There’s something new blooming beside the Bedford Playhouse this spring. Lauren Chillemi, a Bedford-bred horticulturist, purchased the former Bedford Village Florist from long-time proprietor Maureen Laning in November and has been busy making the place her own in recent months. Chillemi, who lives in South Salem, renamed the sun-filled storefront the Bedford Village Flower Shoppe and redesigned the interior to reflect its new identity. Along with new décor, comes new “grab & go” inventory, too.

Chillemi, who studied horticulture at the New York Botanical Gardens, owned Simply Gardens, a container and vegetable garden design and maintenance service, before plunging into retail. “In the shop, I want to focus on gardening as well as arrangements,” she says. To that end, she now sells Botanical Collection, a new line of ceramic pots for indoor and outdoor use. Chillemi donates a portion of the proceeds of each sale to London’s Royal Botanic Gardens.

Everyone knows that fresh flowers can enhance home décor, and Bedford Village Flower Shoppe makes it easy with full-service floral design and delivery—everything from cut flowers and custom designs to full-blown special events. The arrangements—whether designed for a Houlihan Lawrence open house or a lavish wedding reception at Caramoor are “all premium”—no filler.

If you’re more of a do-it-yourself type, stop by the shop at 641 Old Post Road this weekend (or any weekend) for Shop & Sip Saturdays. You can have a glass of wine and shop for “no thrills/ no frills” flowers at flower market prices (i.e., that’s about 50% off retail), simply wrapped in paper for you to take home and arrange yourself.