VIENNA, VA — When Lisa Waters was a new teacher, she recalls seeing beautiful flower arrangements on one teacher’s desk regularly and thought she must have a great spouse who bought flowers. But it turned out that the teacher bought them for herself.
That’s the idea behind Waters’ business, I Can Buy Myself Flowers/Fleurs by Lisa. Last year, the Kent Gardens Elementary teacher and Vienna mom was looking for alternative work to teaching summer school. To test the waters, the Kent Gardens Elementary teacher started flower arranging at her school, offering teachers a monthly subscription for a small fee.
The floral design business is focused on flower subscriptions with monthly deliveries, as well as flower arrangements for special events and weddings. Waters also does workshops to teach flower arranging. Waters does delivery to anywhere in Vienna and McLean and has done orders in Reston and Falls Church.
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“Having flowers around, whether they’re from your own garden or you bought them, just brings a joy and a beauty to every situation,” Waters told Patch.
To get her business name out there, she did a flower giveaway at places around town like the Vienna Woman’s Club, Caffe Amori and more. Her business bloomed from there.
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“All through this year I’ve been doing it just when I get home. I do deliver on DoorDash Floral now, and I’ve got my first weddings coming up, so it’s really come a long way,” said Waters.
The floral arrangements typically feature what’s in season. For this time of year, that could include things like poppies and tulips.
Waters sources flowers from local sources when possible. Her biggest source is Hidden Pond Farm near Lake Anna, which involves owner Joan Fuller bringing buckets of options weekly when the flowers are in season. During the winter months, Waters uses Metro Flower Market in Chantilly.
Most subscribers choose the $45 per month option with a different container that they will return. A $75 per month option allows subscribers to keep the container.
“I always like to create in some unique, vintage antique container,” said Waters. “So I’ll deliver in something interesting. And then I’ll swap the containers out each month.”
Another option is the $100 per month personalized subscription. That sends monthly flowers to a loved one on 12 special days of their choice, including birthdays, anniversaries and holidays.
A special Mother’s Day promotion will also be offered. Customers will get to choose from a selection of containers to provide flowers for Mom.
The flower arranging workshops started out of her home. Then she partnered with Caboose Tavern to host workshops in its loft space once a month, drawing friends and couples alike. She said the events allow guests who haven’t done flower arranging before the ability to do it for themselves or friends in the future. The next Blooms & Brews event is Sunday, April 14 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Guests must bring their own vase and pay to reserve their spot.
“I feel like oftentimes, I’ll learn something and then as soon as I learned it, I want to teach it,” said Waters. “So, I learned how to make a wreath, and then the next day I’ll have a wreath making workshop.”
Waters is starting to do weddings. Her first wedding will be in July for a customer of about a year who got engaged. She is set to assist another florist with a wedding at a DC museum this fall as well. Waters says she’s willing to provide flowers for wedding locations in Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland.
Aside from arranging flowers, Waters has a podcast called the Flower Power podcast with stories and tips from gardeners, florists and flower farmers from around the globe.
Waters plans to be out at Vienna’s Walk on the Hill event on April 28 and wants to join the Ayr Hill Garden Club. She will also be part of the Leesburg Flower and Garden Show on the weekend of April 20.
As her business name suggests, Waters hopes buying flowers for yourself can become a more regular practice aside from special occasions.
“Tons of flowers are bought for Mother’s Day and people’s moms. said Waters. “So I’m still hoping that just becomes something that more women do on a monthly basis. Like just every month, a new flower arrangement.”
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