Thoughtful floral design built one stem at a time
Just weeks before Valentine’s Day, Nick Meno became the owner of a flower shop with no floral experience.
It was not a gradual transition or a long-term plan. It was a decision made quickly, followed by long nights spent learning how to design arrangements before the busiest season of the year arrived.
Three years later, Petals & Vine feels thoughtful and established. Its beginning, however, was anything but simple.
While working overseas, Nick found himself thinking often about Caddo Mills. During the quieter moments at the end of long days, his mind drifted home. He thought about the local business owners who showed up for schools, events, and neighbors, and how deeply that presence mattered. Long before flowers entered the picture, he knew he wanted to own a local business and give back in a tangible way.
When Nick returned home, he took a job in insurance. Through that work, he built a relationship with the owner of Petals & Vine. Over time, conversations shifted from business to possibility. Eventually, the owner shared they were ready to sell.
Nick had no floral background. He had never designed an arrangement. What he did have was confidence in his ability to learn and the willingness to step into something unfamiliar.
He bought the business just before Valentine’s Day.
“I had zero floral experience,” Nick told me. “So I learned everything extremely quickly.”
The learning curve was steep. Nights were spent watching tutorials, practicing arrangements, and starting over again and again. Many mornings came after only a few hours of sleep. It was trial and error in the truest sense.
Somewhere in the middle of that repetition, something unexpected happened. Nick realized he loved the work.
More Than Flowers in a Vase
Today, what sets Petals & Vine apart is the thought behind every arrangement.
“I do not just put flowers in a vase and call it done,” Nick said. “There is intention behind every piece.”
Color balance, emotion, and meaning all matter. Whether the flowers are for a birthday, a wedding, or a sympathy order, the process always begins with the moment they are meant to mark.
For birthdays, Nick gravitates toward bright, celebratory designs. For sympathy arrangements, he often still chooses color. He believes color can bring comfort, spark memory, and offer a moment of joy during a difficult time.
“No matter the situation,” he said, “I want whoever receives the flowers to enjoy them.”
That philosophy shapes the way he works with customers. He asks questions. He listens carefully. He wants to understand who the flowers are for, not just what they are for.
Choosing the Risk
Owning a business meant giving up stability. Nick describes it as stepping away from a safety net.
When you work a traditional job, you leave work at work. When you own a business, it stays with you. Upcoming weddings, community events, and large orders occupy your thoughts weeks in advance. The work does not turn off.
Still, the trade felt worth it.
Petals & Vine recently marked three years under Nick’s ownership. Those years brought growth, long days, and lessons learned through experience. Through it all, the reason he started remains clear.
Community.
Nick was raised in a family deeply involved in giving back. His parents modeled service through church and local organizations. That example shaped how he approaches his business today.
In the early years, Nick said yes often. Sometimes too often. Sponsorships, fundraisers, and community events filled his calendar. Learning how to balance generosity with sustainability became part of his growth as an owner.
“It is why I wanted something local,” he said. “That part has never changed.”
Rooted in Place
Being a local business owner also means understanding local taste. Nick has learned that styles popular in larger cities do not always translate the same way in smaller communities.
Seasonal traditions, school pride, and small-town rhythms influence what resonates. Paying attention to those details helps Petals & Vine feel familiar and personal.
Nick hopes the shop continues to grow into a familiar place. A place people associate with their town. A place that feels connected to the community around it.
A New Home, Shared with Purpose
Recently, Petals & Vine moved into a shared space inside the Spirit 66 building, alongside other local businesses. The decision was both practical and intentional.
Nick needed more visibility, more foot traffic, and more workspace. He did not need additional retail shelves or gift items. Florals were always meant to be the focus.
The new location gave him significantly more room behind the scenes, including a larger cooler and workspace designed for large builds and events. Sharing space also brought small adjustments. Music stays at a moderate level. Workflows are more mindful. Business owners look out for one another.
“It is just us coexisting and trying to help each other be successful,” Nick said.
That collaborative mindset mirrors how he approaches floristry itself. He is always learning, asking questions, and refining his craft.
From Caddo Mills to the Rose Parade
That openness recently led Nick far beyond Caddo Mills.
Through another florist, Nick was invited to work with Fiesta Productions on floats for the Rose Parade. The opportunity placed him alongside designers with decades of experience and introduced him to large-scale floral mechanics unlike anything he had done before.
At first, the pressure was real. Working under someone else’s vision carried weight.
“I put a lot of pressure on myself,” he said. “I wanted to make sure I did it right.”
Once the work began, familiarity returned. Long hours. Thousands of flowers. Careful attention to detail. Trust in the process.
What stood out most was the teamwork. People from different places working together toward a shared goal.
Throughout the experience, Nick made a point to represent home.
“Every day, I wore something that said Caddo Mills,” he said.
Bringing It All Back Home
For Nick, the Rose Parade was not about leaving local behind. It was about bringing new knowledge back with him.
Those lessons show up quietly, from improved mechanics to a deeper appreciation for every order that comes through the door. He does not take any of it for granted.
“We work through the slow times,” he said. “When the good times come, you appreciate them more.”
As Valentine’s Day approaches, a season that once marked his steepest learning curve, Nick is still doing what he has always done. He is thinking carefully. He is designing intentionally. He is creating something meaningful for the people on the receiving end.
At Petals & Vine, flowers are not just flowers. They are a way to create connection, show care, and express local love, built thoughtfully one stem at a time.
A Gentle Valentine’s Reminder
February has a way of sneaking up on people. Valentine’s Day especially. Orders tend to come with emotion, intention, and sometimes a little bit of urgency.
If flowers are part of how you plan to mark the day this year, Petals & Vine is a place where thought and care go into every arrangement. Not because it is a holiday, but because that is how the work is done every day.
Sometimes local love looks like remembering a date. Sometimes it looks like supporting the businesses that help you show it well.
Quick Facts:
Petals & Vine Floral Boutique | Caddo Mills | Thoughtfully designed Valentine’s Day flowers at petalsandvine.com/valentine-s-day-flowers.html