Main Street News

Originally from France, Romane Recalde moved to Amenia, NY, with her husband in 2020. Romane grew up in the remote French countryside, near Bordeaux, but she never considered herself to be particularly outdoors-y. When she and her husband moved to Amenia, however, she found herself increasingly interested in gardening. 

Fast-forward four years later, and Romane not only has a successful flower farm, but has also recently opened an accompanying flower shop located right in the heart of the village of Amenia. Romane never dreamed of having a storefront, and to be honest, she shared that she herself had “a lot of resistance to it.” She has a fondness for her freedom, independence, and ability to work as she pleases. 

“I don’t like when things are set in stone or when a day is monotonous,” Romane said. “Committing to set store hours was absolutely terrifying for me.” 

Initially, she was only looking for space to have a studio for her floral design business, as she very quickly outgrew the studio at the farm and needed larger space to handle the work flow. 

“For whatever reason, my husband, not knowing the difference between a studio and a flower shop, spread the world in what feels like every corner of the country that I was opening a shop!” she laughed. 

What ensued was a variety of people coming up to Romane at the Millerton Farmers Market expressing their excitement for her new shop. After sharing that the space was only meant to be a private studio, Romane said that, “the faces of disappointment that would follow would just about break my heart and send me home with my morale in my socks.”  

While initially resistant to the idea, after dozens of reactions, Romane found herself genuinely considering opening an official shop. What truly gave her the final push to do so was reading The Surrender Experiment by Michael Alan Singer, a book about what happens when we stop pushing for the things that we think we want. 

“I wasn’t overly concerned with there being a market for flowers, but the retail aspect scared me. Would people show up? Turns out, most people love flowers just as much as I do!” 

Curated goods and a piece of home 

The shop is inspired by all of the things that are near and dear to Romane. “I wanted it to feel as if I were home in the French countryside where I grew up,” she said. “I’m usually an all-white paint kind of girl, but I wanted to have some fun with the space, so I plastered the back of the space a warm, peachy color to give it that European feel.”

Romane also had a set of old French doors that she had been hanging onto since she and her husband renovated their house, without knowing exactly what she wanted to do with them. They ended up being the perfect fit for the shop to separate the space between the shop and the studio space in the back; “They add so much character and dimension to the room.” 

In addition to all of the beautiful flowers grown from the farm, Romane is also offering a variety of products from local artisans. On the shelves, you can find products from My Neighbor’s Tallow, DBO Home, Bluebell Ward, among others.

“I want to celebrate and support local artisans. We can all help each other grow – that’s what community is about. We’re in talks with some of our favorite brands and artists to make exclusive Le Jardin pieces, which will be so special!” 

In addition to local artisans, Romane also carries curated antiques that she has sourced from France, as well as a handful of other French brands. “We want to keep the space inspiring and ever-changing from week to week. Each time you visit, you’ll have a different experience, with new flowers and treasures.” 

A place for the community 

Workshops have always been an important part of Le Jardin, and the new space will allow Romane to expand the kinds of workshops that she can offer. “Workshops are so special for the simple fact that you get to surround yourself with likeminded people, and of course, play with flowers. I want people to soak in all the creativity while they reconnect with theirs.” 

Romane is also excited to be participating in revitalizing the retail scene of downtown Amenia. She shared that several new businesses have also signed leases for 2025 thanks to the effort of the “Build Amenia Project,” which aims to reimagine Main Street in Amenia and bring economic growth to the town. 

“It’s likely impossible for one business to flourish by itself. Bringing in new businesses will help them thrive off of each other, and more importantly, bring jobs and economic growth to the town.”

How does it feel for Romane to see all of her hard work pay off with the new space? She says that it still feels “surreal.” 

“It’s the people who I meet everyday that make it all worth it. The social aspect has always been one of my favorite elements of this business. Now, it’s just amplified. It was imperative for me to make sure that the store had a price point for everyone, whether it be an elegant centerpiece for a dinner party or a small bouquet for a loved one. Everyone deserves flowers.”

Le Jardin is open at 330o Route 343, Amenia, NY, on Thursdays and Fridays from 10am-6pm and on Saturdays from 10am-4pm. Pop-ups, workshops, and other events will be announced via their newsletter, which you can sign up for on their website here, as well as on their Instagram @lejardinflowerfarm.

All photos in slider below by Take Out Creative