Planting Roots in the Market District

Kathryn Gemmill’s House of Flowers offers a local hub for plant enthusiasts and a sense of community

BY DAVID GONZALEZ, JR. | DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC INITIATIVES

Kathryn Gemmill, owner of House of Flowers, is a plant hobbyist turned business owner after she decided to make a change from her career in outside sales. A resident of West York, she admits even though she lived near York City she wasn’t aware of the businesses throughout the downtown or more specifically along Beaver Street where her business now operates. “I’ve always lived in the county and concluded that we were missing this kind of shop in the area. Since opening, I have felt completely welcomed by my fellow merchants and the overall community,” says Kathryn.

The business is much more than a plant shop, it is a vessel to get people excited about plants and create a community around it. She sees an opportunity in helping to break the mold of those who are interested in plants and shares her passion for breaking barriers for individuals of all demographics to get into planting. Gemmill notes “We offer a bit of everything, tropicals, rare plants, bonsai, succulents, carnivorous, bamboo, hydroponic plants, and much more.”

Many individuals walk into House of Flowers after frequenting other businesses in the market district or are even hopping off the Heritage Rail Trail to see her space, as she is a Trail-Friendly Business offering restroom access and bicycle parking.

Beyond working your way through the wide array of plants in the store, Kathryn hosts events from Plant Parent 101 courses, for those who don’t naturally have a green thumb; plant bingo, where winners of the timeless game win a plant that they might not have been familiar with before; or offers options to host parties or fundraisers. Beyond that, House of Flowers can also create custom fresh flower arrangements and offer local delivery.

With just over a year of operation under her belt, Kathryn has a bevy of ideas on how to further grow the business “I constantly look around the shop and see opportunities to expand our offerings, but beyond that, I’m looking for additional ways to get further involved in the community and partnerships to get plants out in public spaces.”

House of Flowers has an upcoming regional opportunity coming up at Hershey Gardens, where Kathryn will decorate a living tree with curated plants as a part of their annual Christmas Tree Showcase from November 24 – January 1.

House of Flowers is welcoming to anyone of any interest level and skill set in planting. Kathryn often shares that plants offer a bit of something for everyone, expressing that “I’m bringing in plants you can’t purchase just anywhere and I hope to be both the go-to provider for plants, but the person anyone can come to with questions. If you have a question on how to care for a plant, bring it in and we’ll go over it together – I’m happy to share my knowledge and propagate my passion.”

Located at 15 N Beaver St | 717.586.2160