Karen Walker

For over a quarter century, Karen Walker has been a proud and prominent resident of Charlottesville. Her love of culture, nurturing, and nature is shown through her involvement in the local community. Live Arts, New City Arts, The Women's Initiative, The Haven, and Wild Virginia are just a few of the organizations that Karen supports. As a founding member of Wild Virginia, she has helped to take tremendous steps forward in preserving the Jefferson and George Washington forests. An animal lover, Karen has a special place in her heart for wild animals and advocates for increased protection for wildlife in the Blue Ridge.

Karen took ownership of Hedge Fine Blooms in 2007, and has worked with her talented team to make it the area’s premier retail and studio event florist. Hedge is the perfect venue for her innate talent, winning personality, and delight in beautiful blooms. Karen particularly enjoys setting up the fresh flower table at the center of the store, which she considers a gift to the local community.

Karen cares deeply about all of Hedge’s visitors, from her corporate clients and excited couples planning their weddings to visitors taking in the table and picking out a few stems to take back to the office (and canine visitors are always welcome as well, with treats kept behind the counter). Whether they have stopped by to smell the roses or are putting on an elaborate event, Karen wants everyone to have a truly meaningful experience at Hedge. She believes that flowers connect us with the beauty of the natural world and the innate artist in each of us, and that their presence makes every occasion (or non-occasion) at least a little bit better.