Lake Norman Publications

Passion ‘blooms’ into profession enhancing area lawns, gardens



Linda and Andy Fitzpatrick refer to their own yard as a living lab for testing varieties of flowers and shrubs. /Lindsay Krone

Whether you recently moved to the Lake Norman area or grew up in the Carolinas, trying to choose the right landscaping for your yard can feel a bit like solving a Rubik’s Cube. Maybe you’ve spent years trying to get the equation right, but you can’t seem to get the right plant in the right place. Or perhaps you have a blank canvas around your newly built home, and you have no idea how to bring your vision for your yard to life. If you’re feeling clueless about your next step, it might be time to reach out to the professionals at Bloomers Inspired Plantscapes.

Bloomers, based in Lincoln County but with a “we come to you” business model, is somewhat of a rarity – not only is it a locally-owned and operated plantscape design and installation service, it’s also a woman-owned landscaping business. Industry experts at LawnStarter say that women make up less than 20 percent of the male-dominated business.

Bloomers founder Linda Fitzpatrick said she never planned on a career in landscaping, but turning her beloved hobby into a business came naturally. Fitzpatrick spent much of her life in corporate America, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit she realized it wasn’t where she wanted to spend the rest of her days

With the support of her husband, Andy, who retired after decades of entrepreneurship following a start in corporate marketing, she took the opportunity to pivot into a more fulfilling business.

Linda, always an avid gardener, started working as a design consultant for Pike Nurseries. Then in January, she created Bloomers to beautify residences throughout the greater Lake Norman area.

Linda said her background in human resources has aided her in helping customers vocalize their visions for yards and gardens. She is then able to employ her years of experience gardening locally and her profound knowledge of plants to create a customized design for each home.

Andy praised his wife as the creative visionary and described his partnership role as the behind-the-scenes “jack of all trades” to make sure operations run smoothly.

I’m happy to just, you know, kind of do what I know how to do and try to stay out of the way while she’s talking to customers about plants,” he joked.

Linda, in turn, praised Andy’s ability to show customers other angles that could affect the overall project.

“You have really great ideas,” she said. “Asking clients, ‘hey, have you thought about this?’ and really working with the customer to make sure they have really considered the big picture. I think that ultimately ends in a more successful project. It’s easy to just put plants in the ground, but you have to think about where the sun is, where the shade is and how that changes seasonally.”

The Fitzpatricks said Bloomers has given them lots of interesting, fun challenges.

“(Customers with small yards) have really precious space. Every bed that they have they want to look beautiful, and you have to make a pretty big impact with just a few plants,” Linda said. “So it’s actually really fun gardening because you get to be really creative.”

Builders and buyers of new construction have also called on Bloomers for expert advice.

“That’s been really interesting too, brand new lots and brand new homes – just a total blank slate,” she said. “Then you build it from the very beginning.”

Bloomers also services homes with established lawns and gardens that need a refresh.

“We go to properties with these beautiful beds and azaleas that have been there for 40 years and have been taken care of really nicely, but at some point a plant comes to the end of that purpose, and we have discussions about what to replace it with,” Linda said.

The Fitzpatricks said they aren’t just making the customers happy, they are enjoying their own lives more as well.

“We learn every day, we laugh a lot and we know when to say ‘we’re not the right ones for that job,’” Linda said.

The Fitzpatricks said they have built some wonderful partnerships with local businesses to handle landscaping projects that are not their specialty, including grading and hardscapes.

“At the end of the day, the goal is to create more beauty around us, and whoever can do that best is the person who should do it,” Linda said.

The Fitzpatricks couldn’t do their job without the assistance of Ruby, Linda’s late-90s model Chevrolet S10 pickup. /Lindsay Krone

Best advice

Feeling inspired to spruce up your landscaping? Linda shared some of her best tips for getting your lawn and garden in top shape this fall.

Put the right plant in the right place. Linda says most plants are easy to grow if they are planted in the proper area for their sunlight needs and size at full maturity. Timewise, now is when you should plant trees and shrubs so that roots can become established over winter, well before next summer’s heat.

Start with healthy plants. A plant won’t get any healthier once you’ve put it in your yard.

Assess your garden: What’s doing well? What did not fare well in the summer sun? Did you make some bad choices? Do you have bare spots that need to be filled or plants that need to be moved to another location? Are there varieties that your neighbor has that you love and want to build into your garden?

Put down compost and other organic materials. Organic matter will break down over the winter and enrich the soil for spring. But don’t leave too many leaves in your garden beds because mounds of wet leaves can breed disease.

Weed your yard. Weeds not removed will seed and create an exponential number of weeds in the spring.

Plant fresh color for fall. Linda said if you are tired of the standard mums, there are perennial options such as brown-eyed Susans that look great throughout autumn.

Stop deadheading your flowers. The flowers may be dead, but the seeds are really important to birds.

Need more assistance for your yard or garden? Contact Bloomers Inspired Plantscapes at 704-880-8969 or visit bloomerslkn.com.

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