Looking for that last-minute gift for a loved one or yourself this lovely Valentine's Day holiday?
Well, you'll find flowers, letters of affirmation, a sense of community, good vibes and love -- lots of love, and especially Black love -- at Black + Blossomed, a Black- and women-owned floral shop.
Located inside Green Spaces in Five Points, Black + Blossomed provides patrons with custom floral arrangements, as well as a variety of trinkets, jewelry and cards made by local artists and at other women- or Black-owned shops.
"Everything that we do is custom ... everything is intentional for us," said owner Breigh Jones-Coplin. "If you come in and you're just like, someone died, that's a very different experience than like, I'm celebrating something. We take all of that into account ... We're picking up on what the energy needs to be when this person receives an arrangement."
Growing into her own -- and into a business
Intentionality is at the forefront of Black + Blossomed, mainly because that's what Jones-Coplin was searching for internally, and almost unknowingly, when she started the business in 2020.
Jones-Coplin moved to Denver from Memphis to get her master's degree in sports performance psychology. In 2020, she was in the process of getting her doctorate while navigating the emotional toil the pandemic took on many people. The isolation, the racial tensions, the need for community -- all of it was heavy.
Jones-Coplin said she felt like she was constantly in "survival mode." So, she began looking for a self-care escape.
That came in the form of visiting farmer's markets, buying tons of flowers and creating different floral arrangements at home. Jones-Coplin's husband took note of her blooming passion and bought her a seat at a floral certification class where she learned more about floral arrangements and how to run a floral business.
And, as Jones-Coplin says, the rest is history. Not to mention symbolic. Jones-Coplin said when you think of flowers, greenery and nature, it's all about growth and thriving. It took that "leap of faith," or that intentional self-awareness, to pivot into becoming a floral business owner for her to find her way back to bountifulness.
"When I started Black + Blossomed, I was going through a depressive episode, just grinding, trying to get this doctorate, trying to make as much money as I can make. I was forgetting about the things that actually make me feel alive," Jones-Coplin said. "I think Black + Blossomed has allowed me to flourish and thrive as a person, as a business owner. I think I've been able to give that kind of permission to other people. When they come into the space, when they buy flowers for themselves, it's like you deserve this luxury or you deserve this self care."
Jones-Coplin said opening the floral shop has reminded her that she is deserving of all the little joys in life, whether she's "earned" it or not. It's a feeling she's hoping to pass on to others.
She also hopes people feel a sense of community in the shop.
When Jones-Coplin moved, she said she experienced a culture shock. The predominantly Black city in Tennessee is obviously not like the predominantly white space of Denver.
She recalls going a week before seeing another Black person, who she met at a Natural Grocers. Jones-Coplin recalls the older man giving her a random hug and saying, "What's up, sis?"
It was a small interaction, but so meaningful. She felt seen in a place where many Black and brown folks don't see themselves.
So besides selling flowers, Jones-Coplin said she wants to provide community space for everyone, but especially for the Black community.
"I think when people walk in and they see that mural of that Black girl with an afro with flowers in her hair, that's an instant kind of okay, this is a space that was created for me," Jones-Coplin said. "Then there's so many affirmations in the store, where it's like, you are beautiful, you're magical, you are a f***ing gem! All of those things, I think, just help people feel that this is a space that I don't have to do too much. I can just exist here and receive the love that hopefully we've been curating for all people."
But again, the space is for all people, Jones-Coplin said. So are the workshops she hosts that focus on tying florals and healing together. Jones-Coplin is currently creating a class called Soil to Self, where participants, "use flowers as a healing vessel for meditative practice."
"I promise you, everybody that walks into that shop, it's a healing space for them. We always have deep conversations. Even if it's not being probed, people just feel safe there," Jones-Coplin said.
It's definitely the vibes. The neutral color palette on the walls surrounding the large mural of Black faces. And in the forefront are the flowers of various colors and smells. The space is zen, and you'll need a bit of zen shopping for gifts.
So, back to Valentine's Day.
Jones-Coplin said preorders are done, but folks can stop by the shop for some pre-made arrangements. There are also Valentine's Day cards from local artist S. Monet, who painted the mural in the shop, and jewelry from Earth Fragments, another local creator.
Jones-Coplin said love has been in the air in the shop, especially Black love, self-love and male-love, because men deserve flowers too.
"I just know there's going to be so many smiling faces, so much healing happening over these next couple days because when you truly feel seen by somebody, it just allows you to feel so much more open in life in general," Jones-Coplin said.
Jones-Coplin said the preorders went smoothly, and a similar process will be done for Mother's Day. So, don't wait until the last minute! For Mother's Day, Jones-Coplin said she'll also be hosting her annual Flowers for Mama, a flower workshop where folks can bring their moms, or anyone, and learn about floral arrangements. She'll also be hosting a similar event for the spring equinox, to celebrate spring and, "highlighting that we finally made it through the seasonal depression."
And if you're looking to foster more self-love or share that love with others, Black + Blossomed also has a subscription service where you can get flowers delivered on a monthly basis.
Jones-Coplin said the future of Black + Blossomed includes more arrangements, more community classes and, most importantly, the centering of people. The florals are important but it's what they bring to us and what we find in them that matters.
So, Jones-Coplin says buy the flowers for mom or your partner or yourself. Everyone can be deserving. Visit the shop and let whatever the vibes are for that day flow through you. Jones-Coplins said you deserve that too.
"We put ourselves on hold so much. It's like you have to earn taking care of yourself. You have to earn treating yourself," Jones-Coplin said. "Black + Blossomed is meant to be a community where we can help you see yourself thriving and flourishing in whatever ways that look like. Flowers are just one part of it but I think it's this bigger analogy for all the other ways that you can start putting yourself first and start seeing yourself in this different light. I deserve care. I deserve luxury. I deserve nice things in life. I don't have to put those things on hold until I have it all together."
Black + Blossomed is located at 2590 Walnut St. The shop is open from 12-5 p.m. on Sundays and Tuesdays-Thursdys, 12-6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Closed on Mondays.
