Tuckers purchase Ogallala floral business

By Shari Friedel

The Grant Tribune-Sentinel

With Ogallala florist Petal Pushers closing to make room for a neighboring print shop, Rachel Tucker of Venango found this to be the perfect opportunity to get into the floral business in Ogallala.

Rachel is acquainted with former owner Danielle McGuire, who has decided to give up the floral business and assist at the print shop, which is expanding into the former flower shop’s space in Ogallala’s downtown business district.

With the purchase of a former gas station also on Spruce Street, by friends Brandon and Loree Cain, Rachel will rent the building to house Ogallala Flower Shop, which will feature Rachel’s locally grown flowers raised on approximately one acre on the family’s farm in Venango.

With two high tunnel greenhouses and plans for a third, Rachel will increase production enough to provide flowers year round, but plans to supplement her inventory with wholesalers during the winter.

Rachel has always loved plants of all kinds, and started out with vegetables, which she would preserve. A friend suggested she get into the flower business. She has been growing flowers and supplying other local florists and participating in farmer’s markets for about three years.  

Some customer favorites are the rose-like rananculus and lisanthus; sunflowers, which she grows in succession for a steady supply; and peonies, which she has been slowly establishing.

Cut flowers that don’t sell immediately are dried and fashioned into wreaths and decor. 

Ogallala Flower Shop, which will open on Oct. 1, will also feature gifts, including products from local artists and artisans. Venango friends Kevin and Jennifer Postlewait are providing the shop’s new sign, and will also sell decorative signs in the shop. 

Employees at the shop include Julie VanWinkle of Ogallala, and Haven Shada-Wid of Madrid, who formerly worked at Poppe’s Posies in Grant.

Rachel is excited about the new opportunity, and said that she has received a lot of positive feedback and encouragement so far.

The shop can be reached at 308-284-2158, beginning Sept. 15.