Today we’d like to introduce you to Crystal Espinosa.
Hi Crystal, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Blooms of Hope was created after being a nurse for years and wanting to bring beauty into this world through connection and community. I was an ER Nurse for almost 5 years and then dabbled in Oncology as a Surgical Oncology Nurse. It is these experiences that made me see the beauty and how fleeting life can be. I am also a mom of 3 beautiful children, and my husband is my best friend and my rock. Their support and encouragement have truly meant the world. Nursing has shown me some painful and traumatizing experiences as well as beautiful ones of resilience and courage. In order to process and cope with grueling shifts I had taken up gardening as a way to slow down and be present in the moment. This time allowed me to be more present for my family as well as my patients.
Gardening made its way into many conversations of my patients, and they would reminisce about their love of the garden and seeing all the beautiful flowers. If family members brought flowers, I would always make it a point to arrange it for them or bring the bouquet next to their beds so they can smile when they woke up. Blooms of Hope was created out of love for how flowers and the garden can positively impact mental health and bring joy to the community. In a world of convenience, Blooms of Hope has encouraged myself and our customers to slow down and relish in the beauty of flowers and healthy organic plants. The flowers evoke memories through their scent, the plants nourish our bodies and calm the bravest hearts.
The stories of love and connection through birthdays, deaths, anniversaries and “just because” flowers, have been awe inspiring. We are incredibly excited for the growth we have had through our Farmers Markets in Melissa, Anna, Van Alstyne and Celina. We are also currently in store at Paw of the Family in Anna, TX.
Next year we have even more planned, and are humbled by our growth and looking forward to what the future holds. We are rooted in community and blooming with purpose.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, as mentioned before I was a nurse for many years and saw many things that will forever be imprinted on me. I have held hands of dying patients and comforted families who lost their children to drownings and so forth. Gardening and growing flowers gave me the peace I needed to heal from those experiences. Although difficult, those experiences molded me to be the compassionate and dedicated person that I am today. Feelings of depression and overwhelm proved to get worse after COVID-19. I have been an advocate for the patient living on the streets, prisoners, the broken and everyone else in between. Having compassion has been one of my greatest gifts as a nurse and although I loved my patients I needed change, and to be lifted from the heaviness my heart had been holding onto for so many years. My husband encouraged me along the way to bring Blooms of Hope to life two years later and I will forever be grateful for that.
Another consideration is the reality of farming/gardening in the North Texas area. Farming and being a small urban grower has it challenges when it comes to space and what Mother Nature throws at you. If I had to pick a word to describe the characteristic/trait one would need in this line of work is resilience. Life is full of surprises and has absolutely humbled me. It is easy to get discouraged at times when literal or personal storms hit, however faith and resilience can go a long way. What started as a simple dream became a reality and has given so many people the joy of beautiful flowers crafted with love and purpose.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I was an Emergency Room RN for almost five years and served both adult regional hospitals and Pediatric Emergency Care. I also was a Surgical Oncology RN for a year on the cancer unit. I am now a PRN School RN and own Blooms of Hope, a floral and garden business specializing in organic plants and specialty flower bouquets.
Regarding what I am most proud of, it is my ability to assess the situation quickly of critical patients and being an advocate to my patients and their family during a time of stress. I am the nurse who will question and seek answers to provide the best care, the nurse who will hug you when life has been too much, and the one that will respect your decision of end of life care. Nursing has never been about being the most liked or social, it is about the care provided as if my own family member was in that same bed.
Now as a business owner, we are incredibly excited to bring high quality offerings to our community through connection and purpose. What sets us apart is our flowers with their excellent vase life and vigorous and healthy plant starts for the garden. Although there are many local choices and big box stores, we continue to strive for high quality and excellent customer service.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years I see more of an understanding of regenerative farming and local American grown products supporting local economies. Floriculture has exploded the past 5-10 years and we are seeing less reliance on overseas products and more local movements supporting local flowers for their exceptional quality and eco friendly options that reduce the carbon footprint worldwide. This shift allows local growers and farmers to provide high quality products, have less waste and can support local families through farmers markets, collectives and so forth. Floriculture is a multi-billion dollar industry and I do not see demand for fresh flowers decreasing anytime soon.
Pricing:
- $25-$30 bouquets using organic practices
- $5-8 organic practices for our plant starts
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blooms-of-hope.square.site
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bloomsofhopetexas
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572437852811
Image Credits
All images are owned by Blooms of Hope LLC
