By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
Heather Borsos has a knack for making a difference in people’s lives. For many years it was as a nurse, first as a nurse’s aide and then as an emergency room nurse. Today, she brings joy to others’ lives by delivering flowers during some of life’s most memorable events.
Borsos traded her scrubs and stethoscope for floral clippers and vases when she decided to turn her floral designing hobby into Eden Rose Inspirations, a floral business named a beautiful, climbing rose of the same name. Now, she is moving the floral boutique from her family home to 328 S. Main St., to be in the heart of a community she and her husband Andrew, and children Kylie, Benjamin and Elizabeth, have grown to love.
She grew up in Lima, Ohio, inspired by an aunt to become a nurse. She started to fulfill that dream in high school when she attended a vocational school to become a nurse’s aide. She went on to nursing school to become a registered nurse and fulfilled her goals of working in a hospital emergency room and being a director of nursing.
While still working as a nurse, Borsos started dabbling in floral designs for fun and practical reasons. In 2015, with plans to marry Andrew, she took on the monumental but money-saving task of designing the flowers for their wedding. The joy she felt being able to create lasting memories with the colors, aroma and designs of flowers became a pivotal moment for her. Maybe she discovered a new dream career, she thought.
As she created more and more floral arrangements for friends and family members, she saw how happy people were to receive the flowers. She realized flowers could be a new way to do good in the world.
Initially, she worked out of their home and eventually moved into a 20-foot by 14-foot outbuilding on their property. The side gig grew quickly and even the space next to her home became cramped.
She worked with Dick Newlove to find the downtown location, thanks to her Wood County Hospital connection with Laurie Newlove, director of volunteers.
Transformative space and designs
The South Main Street space is transformed into an elegant and functional floral boutique. A 1,000-cubic-foot cooler holds a variety of flowers to be used mostly for arrangements, but Borsos will stock supplies based on what customers want. For example, if there is a lot of foot traffic and people want bouquets, she will adjust the inventory accordingly.
Because she focuses on unique designs, she doesn’t offer an e-commerce site with standard arrangements. She prefers to talk with customers about their ideas, colors and budget. You can start a conversation with her on the website or by calling the boutique at 419-604-9566.
“My design style is unique and bespoke” or custom-made, she explained. Though she enjoys garden-style arrangements, “I take inspiration from what somebody tells me, whether they have certain colors, likes or dislikes. I will procure the flowers and design based on what is aesthetically pleasing.”
Within the shop, Borsos has installed plenty of countertops and tables that will be used for workshops and demonstration events. Groups of up to about 30 people can schedule an event for showers, birthdays or a group activity to create their own floral arrangements.
Most of her flowers are purchased from DFW in Rossford, as well as from some quality local growers, including Barn Swallow Farm in Grand Rapids. For vases and vessels, Borsos loves to use distinctive containers—from sturdy ceramics to embossed milk glass and teapots—to hold her floral arrangements that incorporate color, rhythm, proportion and balance to complement the vessels. A big fan of asymmetrical designs, she also relies heavily on texture and dimension.
In addition to creating floral arrangements, Borsos also enjoys delivering them. “When you can bring joy to someone by sharing a gift that makes them smile and brightens their day, it’s one of the best things you can do,” she said. “People purchase flowers for ones they love, whether it’s for a birth, wedding or end-of-life celebration.”
After she delivers the flowers to see the reaction of the recipients, she also will often send a photo and a note about their appreciation to the purchaser. “It comes full circle and it’s just great,” she said.
“Flowers are given at all moments of life. Often that specific rose, a specific scent can provide someone with a lasting memory. We believe that tapestry wraps you in a circle of love,” Borsos said.
The Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m. Tuesday (May 23) to officially welcome Eden Rose Inspirations downtown. An open house will run from 4 to 8 p.m. To register for the ribbon cutting, visit the Chamber website.
