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Romane Recalde speaking about her new business at Gather.
“We had all this land for the first time,” said Recalde, who started with a vegetable garden. “I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but I did some research and found information about planting flowers to bring in pollinators. When I saw flowers bloom in my garden I was like, ‘Oh my God! This is what a flower is supposed to look like,’ laughed Recalde. “I became obsessed, and I knew the next year I wanted a flower farm.” In the spring, she began planting. “I signed up for the farmer’s market in Millerton and I didn’t even know if I would have flowers to sell. But I did! I figured it out.”
Romane Recalde and Jason Klein at GatherNatalia Zukerman
Recalde’s trajectory from hobbyist to business owner has come with its fair share of challenges, not least of which is the perishable nature of flowers. “Winter is definitely harder,” said Recalde, explaining how she imports flowers during the colder months while also nurturing seeds in a neighbor’s greenhouse. Despite these hurdles, the most rewarding part for her has been seeing the impact her flowers have on people. “It’s amazing to hear people say, ‘You don’t know how much this meant to me,’” she said, reflecting on the joy of seeing her arrangements in clients’ homes and weddings.
Klein, a board member of the Wassaic Project, co-founder of software development company ListenFirst, and a self-professed connector of creative minds, underscored the value of these conversations. “People here are doing such interesting things,” he said. “It’s a little funky because it’s in the middle of the day, so it definitely appeals to folks with weird schedules — usually people who are business owners or self-employed.” He’s hosted about five of these Gather sessions which have grown in attendance; this month’s event was sold out. “It’s a nice way to put a spotlight on something that’s exciting that might be hidden away,” he said, noting how the Gather series has allowed him to bring together a range of people — from business owners like Will Schenk, owner of the Cornwall Market who’s starting a chocolate business, to local political figures like Justin Potter.
Questions from attendees included how to juggle time and schedules as a business owner and how to deal with the seemingly shifting world of marketing and self-promotion. “Word of mouth has been amazing,” Recalde said as she shared that it’s been the community’s enthusiasm that has helped her new business take off. “Honestly, everybody has been so supportive and helpful,” she added, citing both Instagram and local chatter as key drivers in her success.
During the event, Eliot Wadsworth from White Flower Farm spoke briefly about continuing his family’s legacy, a perfect complement to the conversation about sustainability and the challenges of building a business in a small town.
Lauren Kemner, Troutbeck’s culture and commerce manager, said, “We love inviting people to Troutbeck, letting folks know that we’re open to the public. This program is such a great way to build community.”
The collected works include the photographs of Arhtur Hillman, Bruce Panock and Mad Rose’s gallery director Michael Lavin Flower; drawings and mixed media works of Karen Dolmanisth and Emily Rutgers Fuller; and Kim Saul’s kitchen cabinet shadow-box scultpures.
Brenda Butler, right, and Ilene Spiewak admired Karen Dolmanisth's pieces at Mad Rose Gallery for the opening reception of "Assembled" on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the gallery on Main Street in downtown Millerton.Nathan Miller
The works share a common transience despite their many differences. Arthur Hillman’s large-scale photographic prints feature otherwise still flower beds streaked by camera movement. Kim Saul’s colorful kitchen cabinets evoke mystical alchemy, the art of change whose practitioners sought to transform lead into gold. Michael Flowers’s collaged panoramas present fragmented, overlapping landscapes featuring conflicting winds and double images.
All the works featured in the exhibition are for sale. Mad Rose Gallery is open for visitors Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m.
