Community Corner
Flora’s Feathered Nest Features the Fanciful
Check out this decorative home and garden store located just outside of Potomac.
Seven years ago while driving down River Road, Marcia Copenhaver found a dream come true.
Having searched extensively for a location to open a retail store, Copenhaver was thrilled to come across a 1930s hay barn three miles north of Potomac. In 2004 that barn would become Flora’s Feathered Nest, a shop specializing in home and garden decorations.
Potomac residents may have driven by this specialty shop without stopping. The understated white building, located near the WSSC Water Treatment Facility, is marked only by a small sign.
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Once inside, a visitor will find the shop overflowing with paintings, gift items, vintage furniture, holiday decorations and a variety of one-of-a-kind items. Along with her assistants, Sandy and Ellen, Copenhaver delights in helping customers locate that special item to enhance a space.
Copenhaver formerly worked 14 years as a floral designer for a local garden shop and painted portraits for a long time. Sandy and Ellen, Copenhaver's neighbors, were excited to join her in opening Flora's – but they both agree that Copenhaver has the design eye. “[Copenhaver is] the artistic one who sets up the displays, designs dried floral arrangements and truly has the eye for decorating,” Ellen said.
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If you're looking for a hostess gift, Flora's is a good place to consider. The shop carries a variety of items, from cocktail napkins to vintage bottles from Europe.
Every holiday, Flora’s features special decorative items. Now, the focus is on fall, Halloween and Thanksgiving. Soon, Copenhaver will bedeck the entire shop for winter.
“Our holiday decorating is amazing and unique,” Copenhaver said. “Customers come time and time again to view the variety of gorgeous decorations and displays and to gather ideas and holiday items for their homes. Our decorating begins in October.”
Flora’s Feathered Nest, located at 12211 River Rd., is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and “by chance” on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Copenhaver defines “by chance” as “when we get really busy, and you should call before you make the trip.” Call 301-765-0003 for more information.
