Main Street News

“Le Jardin truly started out of a love for beauty and a desire to share it with our new community after moving upstate from the city. I began growing flowers simply because they made me happy, and before I knew it, that turned into farmers markets, then weddings and events, and suddenly, I needed far more space than my kitchen table,” muses Romane Recalde, owner of Le Jardin flower farm and flower shop in Amenia, NY. 

When she first found the Amenia space, her plan was to use it as a private studio. “My husband very enthusiastically told everyone in town that I was opening a flower shop, and people were so excited. They’d come up to me, face glowing, and I’d say, ‘No, no, it’s not a shop.’ And instantly, their faces would fall. After that happened about twelve times, I thought, ‘Okay universe, I hear you,’” she recalls. “So I surrendered to the idea, and now I can’t imagine life without it.” 

Romane wants to transform the way people think about flowers. The message of the shop is simple: flowers shouldn’t only belong to weddings or grand gestures. “They deserve a place in everyday life – on kitchen counters, nightstands, and moments big and small.”

Growing more than just flowers 

It’s been a year since Romane opened the doors to her charming flower shop in Amenia, and Le Jardin has grown significantly in that time. While Le Jardin is still growing many of its blooms on the farm, the shop is also bringing in beautiful stems from other local growers. Currently, Le Jardin regularly works with Maitri Farm and Piecemeal Farm, both of which are also based in Amenia, NY, and also sources blooms through the Hudson Valley Collective, which connects Le Jardin to an incredible network of regional farmers. 

“It allows us to bring in unexpected varieties, special seasonal blooms, and flowers full of character,” Romane explains. 

What initially started as a one-woman operation has grown into a talented team that helps design bouquets, care for customers, and keep the shop feeling warm and inviting. 

Le Jardin has also expanded its curated offerings and deepened relationships with local makers over the past year. On weekends, the shop becomes a hybrid space, with customers browsing beautiful blooms and products in the front, and the team working diligently in the floral studio in the back of the building, where large wedding pieces take shape and come to life. “It’s a little bit of calm, a little bit of orchestrated chaos, and a lot of creativity,” Romane says. 

Ultimately, the goal is to make flowers accessible regardless of mood or schedule. For that reason, Le Jardin features a flower for anyone who prefers to build their own bouquet, (“With a little coaching, if needed!” Romane says), as well as plenty of grab-and-go bouquets for those busy moments when customers are on-the-go. Of course, fully designed arrangements are available for pick-up or delivery as well, both of which can be pre-ordered on the Le Jardin website. 

“Beyond flowers, the shop is filled with things I love myself – fancy chocolates, thoughtful objects, and beautiful things that just make your day better, like handmade Parisian glassware. It’s a very curated mix of ‘useful beauty’ and ‘absolutely unnecessary, but deeply wonderful beauty,’” she says. “I wanted the shop to feel like a little pocket of France in the Hudson Valley – timeless and magical.” 

Making events special 

The events side of Le Jardin’s business has truly expanded tremendously over the past year. This year alone, Le Jardin designed florals for more than 20 weddings and events. 

Le Jardin offers a la carte weddings for couples who want something beautiful and well-designed without needing full event production, and full-service weddings for couples who want every floral detail cared for, from concept to installation.

“No two are ever the same. I oversee every creative decision and never repeat designs, because each couple has their own taste, story, and emotional world. I want every wedding to feel like its own universe,” Romane says. 

Indeed, Le Jardin hopes to continue growing thoughtfully in the upcoming year. Romane hopes to make more of what they offer in the shop available online so people near and far can experience it. “I think what makes Le Jardin unique is our point of view. We really embrace the wildness of flowers, the dancing stems, movement, textures, and gestures that make arrangements feel alive rather than perfectly ‘arranged.’ Our work is a reflection of nature,” she says. 

Romane is also working on expanding the shop’s everyday flower delivery service so more people can surprise those that they love (or themselves!). 

“We love seeing familiar faces, meeting new ones, creating wedding florals that make people cry (in a good way), and sending flowers out into the world to be part of people’s stories,” she says. “Mostly, I want people to know that the shop is for everyone. Whether you’re celebrating, grieving, gifting, or simply needing something lovely to brighten your day, you are welcome here.”

To learn more about Le Jardin, visit the shop at 3300 Route 343, Amenia, NY on Thursdays-Sundays from 10am-4pm, visit their website lejardinflowerfarm.com, and keep up with them on Instagram @lejardinflowerfarm.