New flower shop owner plans terrarium bar, retail area
Jan. 12, 2018
Flowers are blooming despite the cold at Botanica, which opened early this year under new owner Jill Knochenmus.
The former Meredith & Bridget’s Flower Shop employee and 15-year industry veteran bought the business from founder Bridget Fitzgibbons-Peterson and her daughter, Meredith Peterson, after a flower allergy kept Meredith from being able to continue in the business.
Knochenmus is putting her unique spin on the business at 3422 S. Minnesota Ave., with plans to add a terrarium bar and items related to the healing arts such as crystals.
The terrarium bar will be available to individuals or parties.
“We’ll have the containers, the gravels, plants, small statuaries, crystals, and you can pick and choose what you want to do, and we’ll have some already designed, too,” she said. “We’re also going to get a cooler on the showroom space, so it’s more visible as a grab-and-go cooler for the flower arrangements as well.”
She plans to add healing crystals and bring in people to do energy healings and tarot card readings.
“I studied the healing arts in Portland since 2000, so I’m combining all the things I love,” she said.
She has repainted the space and added new decor but kept the vintage feel.
Grace Gering arranges flowers.
While Knochenmus will focus on individual, corporate and event business, employee Grace Gering will do weddings under her business Olive&Grace.
Hours for Botanica are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
