"In a different life, I think I would have been an artist from the beginning," says Adrienne Bashista, owner of Passalongs Farm and Florist. "I wasn't forbidden from a career in art, it just didn't occur to me. But now in my 50s, I've realized what I want."
As a flower farmer, floral designer and small business owner, Bashista is now surrounded by opportunities for art and creativity. Whether it's one centerpiece arrangement or a wedding's worth of floral touches, the results have been beautiful, and different every time.
Passalongs Farm covers about an acre of land in Florence, spanning Bashista's home property and an area leased from the city. Flower beds have sprouted up seemingly everywhere, filled with hundreds of species and varieties whose blooms will become her art supplies. Roughly a third of the flowers she has planted are annuals, but most are perennials that come back every year.
On the floral design side, about half of Bashista's income is from designing flowers for weddings. She also takes custom orders for special occasion and sympathy flowers, and offers weekly or monthly flower subscriptions for fresh seasonal arrangements. In all cases, both pick-up and delivery are offered.
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