Floral studio May & Bloom recently opened on the Kosciusko square. May & Bloom is owned by Jodi May who has 28 years of experience working in the floral industry. She provides floral services for weddings, events, funerals, churches, and businesses. She also offers weekly and monthly flower subscriptions, which are a great option for gifts or for businesses that like to display flowers. You can also shop from a curated collection of vases and containers, luxury ribbon, and a variety of candle types in addition to other home items. You can be assured that you are purchasing high-quality products because May thoroughly researches all items carried in the store. Shoppers can also build their own bouquet with their choice of flowers chosen at the flower bar, which has three pricing tiers. May intends to host floral arrangement workshops in the future and can also host Mahjong, bunco, or other groups in the studio space. “I went back and forth about what I want to do that is similar to a traditional florist and what I want to do that’s different,” said May. “And one thing I want to do that’s different is that I want this to feel like a space where people can come and be creative. Whether you come in and make a trip to the flower bar and put together your own hand-tied bouquet to take home, or bring your daughter and work together to make something beautiful. Or if you’re entertaining and have friends coming over, you can come here to get beautiful candles for tablescapes. So that’s one thing I wanted to do that’s a little bit different.” For those reasons, May is calling it a floral studio and not a florist. “It’s a creative space, and we want to welcome people here,” said May. “Our tagline, which just lines up with everything we are about, is ‘connecting people, one stem at a time.’ That’s what we’re about, building relationships and helping people deepen their community with each other.”

When May was presented with the opportunity to open a floral studio on the square, she was initially hesitant. “I brushed it off and laughed about it. And then it just kept coming up in my mind. I thought, what would that be like, to have my own space, and use it to minister? I’m a Christian, so I’m all about encouraging people, and helping people see the good in life. I feel like this is a ministry opportunity. Whether it’s a birthday celebration, a wedding, or a funeral, all of those are opportunities to encourage people and spread joy. The flowers are a means to that end in my mind,” said May. One of the factors that made her hesitate to consider opening the floral studio was being a stay-at-home homeschool mom of her three children ages 17, 15, and 10. “Then I started to think, what better life lesson for my kids than for them to be here and see me day-to-day, helping customers, and working? They’re learning work ethic and customer service skills. Of course they’ll do their day-to-day school work, but for them to onlook something like this is such a life lesson, that they can carry on into adulthood.” May says her 10-year-old daughter, Cassie, who she calls her sidekick, will frequently be assisting at the studio.

May & Bloom is located at 115 West Jefferson Street in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Their hours of operation are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays. They are closed on Mondays and Sundays.