Katy Mertz lets her blooms do the talking at her Galva flower shop, The Rambling Rose. Purchased in October 2021, the shop specializes in arrangements of all kinds.

Whether it’s a wedding, a funeral, a prom, Mother’s Day, a birthday, or a get-well wish, Mertz has flowers for the occasion. All put together by hand in her shop on Commercial Street, her creations are beautiful, long-lasting, and affordable.

“Competing with the online floral market can be difficult,” said Mertz. “Much of the time, these arrangements are more expensive, with shipping and handling adding to their cost.”

Her flowers are delivered frequently from wholesalers in Milan and Peoria, so they are always fresh, and Mertz said she constantly juggles fluctuating flower costs from her various sources, and the availability of certain flowers can change overnight.

“Being a small-town florist has its challenges,” she says. “But it allows me to know my customers and provide same-day service.” She adds that she has built relationships that will last a lifetime. “Becoming part of people’s special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and new babies is very rewarding.”

Mertz was quick to mention that helping people through some of the hardest moments of their lives is so important.

“I want them to know that I will do my best to make such things as funerals easier and their floral tributes extra special.”

She is joined in the business by Julie Frisk, a designer, and Annette Smith, her delivery assistant.

“Without these two valuable employees, I couldn’t be in business,” said Mertz. “They keep the shop in full production each day we are open.”

The young, energetic owner of the shop, Mertz started her foray into the world of flowers several years earlier with “Manxie’s Fresh Picks and Flips.” Paying homage to her Manx ancestry, she repurposed vintage items in flower pots and planters. Her creations ranged from small metal boxes adorned with succulents to antique carts filled with brightly colored sprays.

She credits her mother, Kathy Fargher, with encouraging her to open the shop.

“She is a wonderful gardener herself, and taught me a lot about plants,” said Mertz. “She also helps with childcare for my three-year-old son Colson, who is attending pre-K this fall.”

Her best-sellers are roses and her “Bunch of the Month,” a six-month subscription bouquet featuring seasonal blooms. She found that many of her customers like to buy themselves flowers or gift a loved one with a monthly bit of fragrance and color.

“The subscription allows them to do this and treat themselves and others regularly.”

Mertz said she loves the freedom that owning a shop provides her.

“The best part about being in the floral business is creating something beautiful every day,” she said. “Making my customers happy with something special is very rewarding.”

Her favorite task is creating arrangements in vases.

“I love mixing different types of greenery with colorful flowers that stand out in the container.”

A Galva native, she lives with her husband Anthony and son Colson in rural Kewanee. Anthony farms with her father, Greg Fargher, and Uncle Mark Fargher, and pitches in at the shop whenever he can.

“Even Colson likes to help, greeting customers with a big smile and waving ‘goodbye’ when they leave with their purchase,” says Mertz.

Flowers aren’t the only items for sale in her shop. A wide range of gifts are also showcased. The list includes potted plants, sympathy and memorial items, greeting cards, home decor, wreaths, silk arrangements, everyday lifestyle apparel, candles, birdseed wreaths, and decorative birdhouses.

There are also some vintage finds, along with Rambling Rose graphic tees and sweatshirts for sale. She carries Rifle Paper Company merchandise as well as locally made items such as fairy garden sticks, sea glass trees, and beaded ink pens.

When asked for advice on keeping blooms fresh she offered this: “The secret to keeping arrangements fresh is to trim the ends of the stems and add some fresh water every day. It’s also best to display them in a cool place and not in direct sunlight.”

Mertz invites customers to stop in and browse her many selections. Her shop is open Monday – Friday from 10 am – 2 pm and Saturdays from 9 am – 12 pm. Telephone orders can be made by calling (309) 781-7902. She posts photos of her arrangements daily on her Facebook page.

“We guarantee same-day delivery and a promise to make your message bloom in the best way possible,” she said.