When you first step foot onto the Hope Flower Farm property in Waterford, it’s hard not to feel a sense of serenity. A sense of joy. A sense of hope.
The fields at the farm are full of dahlias, zinnias, and cosmos flowers, as well as buildings packed with history. In between, there are spots for you to create your own special moments.
And that is just what owner and floral designer Holly Heider Chapple wished for.
“Here at Hope Flower Farm, we truly just want to use flowers to help nurture, inspire and keep people moving forward,” Chapple says.
“For me, flowers have been the catalyst for everything that has ever happened in my life,” says Chapple, who started her floral design career in the early 1990s. “I recognize and know that they hold a truly special power.”
Chapple grew up on a 100-acre farm in Loudoun County around plants and flowers. Her parents owned Heider’s Nursery, so her love of flowers bloomed early.
Acquiring the Property
Prior to acquiring the 25-acre farm — previously an 1820s Quaker residence and dairy farm — Chapple says she spent years driving past the property and wondering just where the long driveway led.
When she learned the farm was for sale, Chapple and her late husband, Evan, decided to take a chance and purchase the Waterford farm in 2015 — a big change for them and their seven children.
The venture was a dream come true for Chapple, who had spent two decades traveling the world teaching floral design and had always wanted to have a special place where people could come to learn, relax, and connect over their shared love of flowers.
Chapple, 57, is a highly acclaimed wedding and event florist as well as founder of the Chapel Designers floral community, an organization for floral designers in which Chapple leads educational workshops and networking opportunities.
After nearly 30 years in the floral industry, Chapple says she recognized the challenges floral designers are faced with and wanted to foster an environment that would help lead them to success.
Hope Flower Farm is now a place for floral designers to come for educational workshops and classes as well as somewhere for the public to visit, pick their own flowers, and host special events, including weddings. The farm also offers floral design classes for those looking to learn, as well as yoga classes.
Chapple credits her husband with helping to bring her vision to life by building the processing room, where flowers are stored, arrangements are made, and workshops are held. Evan, who was instrumental in getting the business started, was diagnosed with cancer in 2021 and lost his battle in 2022, one day after the ribbon cutting for the farm’s winery.
Healing Power of Flowers
Chapple says the COVID-19 pandemic as well as dealing with her own grief further emphasized for her the healing power that flowers have.
“It is so important for your mental and physical health to be outside,” she says. “The more we touch and experience the beautiful elements of nature, the better off we are.”
And having them indoors can make all the difference in the world, too.
Whether you’re going through something difficult or even just getting through the darker winter months, having flowers in the house can be significant, she says.
“I realized through my own journey that it wasn’t just because I love floral design,” Chapple says. “Flowers really do have a special healing power beyond that.”
Throughout her husband’s illness, Chapple says she would always make sure the dining room table had a floral arrangement.
“I found that it would often catch my breath when I would walk into the room and there really is a void when they’re not there,” she explains.
And that is just one of the reasons why ensuring the farm is approachable and easy for people to bring flowers into their homes is very important to both Chapple and her team.
“Flowers create community. They are at every important moment in our lives. Even in our passing,” Chapple says. “And they have allowed me to meet and acquire the most special people I’ve ever known. The right people are just drawn to this.”
Creating a Healing Garden
New to the farm this year is Sunflower Alley, a flower patch featuring thousands of sunflowers that was specially planted to provide an energizing and mood-lifting space for those who are grieving, recovering or in the process of healing.
The garden was inspired by and created in memory of Ryan Hurley, the late niece of Hope Flower Farms’ Chief Operating Officer Megan Hurley. Ryan died in February at age 14 after a five-year battle with cancer.
“Ryan was just always so positive and incredibly brave. Even in the end, she never lost her smile,” says Hurley. “She loved sunflowers, and they were a huge part of her energy. When you think of Ryan, you think of sunflowers.”
Hurley says they also chose sunflowers due to the fact that they are a bit of a standout flower.
“They are a medium that allows people to get through the tough times and back to the sunshine,” Hurley says. “Sunflowers follow the sun, and we should emulate that. Follow the positivity, because it’s there.”
While Sunflower Alley is now open to the public during operating hours, Hope Flower Farm will hold a private Healing with Hope ceremony September 9 for anyone who is experiencing grief or going through the healing process.
The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and will feature a music therapist to help set a soothing tone before the patch opens to the public at 11 a.m.
There is no need to register for the ceremony. The goal is simply to create a healing, supportive environment for families to take time to just be, enjoy, think, or reflect.
More Than a Flower Field
While Hope Flower Farm has flowers, it is also a farm that is home to a pot-bellied pig, chickens, donkeys, and of course, resident farm cat, Jack. The location also has a bed-and-breakfast cottage where you can stay overnight, a gift shop, and a winery.
The wine lineup rotates on a seasonal basis. You’ll find wines from around the world, as well as those made in Loudoun County. Be sure to check out its Jack Cat Hard Cider. It’s made with locally grown apples.
Feature image courtesy Hope Flower Farm
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