Wrapping Up 2025 & Looking Ahead to 2026
As I sit down to reflect on 2025, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude at how this year unfolded. Going into the season, I held cautious optimism. Farming and floristry have taught me that nothing is guaranteed: weather shifts, crops surprising you, and customers and community take time to build. Yet this year exceeded my expectations in ways I couldn’t have predicted, largely because of how warmly I was welcomed by the Missoula community. This year wasn’t just about selling flowers. It was about being seen, supported, and trusted as a local grower and florist.
From familiar faces at markets to first-time customers who became regulars, the support I felt this year gave Beverly Blooms a foundation that feels real and lasting here in Montana. Each bouquet sold, each wreath hung on a front door, and each kind word exchanged reminded me why I started this work in the first place. It re-awakened my passion and inspiration for the work I do.
Business-wise, 2025 went far better than I anticipated. I said yes to opportunities that stretched me, learned to trust my instincts more, and slowly quieted the imposter syndrome that inevitably creeps in when you’re building something so personal. There were long harvest days, late nights processing flowers, and some moments of doubt. There were also many moments of pride. Pride in learning how to grow beautiful flowers in Western Montana’s short season. Pride in offering designs that felt authentic to me. Pride in showing up even when I was exhausted.
Lessons 2025 Gave Me
This year taught me a few lessons I’ll carry into this next season:
Community matters more than perfection. People connected with honesty, seasonality, and heart. This season reminded me that people are looking for something real. Customers connected most deeply with flowers that reflected the season, the weather, and the place they were grown. Sharing the heart behind the work mattered far more than polished perfection.
There is room to grow at my own pace. 2025 showed me that success doesn’t have to look like burnout or constant expansion. It’s okay to build slowly, intentionally, and in a way that feels sustainable when we’re starting from scratch. Giving myself permission to grow at a pace that supports my creativity, health, and joy has only made the business stronger.
Confidence grows through action. Each market, delivery, and post helped me trust myself a little more. Confidence didn’t arrive all at once; it’s built one small step at a time. Each market I showed up to, each delivery made, and each post shared helped quiet doubt and strengthen trust in myself. Taking action proved to be the most powerful teacher. With every experience, I learned that I am capable, prepared, and worthy of the space this business is taking up!
Looking Ahead to 2026
As I turn toward 2026, I’m feeling grounded and hopeful. The goal for the new year is to continue this momentum and to deepen what’s already been working. Some of my 2026 goals:
Expanding CSA offerings with thoughtful variety and a stronger focus on what grows best here, season by season
Continuing to grow relationships with customers, fellow makers, and local businesses
Refining designs that reflect my personal style: natural, expressive, and a little wild
Centering sustainability and seasonality in everyday decisions, from crop planning and sourcing to how arrangements are designed
Showing up with confidence, trusting that there is space for my voice and my work
Planning the Year Before It Begins
While January is quiet in the field, this month is one of the most important for behind-the-scenes work ahead of the season. Winter is when the real groundwork is laid and I start planning and working towards these goals. January is devoted to thoughtful planning and organization, giving structure to the creativity and growth that will unfold once spring arrives.
Developing new business processes and management systems has been a major focus. After a season that grew more quickly than I expected, I’m taking time to reflect on what worked, what felt overwhelming, and what can be improved. This includes refining workflows, clarifying timelines, and building systems that support sustainability for the business and for myself. My goal is to continue to create a business that feels grounded, organized, and capable of growing without losing its heart.
Organizing seeds is both practical and deeply hopeful. Sorting through seed packets, labeling trays, and finalizing orders is top of the list in January as seed starting will begin mid-February! This process helps me stay connected to the rhythm of the seasons, even in the heart of winter, and ensures that when planting time arrives, everything is ready.
Field planning brings the entire vision together. Mapping out beds, succession planting, and crop timing is essential in Western Montana’s shorter growing season. January is when I decide what will grow where, how to maximize limited space, and how to balance staple crops with room for experimentation. Thoughtful field planning allows me to grow healthier plants, improve harvest flow, and ultimately offer better flowers to you all!
On a personal level, 2026 feels like an invitation to center myself more fully and to create a business that supports not just my livelihood, but my well-being and creativity too.
If you supported Beverly Blooms in any way this year by purchasing flowers, sharing a post, stopping by a market booth, or simply offering encouragement, thank you! Your support shaped this year more than you know and it meant everything to me.
2025 reminded me that flowers are never just flowers. They are gestures, connections, and stories. I’m so excited to keep telling those stories with you in 2026!
With gratitude,
Chase
