Growing Nicely
Buck Creek in Bloom Is in the Full Flower of Success
Writer & Photographer / Kylee White
Located in Yorktown, Buck Creek in Bloom is owned by Julie Vance, who has been running the business since 2007.
Buck Creek in Bloom is a full-service florist, Vance says. We offer all kinds of floral designs including funeral flowers, wedding flowers and everyday flowers. You can even come in and pick stems. It doesnt have to be a bouquet. We do some gift items, mostly geared for sympathy work, but we do a lot of high-end, bigger events as well as everyday business.
In 1988 Vance moved to Broad Ripple in Indianapolis, where she went to college for art and worked at a Kroger floral department in Castleton. After about a year, Vance started working at different florists for about 20 years, before opening her own shop in Yorktown. Throughout her years working, Vance has also had the opportunity to showcase her work by creating floral wreaths for Indy 500 race winners.
I first made the wreath in 1992 at a shop called Fairfield Florist, which is near Keystone at the Crossing in Indianapolis, Vance says. It was kind of word of mouth, from a church friend to the owners of the shop. There was a man at the church that was an attorney for BorgWarner. He referred me to him, and so Ive always made it since.
Vances store focuses on a botanical look for their flowers and arrangements. She views her work as pieces of art, rather than simple bouquets.
I think thats what people like, so most things that leave here have some kind of branches or vine or river rock, or something kind of earthy, she says. We even use driftwood for some pieces.
Creating the wreaths for the race has given Vance a unique opportunity to display her work, and allows her to be a part of a standing Indiana tradition.
Theres nothing like the Indianapolis 500 in our state when it comes to excitement, Vance says. Its just the tradition of it. Of course, its brought me a lot of excitement along the way.
Vance has been making the wreaths for the Indy 500 races for the past 31 years. She has been able to work with other companies such as Ferrari and Red Bull, creating wreaths for their events as well.
My favorite aspect is all the different families that Im able to help with my floral designs at important times, such as funerals and weddings, she says.
To learn more about Buck Creek in Bloom, you can visit buckcreekflowers.com, or visit their Facebook and Instagram pages @buckcreekinbloom. You can also visit their store at 8905 West Adaline Street in Yorktown, or call them at 765-759-8777.
