Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
New Tekoa florist
A new floral business in Tekoa is preparing for an open house.
Founded last year by Chelsey Hay, Country Blooms Florist aims to be another option for Whitman County towns.
A shed next to the home she and husband Brian live in will soon house the growing business.
Chelsey Leathers and Brian Hay were married Dec. 3.
She learned the floral trade by studying greenhouse management, landscaping and floral design at Spokane Community College. Afterward, she worked at Plants of the Wild, a nursery in Tekoa, along with two flower shops in Spokane; Roses and More and The Gilded Lilly.
“Landscaping was too hard of work for me, so I’ll just stick to the artistic aspect of it all,” said Hay, who will turn 22 on Sunday.
She moved to Tekoa last September after spending half of high school there, before graduating in Albuquerque, where her mother lives, in 2010.
“I’ve fallen in love with the small community,” Hay said. “Everyone has been really supportive and friendly.”
Once she founded the floral business, lining up a wholesaler in Spokane for the winter months and a grower in Cheney for the summer, she and Brian began to remodel an old shed at their house, which is across from the Catholic church on the hill.
Brian graduated from Tekoa High School in 2004.
As the Country Blooms Florist business grows, Hay gives a lot of credit to Kramer Funeral Home in Tekoa, which has bought many arrangements.
“It’s getting busier and busier,” she said.
Hay delivers the flowers herself, focusing on Whitman County.
“Moscow is too far,” she said. “I want to stick with all these little towns.”
In addition, she works at E-Clair’s and the Kelly Café in Tekoa. Her father, Walt Leathers runs Interface College in Spokane.
Hay said their open house Jan. 31 will serve a key purpose. “I wanted to get the town to know I’m here and I’m serious about it,” she said. “This is what I want to do forever.”
The open house will run from 3 to 6 p.m. at 719 N. Washington Street in Tekoa. Desserts, coffee, flower designs and other gifts will be on hand.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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