by." And an experience it is. Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, the adorable cart offers an ever-changing array of chemical-free, homegrown flowers. Each "happy stem" is cultivated in Lewey's backyard or her mother-in-law's garden, and to make each visit special, she features a "flower of the week," explaining its symbolism and suggesting the perfect recipient for that week's arrangement. The passion Lewey pours into her blooms is clear to anybody who stops to chat. "I'm completely self-taught! Lots of Google, YouTube, and trial and error," she explained. "I like to say that you learn something every year and take those learnings into the next season." Lewey starts her flowers from seed in her basement, a labor of love that allows her to grow delicate, lesser-known varieties that often don't survive mass production or long-distance shipping. "Creating these bouquets is such a joy, and people are often curious about the flowers because they've never seen them before," she said. Family and connection underpin the entire project. Lewey, who juggles a full-time job, parenting, and an interior design certificate program alongside running Flora Flower Cart, admits the balancing act isn't always easy. "I operate solo, with the occasional help from my toddler, Lavender, and husband, Sam. They're my biggest supporters, and it's fun sharing this hobby with both of them," she said. "Lavender will sometimes help me make the bouquets and even point to the flowers and say 'Mommy's flowers!' It takes a village, but I'm so grateful for the community of family and friends that we have here. Growing flowers certainly fills my cup and allows me to pour myself into other parts of my life." The current seasonal lineup includes dahlias, zinnias, celosia, cosmos, snapdragons, pincushion, strawflower, aster China, yarrow, sweet peas and amaranth. The stunning diversity adds depth to every bouquet, and even the slightly imperfect blooms find a home. "Because I don't spray my flowers with anything, sometimes the occasional bug loves to snack!" Lewey said. "However, I prefer not to waste flowers and will still put them in bouquets. I do find that this adds a bit of uniqueness, texture, and dimensionality to each one." Chemical-free, homegrown offerings from Flora Flower Cart. Flora Flower Cart The challenges of running a microbusiness in a small town include visibility. "Most customers so far have been from foot traffic who just stumble upon it, thanks to being on a busy street!" she said. "Next would be referral and word-of-mouth recommendations." Still, Lewey's hopes for Flora Flower Cart go beyond sales. At the end of each season, she collects seeds and participates in the Seed Savers swap, and shares her extra dahlia tubers with her Instagram followers, free of charge. "I hope to spread joy and help make our community a more beautiful place," she said. "My goal is to share this hobby with others who are interested and make it a little more accessible for everyone." As for the future, Lewey's focused on slow, steady growth. "No major expansion plans right now, just organic growth! I'm hoping to have enough customers to share my love of flowers with, even having one customer makes it all worth it," she said. Customers can also expect more seasonal offerings. "Pumpkins are coming this fall, and possibly some eggs as we have chickens in our backyard, too. Maybe I'll test out some baked goods, canned goods, or really anything homemade. I find so much satisfaction in creating and building something from scratch." For those looking to grow their own backyard blooms, Lewey shares her best advice. "Start planning for your garden in the off-season! Pick out the flowers you want to grow and purchase the seeds at least four months before the last frost date... it sounds daunting, but you become so knowledgeable after just one season that you keep adding more. I'm already planning for next spring!" In the meantime, she'll keep growing beauty where she's planted, one bouquet at a time. "The response and kind words that I get from the community truly feel like I'm adding value to Decorah, and being able to do that through a passion of mine makes it so much more fulfilling." To see what's in bloom, follow Talia Lewey on Instagram: @floradecorah. Flora Flower Cart operates every Saturday through October from 9 a.m. to noon at 503 College Drive. Knowledge is power! Stay empowered by subscribing to the free newsletter, packed with valuable insights, stories of local newsmakers and ideas to get your weekend started.

Support your local businesses

In Full Bloom: Local Flower Cart Spreads Joy