FARMINGTON—Though Betsy Mason Borden has always loved flowers, it wasn’t until her son needed help before going to a high school prom that she considered turning a passion into a business. That was in 2014, and since then, Borden’s Farmington home boutique studio has risen to national and international acclaim.

In February, Dancing Daisies Floral finished in the top 5 in the “Floral Educator of the Year” category for the Intrigue Floral Awards. It was part of a competition that drew more than 80,000 nominations from throughout the world.

“The winner was a flower school in Ireland,” she said, “so obviously it was flattering to be considered in that category and to receive a Top 5 designation.”

Betsy was a school teacher for more than 20 years, working with first, second and third graders. She knew how to make a corsage for her son’s prom date, having honed her skill through “workshops, classes, and a lot of YouTube videos. Then a friend asked me to help her with flowers for a wedding, so I did, and I’ve been involved ever since.”

She never dreamed of doing flowers, but said “it felt like a calling. I knew I needed to pursue this, so I started my business six years ago, teaching and doing workshops in my studio as well as in other parts of the country. I began doing it full time two years ago.”

One of the magical parts of the floral business is that everyone loves flowers.

“No one is ever disappointed when they get flowers,” she said. “Even if it’s a sad occasion such as a funeral, flowers are impactful. They are very emotional and meaningful for the family. They represent love for the family.”

Like any business, the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on the floral industry. Betsy said the hardest hit element was school dances – since all were cancelled for most of 2020. Weddings weren’t cancelled, but many were scaled back. On the flip side, however, she said people were sending flowers because they couldn’t visit loved ones in person.

“Supplies were affected by travel restrictions, and also weather,” she said. “A year ago, some wholesalers were forced to just destroy their inventory because you couldn’t ship them anywhere. Things are starting to loosen up a bit, fortunately.”

A visit to Betsy’s website (dancingdaisiesfloral.com) showcases the creativity she brings to her florals.

“People come to me because of the designs and looks,” she said. “I specialize in wearable floral designs – necklaces, belts, earrings, things you wear in your hair. I’ve seen what others can do and what I like. I was just attracted to the wearables, and I like the fine details and freedom I have to create them. When a customer gives me an idea of what they’re after, I create a digital vision board and we start from there.”

Her boutique studio is part of her home at 1185 West Jackson Ave. in Farmington, and she meets with customers by appointment only. 

“Some people are surprised that I do flowers out of my home, but it’s great. I don’t have to pay for retail space, and I have the freedom to work on my creations anytime I want.”

Betsy is also active on Instagram – @dancingdaisiesfloral. You can also reach her at 801-915-9048.