HOT PURSUIT

For years she’s been known as the “Flower Lady” around Blooming Prairie. Every summer she enters her flowers into a competition and often comes away as a champion. It happened last summer when she took home grand champion.

That special person behind the flowers is Louise Peterson, who lives on a farm south of Blooming Prairie. In fact, she’s lived there for the past 70 years.

But that’s not the milestone she’s celebrating this week. And, of course, with the wicked frigid air we’re enduring right now in the middle of winter, the focus isn’t on flowers, either.

Peterson turns 94 years young on Friday.

Whenever I think of Peterson, the song, “Heart of Gold” pops into my mind. She may not be a miner as Neil Young’s iconic song refers to, but hard work and love radiate from Peterson—the core values Young brings out in his song. Let me explain further.

For at least the past 35 years, Peterson has transformed her farm place into a sanctuary of flowers every spring and summer. She’s even referred to it as a flower jungle. She single-handedly takes care of the flowers, often working four hours or more per day outside.

Her passion for flower gardening didn’t really set in until many years later after her children left home. She takes incredible pride in her garden which features up to 50 varieties. Some of them include tulips, daffodils, gladiolas, lilies, peonies and sunflowers. 

A few years back, I went out to her farm and wrote a feature story about how flowers bring peace and help to make her feel better. “I don’t know what I would be doing if I didn’t have my flowers,” she told me at the time. “It keeps me busy and out of trouble. It’s comforting.”

When I pushed her about the magic behind her flowers, she said: “Just love them and take care of them, weed them. And thank God for them.”

For many years Peterson has adorned our office with flower arrangements several times every summer. It’s hard to not be in a good mood after she shows up with flowers to brighten the day.

Did I mention heart of gold?

Peterson is more than generous by sharing her golden heart in the form of flowers with others. She often brings bouquets to services at Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church where she has attended for many years.

As one may suspect, Peterson has experienced her share of struggles over her long lifetime. She’s had several health scares, including a stroke, heart attack and skin cancer. She’s also played a significant role in caring for her disabled daughter.

This is where everything circles back to the flowers. “The flowers have helped me through all these problems,” she said. “I just love them. The people I bring them to enjoy them, and I enjoy them more if they are happy.”

During the difficult times America is experiencing these days, we all need to find people with hearts of gold that bring joy into our lives. I can’t think of a better person than Louise Peterson. Other people could take a real lesson in humanity from her.

May Peterson’s legacy of having a heart of gold instill kindness to all as we go in hot pursuit of living life.

Happy birthday Louise!