New flower shop in Cleona combines artistry with sustainable practices

“Flowers always make people better, happier, and more helpful; they are sunshine, food, and medicine for the soul.”

Luther Burbank, an American plant breeder, horticulturist, and agricultural innovator

When Dara Machotka-Hafey opened Cleona Flowers LLC in April, she paired her passion for flowers and artistry in arranging them with her business skills.

Machotka-Hafey said the location at 536 E. Penn Ave., Cleona, was selected for its large picture window, which gives the floral shop great visibility. Plus, her home is about two blocks away.

Cleona Flowers offers silk and fresh flowers as well as balloons, stuffed animals, and gifts. Machotka-Hafey said Cleona Flowers specializes in weddings, events, and funerals, and there’s no fee for consultations, for which there are comfortable areas in the shop.

“The shop is run sustainably forward, meaning that we do as much as possible to off-set this high-waste industry. We do things like compost all of our green waste, recycle, make our own flower solution, use biodegradable foams and cellophane, and utilize and reuse sustainable containers. We also use local vendors as much as possible and grow some of our own flowers,” she explained.

She adds that creating unique designs and offering excellent customer service are some of the hallmarks of the business.

“We’re not cookie cutter. I don’t want to ‘stay in a box’; I want to cater to each and every person,” she said, “Our hours are long in order to cater to commuters and people working all shifts. We’re open 7 a.m. to  7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. We have a number of regular customers, which is really great.”

Classes and events

Cleona Flowers also hosts various special events. “The idea of the classes is to make learning fun. We have a relaxed atmosphere where people can connect with one another. People attend classes and events either as individuals or as a group of friends or even a family group,” Machotka-Hafey said.

The first Wednesday of every month there’s a design (flower arranging) class for all levels; the type of flowers changes seasonally. “I’m ready to step into the next season. Our October and November classes will feature fall flowers,” she said.

The floral shop’s first repotting party was held in August, and based on the attendance, she’s made it a monthly event, which is held the last Wednesday of the month. Participants  bring their own plants to repot, with Cleona Flowers providing soil; pots and decorative elements are available to purchase.

“Repotting can be messy, so people can view it as more of a chore. By hosting a repotting party here, people don’t have to clean up the mess at home and can just enjoy repotting their plants,” Machotka-Hafey said.

A propagation party has also been added to the monthly events; it’s held the third Saturday of the month. Guests may bring their own propagated plants and drinks or they can purchase propagated plants at the shop.

“We’ve propagated all sorts of plants in vials. We also talk about plants and have a bit of fun,” Machotka-Hafey said.

On Oct. 19, Cleona Flowers will partner with Windmill Art Studios for a vase painting and flower arranging class. “The event gives us an opportunity to collaborate with another business,” she explained.

Information about classes and events may be found on Cleona Flowers website or Facebook page.

Holidays

According to the American Society of Florists, Valentine’s Day is the No. 1 holiday for florists and floral purchases, second only to Christmas/Chanukah in dollars spent. Mother’s Day ranks third for dollars spent; American Society of Florists reports that in 2019, 31% of Americans reported buying flowers or plants for Mother’s Day.

Machotka-Hafey said at this point she doesn’t have a specific plan for Valentine’s Day 2026; she’s taking the various holidays one step at a time.

For the upcoming Christmas season, she plans to purchase poinsettias from Annville-Cleona FFA, which raises the plants in the agricultural science greenhouse at Annville-Cleona secondary school. “I’m excited to be able to partner with the FFA. It makes me feel good that I can do something that benefits the students, since funds from the program are used for the hands-on learning in the greenhouse,” she said.

Background

Originally from northern Virginia, Machotka-Hafey has also lived in Florida and New Mexico. Her husband, Jonathan, is originally from Mount Gretna. The couple and their daughter, Nia, moved to Lebanon County in 2017 and have called Cleona home for five years. Jonathan helps out in the business and Nia is a busy Annville-Cleona junior. Jonathan’s green VW Doka, a crew cab Volkswagen pickup, is one of the vehicles used to make floral deliveries.

“I hope to show Nia by my example the importance of a work ethic and what it means to be a business owner. I love it when she drops by the shop, and I also like it whenever Jonathan can be with me in the shop – it’s a real family business,” Machotka-Hafey said, “I also have a great helper in Autumn, who is a Lebanon native.”

Machotka-Hafey has over 15 years-experience as a floral designer and has worked in various facets of the floral industry.

“I went to college originally for biology then I switched to education and then back to biology. Throughout college I worked in greenhouses – mostly retail nurseries but also at some wholesale greenhouses. I also worked for florists. I learned a lot about plants and flowers, and it’s stayed with me,” she explained, “One of the florists I worked with created dish gardens – she either grew or purchased the plants she used to make up the dish gardens. I also worked with a company that provided plants and arrangements to malls, doctor’s offices and other commercial clients. That company also maintained the flowers that were installed at client’s locations. All of my experiences showed me how diverse the floral industry can be.”

She graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa with a B.S. in biology, geology and chemistry, and went into the environmental industry, working with wetlands. After a few years, she switched careers and owned several small businesses, including a laundromat in a small New Mexico town. For a time, she was a stay-at-home mom and had a side hustle on eBay.

“I got back into flowers. I grew and arranged flowers, but more as a hobby. Then I decided to make it a business,” Machotka-Hafey said, “The community has been supportive of me and Cleona Flowers in many ways. I appreciate that more than I can say.”