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Heather Gooch, of Hayden, has been making flower arrangements since she was 11 years old.

However, she’s been around the flower business her whole life. She works at Gardendale-Clayton Florist and Gifts in Mt. Olive, which is owned by her mother, Tina Van Kleeck.

“I’m everything. I’m the manager, I do the paperwork, I do the designing… everything,” she said. She said her favorite part of the job is designing flower arrangements.

She started working for her mother at 5 years old by plucking the excess petals off of roses.

Gooch was actively artistic in school; she liked to sketch, draw and paint.

“Ever since I’ve gotten married, had a kid and my mom and I got this business, I haven’t really had time to draw and paint and stuff. So, it’s kind of like my artwork,” she said. “It’s satisfying to do it. It’s fulfilling.”

Like any artist, Gooch said her work reflects her mood.

“I don’t really have any special techniques. I just do what I feel like, or what comes to me. Every day is different,” she said.

Gooch said she is proud of her ability to make unusual floral pieces. She has made a fish, a guitar and many other unorthodox arrangements, all from flowers. She said the shop even took an order from the white house once.

“Sometimes we get birthday orders where we take dead flowers and use glue to make fake spider-webs,” she said. “We’re extremely open-minded and flexible as far as special orders.”

She said her job can have some long hours. She used to work six days a week, and has to stay until the work gets done.

“On Valentine’s Day I might stay until 10 or 11 o’ clock,” said Gooch.

She said she grew up saying she would never work in the flower business, but ended up enjoying working in the family business.

“I probably won’t ever leave. I like to say I will, but I won’t,” she said. “I get to bring my kids to work, which is great. Daycare’s expensive.”