Maybe it’s the skill, maybe it’s the passion, maybe it’s both- but it takes only about 60 seconds of speaking with Brandy Krueger to clearly feel her love for her flowers and her business. It’s in the way she talks, the way she laughs, and the way she describes her business, Mrs. B’s Floral and Nursery, located in Lincoln.
“I just absolutely love it….love, love, love it,” muses Krueger, while speaking about founding, owning, and operating Mrs. B’s. “I love it, I love flowers, I love being creative and love making people happy with flowers… I just love what I’m doing. It’s not like work.”
Krueger is not new to the plant business, as she has owned the local retail garden center for 15 years. However, the rest of her dream came true when her very own flower shop business officially opened on January 1, 2021, in a brand-new building next to her already-existing greenhouse. Prior to moving into her new building, Krueger leased the former Rustic Floral flower shop for her business, where she had done some part-time work.
Despite an incredibly hectic schedule -after all, Krueger and her husband have four children, she manages the books for her husband’s business, AND owns and operates Mrs. B’s- she still finds time to research all things flora in her “spare” time, simply because she loves what she does that much. “When I was working at Rustic Floral, I would just go home and do research after work,” explained Krueger.
Krueger, very interested in furthering her knowledge, attended the Floral Design Institute and delved into her classes, watching, reading, and learning as much as possible, really focusing on the proper way to take care of flowers. Due to her studies and her extensive experience, Krueger is equipped with the knowledge to provide quality floral products for her customers.
An area of emphasis for Krueger, and an area that sets Mrs. B’s apart from the rest, is her flower preservation practices, which extend the life of the flowers and in turn give customers more value for their money, as their purchases last longer. Krueger explained that a common misconception is that it’s all about flower food, but there are other keys that are more important. “When they come in, hydration is important. Most of them come in off a truck, farm direct. I’ve got to hydrate them, and the key is not about the food. Bleach in the water also keeps out the bacteria…the main goal is to get the flowers to live longer,” she explained.
Krueger also prides herself on having very little waste, planning ahead well and using her expert skill and craft to carefully and intricately design each flower arrangement. Her vases and stemware are lovingly selected from thrift store visits or garage sale finds, which ensures that no two arrangements are the exact same, each unique in their own beautiful way, with an added bonus of that little piece of history that comes along with thrifting.
The end product is a beautiful and healthy arrangement that stays looking fresh longer than your average flower bouquet, and according to Krueger, “They are very affordable for the designs that I do and I like ‘different’, so it’s unique; it’s not your typical flower arrangement. Every arrangement is different, nothing’s the same, in a unique vase, and processed correctly so they last a lot longer.”
While a large percentage of Krueger’s flowers do come in off a truck, many of her flowers are locally sourced from right there in Lincoln County. Krueger grows her own flowers, and also gets flowers brought to her from a mother/daughter duo in Lincoln County who brings her flowers every Monday during the summer growing season. Her 20 year plan is to grow most of her own flowers.
In addition to fresh arrangements, visitors to Mrs. B’s will find around 40 varieties of plants, both interior plants and seasonal garden plants. Additionally, local vendors rotate out of their products, and available items include homemade greeting cards, homemade bath bombs, bubble bath, pillows, wreaths, and leather earrings. And of course, Krueger says with a laugh, visitors will also find a cup of coffee.
Krueger provides her flowers for weddings as well as funerals. Mrs. B’s offers delivery to surrounding areas, and delivers to hospitals and cemeteries as well. She provides three convenient ways to order: online, over the phone, and walk-in. She strives to be accessible and available, making sure there is always someone at the store if they are open, which during this season is Monday-Friday, 9am to 4pm. In the spring, they are open seven days a week.
If you are interested in working in this positive work environment and share a love for flowers, Mrs. B’s Floral & Nursery is currently seeking a full-time employee to join forces with her and her part-time helpers.
Krueger would like to state that she appreciates the support she is given and urges people to come in and check out the store. You will no doubt be intrigued by her skill and passion, and in awe of the end products she creates. After all, the proof is in the product.
