child — 7 or 8 years old ,” she said . “ But I ’ ve been experimenting to see how far I can push the growing zone and how long I can have certain flowers available . I just never had the time to do the research until now .”
Then a request from her sister-inlaw to design the floral arrangements and bouquets for a wedding at the Sunken Gardens at Allerton Park was the reassurance Smith needed that she should return to her roots and open a flower shop .
“ When I was asked to do the wedding at Allerton Park , I knew it was divine intervention ,” she said .
Smith plans to reopen her shop on East Main Street in Danville late next summer , but it will have an entirely different ambiance than her old business , Olde Yankee Rose . The new shop will be named Inspirations by Kimberly , A Floral Experience .
“ I ’ m going for an organic feel ,” she said . “ Ninety percent of what I ’ ll have I ’ m going to grow from seed , and I ’ m also going to be bringing in organic produce .
“ I ’ ll have splashes of vintage and build an old-fashioned English conservatory made with old windows and old doors ,” she said . “ I ’ ll create garden vignettes for photo opportunities and offer gardening classes for adults and kids .”
In addition , Smith will offer party and wedding planning and floral design .
“ I will always do decorating , and I will always do party planning ,” she said .
Smith hopes to launch a new website by the first of the new year where products will be for sale .
“ I ’ m just trying to do something fresh and new for our area ,” she said .
Kimberly Smith decorated this Christmas tree with pops of red . Photo by Carol Roehm
“ I ’ ve always maintained a vintage and quirky theme .”
— Kimberly Smith
ILLIANA MAGAZINE — WINTER 2022 19