Ag Minute: Another Way Blooms

Floriculture, which involves the cultivation of flowering and ornamental plants for gardens and the floral industry, is a $6.5 billion dollar industry in the U.S. annually. While the U.S. is the largest consumer of floriculture products worldwide, those products are primarily produced outside the U.S. For example, the U.S. currently imports approximately 80% of cut flowers sold. With respect to domestic production, California leads the nation in number of floriculture operations, followed by Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, and Florida, according to the 2023 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service Survey.

Karen Homolka brings some of those blooms to Central Illinois with her business Another Way Blooms, located in 37 South Boutique & Makery on the square in downtown Jacksonville. Another Way Blooms has become well-known for its signature program of creating “Bloom Bars.” A bloom bar is a do-it-yourself floral experience where guests create their own bouquets from a curated selection of seasonal cut flowers. 

Creativity has always been part of who Karen is, and she has always loved surrounding herself—and others—with beautiful things that spark joy. It is from this foundation that Another Way Blooms began to take root. According to Karen, “in the summer of 2021, after more than 25 years in higher education, I found myself ready for a shift. Life had changed—our kids had grown and flown, I had lost both of my parents, and the pandemic had reshaped so much of the world around us. It felt like the right moment to explore ‘another way.’”

Karen explains that it started simply. She began helping her friend Julie at her downtown Jacksonville shop, 37 South Boutique & Makery. Around the same time, Karen reconnected with a former neighbor, Rachel, who had launched the first bloom bar business in Jacksonville. Rachel was ready to pass the torch, and Karen was ready to try something new. In September 2022, Karen hosted her first Bloom Bar at 37 South—and things have just continued to grow from there. Today, Another Way Blooms offers joyful, hands-on floral experiences through public and private Bloom Bars, creative workshops, plant pop-ups, and seasonal fresh flower pre-orders. Karen has worked on events with the Jacksonville Convention and Visitors Bureau, local churches, fitness centers, coffee shops, pre-schools, and a variety of individuals. She hosts a "build-your-own bouquet" Bloom Bar at 37 South at least once a month. There, she also curates a selection of take-home-ready houseplants and plant care items. Karen has a presence at Jax Yoga in both the Jacksonville and Springfield locations. 

In addition to these programs, Another Way Blooms has a mobile bloom bar and flower pop up. Karen travels to different events to host bouquet making workshops. She provides all the materials and leads the group through some tips to create a beautiful flower arrangement. Each person leaves the workshop with a bouquet to be proud of and tips to keep their flowers fresh for longer. 

Before each event, Karen will source flowers depending on the season. She works with local growers and shops regional farmers’ markets to find the freshest flowers for the event. During low seasons for local flowers, Karen works directly with a wholesaler in Springfield. She has even cut blooms, flowering branches, and greenery from her own yard, as well as from generous friends’ gardens. 

Karen explains that her favorite part about running her business is "the people. I love working with all kinds of folks who want to bring a little more beauty into their world. I love designing floral arrangements for special events and seeing someone light up when they see the finished result. I love leading workshops for people who claim they ‘aren’t creative,’ and watching them walk away proud of what they made. I love collaborating with business owners to add fresh energy to their spaces with flowers and plants. And I especially love watching kids come to Bloom Bars and carefully select the perfect stem for their moms. Knowing that the creative work that brings me so much joy also brings happiness to others—that’s what makes it all worth it.”

For more information about Another Way Blooms, visit the website: www.anotherwayblooms.com, which highlights current offerings, showcases special products, and shares information about upcoming events and pre-orders. You can also follow them on social media @anotherwayblooms on Instagram and Facebook.