Photography by Susan Jackson
Barb Wehking, owner of floral-design shop Bloomin’ Buckets (9844 Manchester, South Door, 314-961-4040, bloominbuckets.com), has always loved flowers. Ten years ago, she began selling her arrangements at the Kirkwood Farmers’ Market, and before long, she opened her current location. Unsurprisingly, her favorite space is the workroom at the back of her shop.
Near the back door is a bulletin board, where Wehking and her part-time assistants pin inspirational color arrangements and bouquets that they find in magazines and on Pinterest. When something falls off, they throw it away and tack up something new. Much like the bulletin board, the rest of the workroom is beautiful controlled chaos, with haphazardly stacked baskets and shelves of every type of vase. One corner is enveloped in spools of ribbon, dozens of pairs of scissors, tape, twine, and tissue paper.
The room is dominated not by the 6-foot-long metal table in the center, but by a scent. It’s the aroma of hyacinths and tulips fresh from the market. It’s peonies and sweet peas, pussy willows and blooming lemon trees. It’s the scent that draws Wehking’s customers away from the showroom. Standing in the crowded workroom, they imagine gardenia-infused weddings and lilac-scented baby showers.
The air conditioner runs in this room year-round, because here it is always spring and flowers are always in bloom.
