The Gypsy Ramblers perform at Westvirjeni’s Fall Festival on Saturday. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — From a young age, Jeni Walker was taught to love gardening by her mother and grandfather. And as she grew older and purchased her own home with her husband, Kevin, in Shepherdstown, she discovered that she had a true affinity for flower gardening — to the extent that her yard quickly became overwhelmed with blossoming plants.

It wasn’t until September 2012, when a friend began planning a low-budget wedding, that she discovered her hobby had business potential.

“We had about an acre-and-a-half of land (at our home in Heatherfield off of Route 45). We always joked that we had no yard and it was just flowers, because over the years — we lived there for 12 or 13 years — I had cultivated tons of shrubs and trees and perennials,” Walker said. “That’s how I’d spend my Saturday mornings — I’d go out to my garden and cut flowers and arrange them for myself.

“A friend was getting married, and she said, ‘You make the beautiful arrangements for yourself! I’m on a small budget — do you think you could help me as my wedding gift?’ And then it just snowballed from there!” Walker said.

After the wedding, Walker began taking various workshops and gaining certifications in areas related to floral design and event planning. Those continuing education classes enabled her to make the most of her new side-business from early on.

Soulshine Aura Photography owner Maggie Bromfield ushers a couple of Fall Festival attendees into her photography booth on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

“I was a financial advisor in my former life, and I started Westvirjeni as more of a hobby, because I love growing flowers and entertaining. It turned into this big thing and so I quit my job at Morgan Stanley six years ago, so I could do this full-time. My husband quit his full-time job, too, a couple of years ago, so he could work with us full-time,” Walker said, noting her husband quit his job so he could help manage Westvirjeni’s sister business, Linden Spring Farm, which the couple purchased for use as a flower farm and moved to in 2021.

“We purchased Linden Spring Farm from the previous owners, who had previously lived here for the past 50 years. We wanted more land, so that we could grow more flowers and so I could have a separate space for my studio. We wanted places that we could host events, from time-to-time,” Walker said. “This is our forever home!”

One such special event took place at Linden Spring Farm on Saturday afternoon and evening, where Westvirjeni’s design work brought the theme of the event, Fall Festival, to life. Held the weekend after the business’ 10-year anniversary, the Fall Festival celebrated Westvirjeni’s success, with food trucks, arts and crafts booths, live music by The Gypsy Ramblers, s’mores making and children’s scavenger hunts, face painting and craft areas.

“It’s our 10th anniversary a couple of days ago,” Walker said. “We decided to do something special for our farm, to help our farm to celebrate our anniversary, so that’s what we’re doing!”

As to where the whimsical name for the boutique-style floral and event business came from, Walker said it was the result of a brief brainstorming session.

Harpers Ferry resident Alex Decker watches as her five-year-old daughter Heidi and 10-year-old son Mika, who are both Morgan Academy students, play with a giant Jenga game at the Fall Festival on Saturday afternoon. Tabitha Johnston

“I’m Jeni and I’m from West Virginia. I was thinking of names one day and thought, ‘Oh, Westvirjeni! It’s perfect!'” Walker said. “It’s a fun play on words.”

To learn more, sign up for a floral design workshop our purchase a floral arrangement, visit https://www.westvirjeni.com/.

Kevin and Jeni Walker stand together on the property of their flower farm, Linden Spring Farm, earlier this month. Courtesy photo