CONRAD — Farmhouse Floral, located at 1030 Underwood Ave. just south of Conrad, opened late last year with the goal of providing flower arrangements that go beyond the traditional bouquet.

Owned and operated by husband/wife team Mike and Amy Weeks, this endeavor is the culmination of Amy’s 13 years of experience as a floral designer. She cut her teeth employed as a floral clerk at Hy-Vee.

“I learned the basics there, and then I was asked to join them at It’s Unique, and worked there for two years. When they sold that, I went to Lowe’s and was there for the last almost nine years,” she noted.

Amy’s initial career calling was as a nurse, working in that field for 15 years before transitioning to stay-at-home-mom. As the children grew, she decided she needed a new way to fill her time and chose the flower industry.

“Growing up, my grandparents were big gardeners, and they loved growing different flowers, and so I learned a lot from my grandma,” Amy said. “My mom kind of took that up when she got older, and so I learned from her also, but mainly my grandparents and just trying stuff on my own.”

Amy grew up in Marshalltown, then spent 20 years living in Le Grand before the couple drifted to their current home near Conrad.

“We wanted to move to an acreage and found this over here. It’s been the right fit from day one. We have three kids, and once all of them were gone, we didn’t know what to use this space for,” she said.

Then inspiration struck: open the business on their property. Mike noted his wife is the creative force behind the shop, while he works more behind the scenes. A native of Altoona, he’s spent the last three decades employed at Danfoss Power Solutions in Ames in software development. Amy’s mother Linda Bailey aids in their search for non-traditional vessels for flowers, including upcycling vintage finds. When obtaining pieces, it’s all about “thinking outside the vase,” offering designs that are personalized.

“Amy has a really artistic background, so it’s not just flowers. She can do sculptures. She can do paintings, drawings, all sorts of different, mixed materials,” he said. “She has a really long history of that. What she likes to do a little bit differently is get into more unconventional presentation of the flowers. Not necessarily just run-of-the-mill vase. She has used light fixture type things before, pictures and a variety of different kind of containers. It kind of puts a different twist on things. It’s kind of unique.”

Flowers are sourced locally and through established distributors.

The pair offers same-day delivery (if order placed before noon) and serves customers within a 30-mile radius of Conrad. The duo can deliver to homes, businesses, hospitals and funeral homes, as requested. In addition to flowers for all occasions, Amy also offers quarterly workshops to allow the public hands-on learning and creativity.

“People will spend two to four hours doing some kind of a project where she can help somebody else and develop their own product,” Mike said. “We’re always looking for ideas on what the community is interested in. We put on refreshments and provide a nice little environment to do that in. The people who have done that really have had a good time.”

Past workshops have included wreath making and crafting gingerbread houses. Their upcoming spring door hangers workshop is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on March 13. Light refreshments will be provided, seating limited to eight.

The shop also sells merchandise provided by people known to the couple. A cousin in Michigan named Shelly Case sends shirts and crafts to be sold in the store. A cousin named Candace Keller from Clarion makes Lovely Co. candles, also available for purchase. Friend Amy Huelett of Laurel makes all natural cosmetics and lotions, sold under B4 2day.

“I would love the opportunity to create any unique type of floral design you might dream up,” Amy said. “Flowers are an art form, and every arrangement should feel special.”

Farmhouse Floral is open Monday through Saturday by appointment. It may be reached at 641-657-4722 and farmhousefloral@heartofiowa.net. To place an order or to learn more, visit farmhousefloralconrad.com.