Norfolk County

Milton mom gives away as many flower bouquets as she sells

MILTON, Mass. — The flowers are blooming and business is booming for Jenn DeBarge Goonan as she prepares Valentine’s Day arrangements in her kitchen. “I like flowers you typically don’t find in say grocery stores I like unique flowers and then creating arrangements that are just a little bit different,” she said.

The Milton mom of three, who works full time, launched a part-time floral business out of her home last year. It’s called Cheers to Flowers. Jenn says its helped her get through these challenging times. “I started really gardening and doing flower farming because of the pandemic. I really needed a way to kind of channel all of the anxiety into a creative outlet,” Jenn said.

That creative outlet has transformed her family’s backyard. Right now it’s covered in snow, so she uses blooms from flower markets in Boston and Chelsea, but in the summer there will be gorgeous beds of flowers. In the fall, Jenn planted more than one thousand tulips. When they bloom many of them will be handed out for free. “Everyone has their way of giving in the world and my way just happened to be growing and then giving flowers to those that I love and to also to those who may need a bright spot in their day,” she said.

Jenn is shining a light in a lot of people’s lives. For every bouquet she sells, she donates one to a local hospice or senior center, including the Winter Valley Residences in Milton. “Last year I gave away about 200 free bouquets and I’m hoping I will make 400 arrangements this year, which will trigger 400 free donations flowers to those in need,” she said.

Jenn has already delivered some flowers to the seniors and plans to drop off more next week. Her next big event will be mother’s day.

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