08/28/2026
I’ve started this post about a dozen times over the last few days, and every time I’ve struggled to find the words.
It’s been a few days since Monday evening’s devastating fire in downtown Sparta, and somehow it still doesn’t feel real.
This one hits incredibly close to home for me. My older brother, Doug, was one of the people impacted by the fire. In the blink of an eye, he lost his home and so much of what he had built his life around. We’ve been spending these days trying to help him navigate this new, unexpected normal, one that no one should ever have to figure out.
But this post isn’t just about my brother.
It’s about our community.
It’s about the families who are waking up each morning trying to figure out what comes next. It’s about the people who lost their homes, their belongings, their sense of security, and, for some, so much more.
And this is where I’m asking my flower people to rally around Sparta. 🌸
Because we know how flower people are. You are some of the most generous, compassionate, big-hearted people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. We may be scattered all over the place, but we have an incredible way of showing up for one another, and I know you can show up for this little mountain community, too.
If you’re able, please consider donating to the official community relief fund through the Alleghany County Chamber of Commerce. 100% of the proceeds will be divided evenly among all of the fire victims. Every dollar, no matter the amount, is a tangible way to remind these families that they are not alone.
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/MLVWQ7F96Y99B/checkout/NMBAOUOQEMJVZWMXCSGGC73F
And I’m not stopping there. 💗
Once I can get my brother settled into his new normal and things calm down enough for me to breathe, Fiddleleaf Flower Farm will be hosting a donation event to help support the fire victims. I’ll share more details as soon as I’m able.
For now, if you can donate, please do. If you can’t, sharing this post helps more than you know.
Please keep Sparta in your hearts. Keep these families in your thoughts. And if you’re one of my flower friends reading this from miles away, know that your support means more to this community than you probably realize.
We’re a small town.
But we’re a strong one.
And right now, we need to take care of our own. 🌿💕