Making Your Childhood
Dreams Come True By Hope Schaefer
"Oh no, I've seen that look before," Will Wuester commented to his wife Jennifer as she gazed into the picture window of the neglected building at 901 Ann Street, Beaufort, NC. What Will saw was a perfect solution to his work from home challenge. With a busy toddler in their Front Street condo, Will was searching for a convenient, quiet place to work. What Jennifer envisioned in the square cinder block building was the fulfillment of a dream she'd cherished since childhood. Jennifer’s grandfather was a farmer in Angier, NC. Each year he gave her the flower seed and bulb catalog. She studied each page and dog eared the varieties she wanted her grandfather to order. Together they planted and nurtured the flowers. Each spring, they cut the flowers, placed them in buckets, and shared them around town at places like the bank and their church. Since those days, Jennifer dreamed of creating a flower bar. She envisioned a shop with buckets overflowing with flowers where customers hand-picked each stem. Although Will needed an office, Jennifer was sure 901 Ann Street was the perfect location for her flower bar. In May, on their anniversary, Will surprised Jennifer with the gift of a watering can. On the can he tied the key to her dream (the key to her quaint little flower bar on Ann Street). They immediately began transforming the building and hosted a soft opening in June during the Beaufort Old Homes Tour. They handed out peonies ( Jennifer’s favorite flower and the flower she used in the logo). On Jennifer’s favorite holiday, July 4, 2018, they officially opened Beaufort In Bloom. One Beaufort neighbor describes Beaufort in Bloom as "Cheers for Women." It’s a joyful place where neighbors connect and customers become friends. Jennifer is grateful for the outpouring of love and support from the neighbors, “the ladies of wisdom,” who visit the shop weekly. She also enjoys making friends with out-of-town visitors who discover Beaufort in Bloom through Instagram. Jennifer enjoys it when a customer brings in a vase that has special meaning, either a family heirloom or a momento from a favorite trip. “It’s lovely to witness our blooms bring new life to old memories.”