Flower and plant pop-ups have been blossoming in and around Montclair. Here’s a reminder to smell the flowers and delight in the creative and beautiful floral offerings popping up around town. Read on to learn more about Bloombox Flowers, Blooms in Hand, Flora Moon Flowers, Mind Your Beads & Seeds, Mys. TerraGoddess, and Terrace Plant Shop, and the variety of beauty and experiences these shops provide.
Bloombox Flowers
What
Angelica Garcia founded Bloombox Flowers in Bristol, CT in 2018 out of a love for the beauty of flowers and her grandmother, Grams,’ love of them. Bloombox Flowers expanded to Garcia’s New Jersey roots (pun intended) and allows customers to build their own bouquets out of an adorable floral cart highlighting local farmers’ flowers. Customers delight in piecing together one-of-a-kind floral masterpieces or purchasing florist choice bouquets which Angelica and her team design.
“Our most popular bouquets are usually our florist choice bouquets. This gives our floral designers the freedom to be creative & make some of the best bouquets! Wildflower bouquets have become my favorite this season, but watching others create something beautiful when they have no experience with flowers is pretty awesome!” Garcia says.
Where
Garcia shares, “We collaborate with Local Coffee on Watchung Ave for our pop-ups. The owners, Rob and Adele, really love to support local artists and have just been such a huge part of bringing Bloombox to Montclair.”
In addition to pop-ups sprouting around town and in Connecticut, Bloombox is available to cart on over for private events including bridal and baby showers. Garcia explains, “People love how beautiful the cart makes their event space look. They also love having their guests do something interactive at their party and get to take it home with them as a favor. As for weddings, if you are looking for a minimalistic look, Bloombox is for you!”
Why
For Garcia, Bloombox Flowers has grown in more ways than one. “It started off as something that I would do on my own and now it has grown into a family business. My mom, sisters, brother-in-law, boyfriend, and friends all help out with something. It has also helped my sisters and I cope with the loss of our dad; he was a huge part of the success of Bloombox. We honor him by trying to bring happiness through flowers to others, and that really is the most rewarding feeling. The people we have met throughout this journey have been incredible. Some of them even work for Bloombox now, I can’t believe it sometimes!”
Upcoming
Garcia exclaims, “There is something BIG coming…but for now we’ll keep it a secret because it will just be so worth the wait when it’s completely ready for its debut!” Follow Bloombox Flowers on Instagram to find out when and where the cart will next be in town. There are many collaborations on the horizon including with a plant shop. MG Pro Tip: Bloombox Flowers has a Bud Club loyalty card: Buy 5 bouquets and the 6th is free!
Read More: A Guide to Flower Farms in New Jersey
Blooms in Hand | 228 Claremont Avenue, Verona
What
After working as a floral designer in Philadelphia and freelancing throughout the area, Anna Coy founded Blooms in Hand when she moved to Montclair with her husband. Best known for a fresh, curated bouquet subscription service delivered weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, Blooms in Hand also offers pop-ups, floral arranging classes, arrangements for special events of all sizes, and everyday deliveries.
Floral workshops and bouquets are the biggest hits at Blooms in Hand. “I’ve been doing this for a long time and I love sharing the tricks I’ve learned along the way while our guests create something beautiful. Our bouquets are always something special. I use a lot of textures, greens, and color combinations in all of our European hand-tied bouquets that I feel give our designs a distinct look,” Coy describes.
Where
Blooms in Hand has a full-service floral studio in Verona but provides pop-ups and classes all around the area.
Coy explains, “I had thought a local bouquet subscription service might be something that people would be interested in. I tossed the question out in a local Facebook page and had inquiries right away. I started delivering that next week from a home studio. I then ventured into the community to offer bouquet building pop-ups. Local businesses took an interest and invited me in to make a mess in their spaces while making beautiful bouquets for customers. That was four years ago and we have organically grown so much since. Now we are a team of eight in a lovely studio space in Verona delivering all over the area, and still popping up in new places.”
Why
Coy shares, “I am beyond fortunate to have found a career that is as rewarding as this. In college, as a fine art major, I had heard a million times that I’d have a hard time finding a job. I am still creating new art every day. Flowers are my medium, and then I have the joy of sharing them with others. It’s a dream, sometimes an exhausting dream, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Upcoming
Fall is Coy’s favorite season for floral color. Be sure to follow Blooms in Hand on Facebook and Instagram and check out the Workshops & Events calendar for upcoming fall festivities from fall wreath decorating classes, floral arranging classes, pop-ups, and pumpkin arrangement and centerpiece classes. Coy can’t wait and neither can we!
Flora Moon Flowers
What
Lauren Monaco “always dreamed of working with flowers since [she] was a little girl. After freelancing for some amazing designers and friends, I decided to start my own business to allow all my creative visions to come to life.” She founded Flora Moon Flowers in 2016 in Northern New Jersey.
Where
While Flora Moon Flowers is mainly a wedding and event design studio, Monaco enjoys collaborating with boutiques and talented people for the occasional pop up including Dolly Moo, La Serra Gardens, and Hudson Table.
Why
Monaco values using creativity to bring joy to other people and delights in “a florist’s dream come true” of clients wanting fun colors. She collaborates “with a ton of local farms in NJ for my flowers during the growing season as an effort to cut back on using flowers from around the world, supporting local farmers and lessening my footprint.”
Upcoming
Flora Moon Flowers is in the process of rebranding, “With the hopes of one day opening a local design studio and potentially a farm!” Monaco shares. “We also just did our first collaboration photoshoot and it was so amazing and I can’t wait to do more in the future.” Follow Flora Moon Flowers on Instagram to find out what’s popping up next.
Mind Your Beads & Seeds | 147 Valley Road, Montclair
What
Mind Your Beads & Seeds Gift Garden sells plants, jewelry, totes, and creative and spiritual products online and in the shop. Services include commercial plant interior design and maintenance, plant repotting, and jewelry repair. Fun and creative pop-up events are aplenty and private party bookings are available.
The most popular products are the Money Tree and String of Pearls and Paint Pots & Sip events are not to be missed. Owner Nia West-Williams shares, “Just like for everyone, 2020 was CRAZY! In April 2020, I lost my job (like so many did) due to the pandemic and I felt so lost…With my boredom, I started making jewelry. I loved the way they came out and surprisingly found the process of making them relax.”
After doing well-selling waist beads, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings on Instagram, West-Williams branched out to doing local pop-ups with her mom and added plants to the mix “Because who doesn’t love plants.” The rest is history with the Gift Garden opening soon after.
Where
Mind Your Beads & Seeds has a peaceful, vibrant shop located in Montclair, an online shop, and does pop-ups around Montclair and Clifton.
Why
“We received so much support and great feedback from doing our pop-ups that we decided that it was time to open up Mind Your Beads & Seeds Gift Garden!” Meeting all her customers is what West-Williams finds most rewarding.
Upcoming
Follow Mind Your Beads & Seeds on Facebook and Instagram to learn about the latest in-store and community pop-ups including yoga with plants and more Paint Pots & Sip events.
Mys.TerraGoddess
What
Mys. TerraGoddess sells house plants, stakes, pots, and crystals at pop-ups, markets, and faires throughout the area. Owner Krystal Mitchell also rents plants for events, installs plants in businesses and homes, hosts garden parties for adults and kids, provides consultations to support plant parents with care advice and pest remedies, and also plant sits.
Mitchell founded Mys.TerraGoddess in April 2021 after deepening her learning about and appreciation for plants in 2020. She shares, “I began bringing a few basic plants into my home and learning about how to care for them. I found a community that I could relate to and connect with when the connection was something that many people, including myself, were lacking, being cooped up in our homes. I started trading plants with fellow plant lovers, selling plant cuttings and rehabs I nursed back to health. The more I connected with my community and the more I shopped for plants, I began to realize how little people knew about plants and how much they were in need of people to support them to overcome the fear they had of killing their plant babes.”
The most popular request is for low-maintenance plants that are hard to kill. Top sellers include snake plants, ZZ plants, Tradescantia Nanouks, and Purple Passions.
Where
Mys. TerraGoddess can be found in Jersey City, Montclair, and beyond. Mitchell says, “I live and operate my business out of Jersey City, however when Emmy Feyeux, owner of Virile Barber & Shop in Montclair, offered to be my host for my business launch pop up I was thrilled to say yes! It felt right to start my business where I grew up. I have continued to do pop-ups in Montclair at businesses such as Montclair Bread Company and Paper Plane Coffee Co. and will continue to bring my business to this community as it feels as much home as Jersey City does.”
Mitchell values collaboration. She further explains, “I work in collaboration with Mykel Uy, a local Jersey City Artist, plant enthusiast, and the owner of Plants By Mykel, who makes hand-painted galaxy pots that have been very popular at my markets, pop-ups, and faires. I also support Jersey City’s Abigail Lapid, creator of Abbztract Creations who makes amazing handmade gemstone jewelry & accessories by selling her stained-glass plant stakes.”
Why
Mitchell shares, “The most rewarding thing about operating Mys.TerraGoddess has been connecting with so many beautiful communities. I was working a 9-5 job that wasn’t quite hitting the mark for me and the more I realized I lit up when I was connecting with people about plants the more I realized I had to follow my heart. I wanted to build something that would support my community, inspire them to overcome their fears to try something new and rewarding, and help them learn and grow.”
Upcoming
Mys. TerraGoddess “truly comes to life with her transformative green hair and plant goddess attire” at Lunar Faire which happens every two weeks in Northern NJ. Lunar Faire “is a witchy night market that falls on every new moon and full moon.” There are Tarot card readings, drum circles, fire dancers, mermaids, and vendors selling art, crystals, and handmade jewelry and crafts.
Mitchell is also excited about working with Sorri Education to bring Plantasorri to schools in New Jersey and New York City. “Plantasorri will be teaching kids about plants, gardening, and imbuing children with a deep sense of love and responsibility for our planet.” Be sure to follow all the magic on Facebook and Instagram.
See More: Boozy Bouqs: A Bouquet + Cocktail Making Party Experience in NJ
Terrace Plant Shop | 416 Main Street, Metuchen
What
Terrace Plant Shop is a plant-filled oasis focused on sharing plants and experiences in the community. Owner Peter John Dario describes, “We offer a variety of services, but we are focusing our efforts towards community events, interior design, and weddings. Community events are special because it’s bringing people together into a space that no one in the area has experienced before with the bonus of music, food, and good vibes.” Plants are available for purchase in shops, for local delivery, and online.
Where
Terrace Plant Shop is a dreamy, green-infused creative space in Metuchen and has been known to pop-up in Montclair such as at The Boho Cafe launch party. Indoor and outdoor pop-ups can be requested.
Why
Dario opened Terrace Plant Shop to process his own grief and share the healing power of plants and community. He says, “After my father and grandpa passed from COVID-19 in March 2020, I felt so lost and angry. I honestly didn’t know what to do with myself. I’ve always had plants and it’s what helped me grieve. Tending to my plants zones everything out. During that time, I realized that plants offer more than just an aesthetic, but a feeling of peace and wellness. I knew I had to open up a shop to offer the community the same feeling I had during a tough time.”
Creating connections and helping others find solace drives Dario: “What I find most rewarding [about running Terrace Plant Shop] is that people come to my shop whether they’re 15 minutes away or an hour and they talk to me about how they lost a loved one from COVID-19 and they’re feeling better because they’ve added plants in their home. It’s a beautiful feeling to help people who really need it, but don’t show it.”
Upcoming
Follow the Terrace Plant Shop on Instagram to learn about exciting events including biophilic yoga and an End of Summer Community Event on August 28th. Dario explains, “We’re bringing a bunch of local vendors and artisans into our space with free traditional drinks from the Philippines! The goal is to get people from all over to learn and support these creators and small businesses.”