Abloom, Ltd.

Lori Himes is a flower enthusiast. She believes she was destined to be a florist from birth. When she was three years old, her first creations were jelly jars filled with wildflowers for her grandmother's windowsill. She grew up on a dairy farm (yes, she milked cows), and the farm served as her initial source of education and inspiration for her artistic endeavors. She enjoyed playing with flowers, sticks, and weeds in the same way that other girls enjoyed playing with Barbie dolls. Her high school Horticulture coursework and involvement in the FFA prepared her for a professional florist career that has lasted more than 35 years. Lori and her husband, Todd, have been the sole proprietors of Abloom, Ltd. since 1992. Lori received her certification and induction into the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) in 2009, which opened opportunities for her that she had only dreamed about previously. As a result of her work, Lori has presented or assisted with stage presentations at Chapter and National AIFD Symposiums, the Tennessee State Flower Association, the Philadelphia Flower Show, and the New Orleans Mardi Gras balls, as well as teaching workshops for children, adults, and other florists. In the prestigious Sylvia Cup competition held by the Society of American Florists in 2015, she finished in eighth place overall. She just received certification as a judge/evaluator from the American Institute of Floral Designers, and she is now able to provide these services at local and industry contests. She also serves as the current Superintendent for the Maryland State FFA Floriculture Contest, which she founded in 2003. She believes that she must continue to learn and compete in floral presentations in order to keep her creative nature stimulated and challenged.