.png){kind=small}
Meet Lisa Heffern Waters
- Eva Swersey
- Jul 16
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 21
Two creative Vienna events centered on flowers, community and giving back
Some people just have a natural way of bringing others together. Lisa Heffern Waters, the woman behind I Can Buy Myself Flowers, is one of those people.
I first met Lisa through a friend who invited me to take part in Lisa’s version of “Shark Tank,” a creative class exercise she designed to help her students learn in a more engaging, hands on way. It was a memorable introduction and a wonderful glimpse of Lisa’s warmth, creativity and natural ability to bring people together.
Lisa’s flower business began during a difficult time in her life. While healing from a broken heart, she started filling the rooms of her home with flowers. What began as something personal eventually grew into a business centered on creativity, connection and the simple joy flowers can bring.
That same community spirit is at the heart of two very different and very fun upcoming events in Vienna.
Shop and Donate at the Make a Difference Yard Sale
Last summer, Lisa organized the first "Make a Difference Community Yard Sale", and I was happy to participate. It was hot, and I mean very hot, but plenty of people still stopped by to browse, visit with neighbors and support the different causes represented.
I will be participating again this year.
This is not a typical yard sale. There are no price tags. Shoppers choose what they would like and decide how much they want to donate. Each participating table selects a charity, nonprofit, church, campaign or community organization to receive the money it raises.
You may find household items, toys, clothing, flowers, vegetables, artwork, jewelry and handmade crafts. Children are encouraged to participate too. They can sell something they have created, play music for donations or come up with their own way to support a cause that matters to them.
Young entrepreneurs helping with the community yard sale A woman holding flowers who won one of the raffle drawings Young entrepreneurs manning one of the tables
It is part yard sale, part neighborhood gathering and a whole lot of people doing something good together.
Sunday and Monday, July 19 and 20, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Orchard Street in Vienna, near Madison High School
Come shop and donate whatever amount feels right to you. You can also sign up to host a table on one or both days and raise money for a cause of your choice.
Lisa’s household will be raising money for Holly Seibold’s campaign.
I’m adding a little something to the fun too, with a drawing for a $25 gift card to Kin, Vienna’s new coffee and matcha cafe, and a $25 gift card to I Can Buy Myself Flowers to use toward an arrangement, event or class.
For participation details and the exact location, visit Lisa’s Facebook event page or connect with her through I Can Buy Myself Flowers.
And the winner is...
Thank you to everyone who stopped by, donated and helped support the different causes represented at the yard sale. We also drew our raffle winners, and you can watch one of the drawings here:
Spend a Morning or a Full Day at Flower Fest
In September, Lisa is joining several local floral and lifestyle businesses for Flower Fest.
The event brings together I Can Buy Myself Flowers, Opalite Salon, Local Color Flowers, Hidden Pond Farm, Evelyn Rose and Ethos Floral Events for a day filled with flowers, creativity and inspiration.
It sounds like such a fun outing for friends, gardeners, flower lovers or anyone who has ever looked at a beautiful arrangement and wondered how it all came together.
Flower Fest
Saturday, September 12, 2026
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Opalite Salon
111 Church Street, Suite 204
Vienna, Virginia
The Morning Demonstration Ticket is $150 and includes three live floral demonstrations and a question and answer session with Lisa, Stacy Borelli of Ethos Floral Events and Ellen Frost of Local Color Flowers.
The Full Day Ticket is $350 and includes the demonstrations, lunch at Evelyn Rose, a vessel, a bucket of locally grown flowers and guided, hands on help creating your own floral arrangement.
Space is limited, especially for the full day experience.
More Than Flowers
What I appreciate most about Lisa is that the flowers are only part of the story.
She finds creative ways to make people feel welcome, support causes that matter and bring neighbors together. Whether you stop by the yard sale or spend time surrounded by flowers at Flower Fest, you will be supporting someone who puts a great deal of heart into our community.
And you may come home with something beautiful too.
Comments