Sandi Gatermann’s Wildflower Patch!

By Cindy Ladage

Sandi Gatermann opened her store Wildflower Patch in September of 1979. For over 40 years at a variety of locations she has been providing the Virden Community with fresh cut flowers and gift items. “I started out in a little house on the north of the square, then I got the chance to move to the Northside, then the East side of the square.  I think I was there for 23 years before moving to this location at 125 E. Jackson.”

“I moved when COVID hit,” Sandi said. She felt like she was coming home because this location is where she originally wanted to open.

“This is the initial building I wanted.  Mrs. Perks, who owned it, her son had a TV repair business, and she didn’t want to rent it.”

At the new location Sandi said, “I have downsized considerably.  The building on the east side of the square was 4,800 square feet, and this is about half.”

Since she has been in this business for quite some time, Sandi said she is in the process of selling, but for now, she is operating, and offering all the services that has made Wildflower Patch a household name in the Macoupin County communities! “We are a full-service flower shop and FTD member.  We offer plants, cut flowers, gifts, and vegetables in the spring.  I had a big garden center, and I wasn’t going to do it here, but it made me an essential business during COVID because I was selling food.”

Moving was made easier with friends.  “My friend, Twyla Helms, from Taylorville, owns the Wooden Flower.  I helped her when she opened her store, and she returned the favor. Twyla came every evening.”

“I wouldn’t have got moved without the help of Charlie Boyd.  He was watering in the spring and had just retired.  He just stepped up to the plate. He built my counters, and my ribbon rack.  He was here every day, he was phenomenal.”

Over the years, Sandi said it is the people she has met that has made this business so special.  She literally married into the business. “I married Art, and his parents were florists. Their store was Your Flower Shop.  When their employee Midge, who worked for them retired,” Sandi said, “I stepped in.”

“They taught me the florist business, they’d been to school, and I always thought I would go too,” she added but as time went by and she was so busy, the time never came.

“I started this shop on my own,” Sandi said about being a woman business owner.  “Art helped, but also worked. He farmed and worked for Federal Crop Insurance as an adjuster.  He built many things I have here for displays.”

Sandi and Art were high school sweethearts. They attended school in Girard.  “We met in high school.  He went to the service and enlisted in the AirForce.  We got married when I graduated. This was during Vietnam.  We got married in 1963.”

Although Art has passed, the many things he did for Sandi help remind her of his involvement in the business. Together the two had two children. Today she also has six grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Sandi was raised on a farm near Nilwood, Illinois. She still has strong ties there today where she serves as the Village President.  This is a very busy position, and they have just recently added a new water tower and water meters in town!

At The Wildflower Patch, Sandi has part time help, with Lesa Motika, and Becca Yemm working as store designers, Bubba Mitchell who does delivery, and Carmen Nygard, a retired florist that helps during the holidays.

Out of the variety of things offered at Wildflower Patch, Sandi said her fresh cut flowers are her best sellers. She also sells a lot of sympathy items as well.  She said this has come full circle where families used to order papier Mache plant offerings for funerals, today they do more fresh cut flowers in a glass vase that mourners can take home with them along with windchimes and garden stones which have become more popular.

“My favorite thing is taking care of the cemeteries.  We deliver to the cemetery and take care of graves for families.”

There are several cemeteries that Sandi works with, Virden, Thayer, Girard, Farmersville and Pleasant Hill, which is a brethren Cemetery.

Her customers, and the Virden Community showed their appreciation in 2022, when Sandi Gaterman’s Wildflower Patch was chosen as the VACC Business of the year!

With the motto, “Always Something new!” it is easy to find just what you are looking for at The Wildflower Patch.  Call 217-971-5224 or log onto the website at wildflowerpatchvirden.com for information.

The Wildflower Patch is open from 9-5 Monday – Friday, and during the winter they are open six days a week, Monday – Saturday. During the summer months, the Wildflower Patch is open until noon on Saturdays.