Flowers and plants have been a part of Jesse Diekhoff โs life for as long as she can remember. Her father runs Philโs Tree Service in Newburgh, Indiana, and she started working for Colonial Classics, also in Newburgh, when she was 15.
โFlowers bring light, color, and joy into peopleโs lives, even when they least expect it. Something as small as the gift of a flower can change someoneโs day,โ Diekhoff says.
After a decade with the garden center, she is branching out with her own storefront, Jesse Jeanneโs Flower Boutique. The idea took shape in 2020 through her floral preservation side 
hustle, Jesse Jeanneโs Flowers. Diekhoff dries petals from special events and significant occasions โ funerals, weddings, baby showers, to name a few โ and frames them or encases them in resin to create a long-lasting memento.
At first, she worked out of her apartmentโs spare bedroom, but the venture quickly grew as word spread about her services. When she and her husband, Andrew, moved into a house, the business claimed the basement, but that only proved it required more space.
An opportunity โfell into my lap at the right time,โ she says, when her husbandโs friend had a retail space for rent near the intersection of South Green River Road and Washington Avenue. In considering opening her own storefront, Diekhoff determined it was not feasible to continue working full- time at Colonial and grow her business. Leaving her longtime job was bittersweet.
โIt was hard for me and everyone (at Colonial), but I knew I wanted to venture out on my own,โ she reflects.
Jesse Jeanneโs Flower Boutique needed upgrading. Diekhoff โcompletely redid all of it,โ replacing moldy walls plus the floors, electrical, and lighting with help from friends and family. The shop is painted in shades of pink and green, and the storeโs logo is Diek- hoff โs and her year-old daughter Sammieโs birth flower โ lily of the valley โ and tulips.
Her shop will offer floral arrangements and seasonal planters, sourcing products from local growers and wholesalers, as well as out-of-state vendors. Shoppers can sign up for a fresh
flower subscription and pick up baked goods and cookies from Saigeโs Baking Creations. For now, Diekhoff will rely on family members to help keep the place running, though she plans to hire staff. She also plans to eventually teach classes out of her new space.
โItโs been very nerve-wracking, very exciting. A mix of all kinds of feelings,โ Diekhoff says.
