FOLLOW ME on Instagram and Facebook @THEFLOWERLADYOTR
Community engagement
Seeking gardeners, garden volunteers, and anyone interested in learning how to garden! Looking for a great way to give back to your community, eat fresh, and learn how to grow and care for a garden? Volunteer in Over-the-Rhine People's Garden or in one of my cut flower gardens. Every bit of help is appreciated, whether it’s once or twice a week or everyday! Volunteer and gardener’s hours can be shaped around your schedule.
To arrange an upcoming volunteer date, schedule a garden tour, or set up a gardening class in one of my gardens please inquire via email. Peace!
Email: theflowerladyotr@gmail.com
OTR Garden Club
Free workshops in Over-the-Rhine People’s Garden with youth who attend camp at Wesley Chapel Mission Center. The children learn how to plant and care for food, taste the food we grow and earn money from a flower market garden. They also learn how to make and sell boutonnieres, flower crowns and hand-tied bouquets.
September
2022 Workshops
Garden Tour &
U-Pick
September 17, 2022 from 9:00AM-11:00AM
Saturday, September 17, 2022
Hi! My name is Christina, AKA The Flower Lady OTR, and I am super excited to invite you to visit my garden located in the historic East End on Saturday, September 17, 2022 ! Meet me at the garden at promptly 9:00AM. First, I will take you on a guided tour of the garden to learn about the plants we will be harvesting. As an added bonus we will also be able to enjoy views of all the beautiful pollinators, like butterflies, who call my garden home. After the tour is complete, you will have the opportunity to wander around and harvest a bouquet which I will teach you how to arrange and to take home. As well as create a smaller one to give away!
I will be there to answer any questions about flower gardening, floral arranging, and anything else you'd like to know. Our visit will last from 9:00AM-11:00AM.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOUR VISIT
One pair of garden pruners will be provided for you to cut flowers.
Bring a container to transport your completed bouquet. Water will provded.
Sometimes Mother Nature can make the garden a little soggy, bumpy, and slippery so be sure you wear appropriate footwear. Closed toed boots/shoes are recommenced, and wearing pants and long sleeves. The flowering plants provide shelter for many different types of insects and wearing pants and sleeves is a great way to keep them on the plants and off of you.
Packing sunglasses, water bottles, hats, and sunscreen, bug spray can make our time together a lot more enjoyable. Also, there are no restrooms at the garden. The closest one would be inside a nearby restaurant or gas station should you have an emergency.
I welcome you to take photos of the flowers and would love for you to share your experience at the garden with your family & friends. Please give me a follow and tag me on Instagram and Facebook @theflowerladyotr
I do not allow animals in the garden. Please email theflowerladyotr@gmail.com in advance if you have a registered service dog.
Bonus Kindness Flowers: Let's spread a little kindess with my flowers! In addition to your bouquet you will also have the opportunity to harvest a small bouquet with the sole intention of giving it away as a random act of kindness.
Young children: Bring them! My garden is family friendly and I love to see families enjoying the garden together. However, please do not let your small children have the harvesting shears, keep them with you at all times.
Rain Plan: Right now the weather is looking perfect, but we live in Ohio, so we know things can change in an instant. If it rains we will plan to meet the following day, Sunday ( 9/18/22), at the same time, or you can attend the following Saturday (9/24/22) when I host the u-pick again.
* If you have any additional questions please feel free to email me at: theflowerladyotr@gmail.com
DIRECTIONS TO THE GARDEN
My garden is located in the historic East End at 249 Worth St. Cincinnati, OH 45226
Worth Street is a one-way street, right off the Ohio River Scenic Byway/Riverside Dr. near Elli's BBQ. Parking is anywhere along Worth Street and also nearby along Turkey Ridge Park (Humbert Ave).
Purchase your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/flower-farm-tour-u-pick-tickets-417244508557?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Brewpourium Cincinnati, Flower Pint Glass Arrange & Sip 6PM
I’m working with my friends at Brewpourium again to host another one of our popular flower classes! Learn how to create a trendy arrangement using my locally grown flowers one of our Taft’s pint glasses and take yours home!
In addition to the class, your ticket gets you a free welcome beer. Yum!
Grab a friend and join us at the Brewpourium! Class begins promptly at 6PM.
Purchase your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/flower-pint-glass-arrange-sip-tickets-392501932847
RECOGNITION
December 2021—VoyageOhio
Inspiring Stories series, Exploring Life & Business with The Flower Lady. https://voyageohio.com/interview/exploring-life-business-with-christina-matthews-of-the-flower-lady/
May 2021—Martha Stewart feature
Coneflower, a Heat- and Drought-Resistant Perennial, Will Add Tons of Interest to Your Garden. https://www.marthastewart.com/8109396/how-to-grow-coneflowers
April 2021—Better Homes & Gardens Feature
9 of the Most Gorgeous Zinnias You Absolutely Should Grow This Summer. https://www.bhg.com/gardening/flowers/annuals/best-zinnias/
April 2021— Good News Network feature
Female Entrepreneurs Tend Community Gardens While Growing Their Small Businesses, Too. https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/female-gardening-entrepreneurs-tend-community-gardens/
March 2021— Made for more small business fund
Newell Brands, the maker of Ball® home canning products, announced today the winners of the inaugural "Made For More" Small Business Fund. Twenty finalists were selected and America voted for the final ten winners.
://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/maker-of-ball-home-canning-products-awards-110-000-to-the-made-for-more-small-business-fund-winners-301253515.html
2020— Cincinnati Magazine feature
OTR’s The Flower Lady is committed to the local environment. otrs-the-flower-lady-is-committed-to-the-local-environment
2020— Oprah’s Book Club
The Over-the-Rhine People’s Garden received an unexpected and exciting social media mention from…. Oprah’s Book Club! She highlighted the work of four great community gardens across the country. Here are the additional three she mentioned: Oko Farms in Brushwick, NY @okofarms, Brooklyn Grange Brooklyn Navy Yard in Brooklyn, NY @brooklyngrange, Fairview Community Garden in Denver, CO @DenverUrbanGardens.
2019--
Floret Flowers Workshop participant
Build a thriving flower business on two acres or less. https://www.floretflowers.com/
2018--Business Blocks
Celebrating Small Business Week! https://news.businessblocks.com/general-marketing/celebrating-success-christina-matthews-the-flower-lady/
2014--Present
Grow Appalachia
Christina Matthews, then admission’s leader for Paul Mitchell the School Cincinnati, along with a neighborhood school teacher- OTR resident, teacher and horticulturist, Allison Burns, successfully procured a $12,500 grant from Grow Appalachia to help rejuvenate the urban community garden.
2018--Building community through gardening
Book written by The Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati.
2017--32nd Annual Community Gardens Tour
The OTR People's Garden was one of three gardens featured on the Civic Garden Center's 32nd annual community gardens tour.
2017--Taft's Telegraph
Flowers on Tap at Taft's ! Be sure to check out the hostess stand next time you stop into Taft's Ale House in OTR. The Flower Lady creates weekly flower arrangements for this popular brewery.
2015--Lead Cincinnati MAGAZINE Article
2015--Urban bounty award
The OTR People's Garden received the urban bounty award from The Civic Garden Center of Greater Cincinnati for its focus on the health of the individual, the community and the environment.