PENDLETON — Tracy Lawyer loved her job as a nurse, something she had done for more than 20 years.
But in recent years, the Pendleton resident had been thinking about slowing down, and she told her husband, Jon, that she felt like she needed a change.
Lawyer said she always loved growing flowers but had never considered it as a full-time occupation.
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All that changed in March 2019, when Lawyer was talking to a friend of her sister’s who suggested she start growing flowers to sell.
That suggestion planted the seed for Lick Creek Flower Co., which Lawyer now runs from her home in rural Pendleton, at 2757 W. County Road 1000S.
In early 2019, her friend recommended a book she had used when she started her own flower business.
Lawyer also discussed the idea with her husband.
“Jon was very supportive and agreed to help in any way he could,” Lawyer said.
They agreed she would continue to work at the hospital for another year while she learned all she could about the flower business. She spent the time studying every book she could find on the subject. She says she read more than 15 books and took online classes.
She learned about soil composition, fertilizer and different types of flowers among other things.
“Every kind of flower has it’s own special needs. What works for one kind may not work for another”, Lawyer said.
Finally, in March 2020, she was ready to start her new business.
Although timing looks like she left the hospital because of COVID 19, she said that is not the case.
She had already planned to go before the virus struck.
“I hated to leave with all that going on, but Jon and I had already made that decision”, Tracy said.
Her husband gave her a slice of the acreage he farms to use to start the business. She laughed and said she would probably need more land next year.
All of her flowers are annuals, so they must be replanted every year. She starts them all from seed.
Using an old English method called soil blocking, she plants the seeds in March.
“The amount of time it takes to grow the seed big enough to transplant depends on the flower,” Lawyer said. “Zinnias and sunflowers only take about four days, other plants may take up to 11 weeks.”
She has more than 90 varieties of flowers in her gardens, and each must be treated differently.
Future plans include a perennial section.
Lawyer keeps everything very environmentally friendly.
Although she isn’t happy with some of the insects in her garden, she knows that some are necessary. For that reason, she doesn’t use any weed killers and only organic products to combat the bugs.
The soil and compost she uses is all organic and is trucked into the farm.
Lawyer is constantly amending the soil and having it tested.
Although she has been growing flowers for decades, she is still learning.
“Healthy soil leads to healthier plants and flowers that last longer in a vase”, Lawyer said.
Plants will grow in soil that is not healthy, but they will be more susceptible to disease and pests.
This is a full time job.
Lawyer works out all morning while it is still cool.
In the heat of the afternoon, she goes inside to do more studying and paperwork.
She is back outside in the evening to do more work.
She gets a lot of help from her husband and their two grandchildren, Braden and Brinley Gustin.
Once a month she takes flower arrangements to the Fishers Farmers Market.
She also sells on Facebook and Instagram. From 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, she’s out delivering her arrangements.
In the winter, she plans to read more books and is taking two more online classes.
She wants to learn more about the flower business.
“It’s much more than just planting flowers,” she said. “I feel like flowers have brought a bright cheery atmosphere to a scary time. It’s a very peaceful place, I love being outside. It’s a good fit.”
