Now remarried, Fiedler Mergen tends to hundreds of peonies, as well as dahlias, ranunculus, cosmos and other popular flowers.
She also saw a need to host small gatherings — such as bridal showers or anniversary parties — when her clients would tell her where their events were being held.
“I identified that as a need for a small-space venue that’s a little bit more upscale than the community center,” she said.
She looked at remodeling a barn, but it was too costly to bring it up to code. Instead, she decided to build a 3,600-square-foot building with a store, walk-in cooler and gathering space to rent that fits about 75 people, she said.
“I am never just wide open to the public with like a pumpkin patch and 200 people coming on over,” she said.
The eastward view above Sunny Mary Meadow on July 29, 2025, in St. Joseph. (Aaron Lavinsky/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Fiedler Mergen worked with county staff before filing her application, which she says supports three core goals of the county’s 2040 comprehensive plan: agricultural diversification, rural economic development and local tourism growth.