By Patrick Hurston
When Michelle Weese opened the doors to The Glass House in November 2023, she wasn’t just starting a flower shop—she was planting the seeds of something deeper: a place rooted in community, creativity, and care.
Tucked along the edge of Moorefield, The Glass House began as an extension of Weese’s life on the farm she shares with her husband, John. What started with a single row of flowers in a high tunnel greenhouse soon grew into wedding arrangements, then weekend floral pop-ups, and eventually into a full-fledged business.
“I did our own wedding flowers,” Weese recalls with a smile. “Grew them, wrapped them, designed them. And when a friend asked me to do hers, I said, ‘Yes!’ From there, it just took off.”
In 2023 alone, she provided flowers for over 20 weddings—all while working full-time in HR. But the pull of something more personal and meaningful became impossible to ignore.
“I smashed the goals I set for myself,” she says. “And I came home and told John, ‘It’s time.’ He said, ‘Do it.’”
With his support and a clear vision in mind, Michelle transitioned from a side business to a storefront. And now, less than two years in, she’s preparing to open a second location in Wardensville this September.
Weese says it was very easy to work with the town of Wardensville.
“I felt so welcome the moment I sat down with Jason Smith, the managing director at Farms Works Wonders, to start our talks, to the moment I was sitting in mayor Betsy Orndorff-Sayers’ office.”
Weese said she visited each business owner whose store was open that day she finalized her own arrangements. She wanted to introduce herself and share her business’s vision. “Everyone was so welcoming. That’s how the whole thing has been for me,” she said.
“We’re so excited to have another new business come to our tiny town, especially one that provides an important service that everyone needs, like a florist. With every improvement we’re making, from utility infrastructure, to upgrades to our park, library and fitness center, Wardensville becomes more attractive as both a destination community and a great place to live and start a business,” said Wardensville’s mayor, Orndorff-Sayers.
But Michelle’s story is not just about entrepreneurship—it’s about thoughtful growth and local connection. She’s keenly aware of how each bouquet is more than just petals and stems. “When you give flowers, you give a feeling,” she says. “Joy, sympathy, celebration—whatever it is, it changes someone’s day.”
That philosophy extends to her approach to sustainability and service. Weese sources flowers locally whenever possible—from her own perennials to blooms grown by other area farmers. After weddings and funerals, she helps clients repurpose arrangements for local nursing homes and churches, so that beauty doesn’t end when the event does.
“That’s something new for people,” she says. “But they love it—knowing the flowers will keep bringing joy.”
Her drive to make things personal and practical is evident in the little details: from the signature “bloom balls” of flowers that spill onto the sidewalk, to her flower-and-wine bottle arrangements for real estate closings, anniversaries, or gifts. Now, she’s adding even more creative touches. The new Wardensville location will feature a vintage clothing boutique and regular floral workshops, from bouquet arranging to dried flower art.
“We’re not just selling flowers—we’re creating an experience,” Weese says.
The Wardensville expansion is not a leap of faith, but a response to demand. The community has been without a florist for years, and Michelle has already been delivering to the area from Moorefield. She’s observed the tourism flow, the market traffic, and the desire for something fresh and beautiful—and she’s ready.
The new location will open September 1 with a flower market coinciding with the Wardensville Garden Market’s Second Saturday event. “We’re going to put blooms right out on the street,” she says. “Even if everything inside isn’t perfect yet, people will know we’re here, and that we’re ready to grow with them.”
Though she jokes about raising “two toddlers” now—referring to her dual storefronts—Weese is serious about nurturing young people too. She’s partnering with local high schools and programs like Farms Work Wonders to give students hands-on experience in floristry, hospitality, and small business. Her hope is to inspire a future generation to consider staying and creating in the region, rather than feeling they must leave to succeed.
“I want them to see there are options here,” she says. “Not just in traditional industries.
If you’re creative, you can make a life here too.”
From the shelves of vintage milk glass to the petals of a homegrown sunflower, The Glass House is more than a shop—it’s a living love letter to small-town West Virginia.
Michelle Weese has built something beautiful, one bouquet at a time, and she’s just getting started.
For more information on The Glass House, or to see their hours, visit www.theglasshousewv.com
