Hedberg and Huckleberry are a winning combination

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Mindy Hedberg and her dog Ivy take a selfie; the two enjoy going for walks at Rice Lake State Park, among other local spots.

You might say Mindy Crull Hedberg was born to do what she loves.
She lived with her parents and three older siblings on a farm west of Claremont when she was a child, moving into town a few years later.
While on the farm, though, they would walk to Rice Lake, where her love of nature was sparked.
She attended school in Claremont through her sophomore year, when it was merged with Dodge Center and West Concord to become Triton. She participated in many sports, played alto sax, and was involved with several school activities.
Her first job was helping her father hold the post when he was surveying for his tiling operations; she later worked at a grocery store in Owatonna, then a wedding shop.
Hedberg attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she changed her emphasis in studio art several times before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, visual communication. Hedberg said she wanted a degree that would be useful for future employment — and it is, in more ways than one.
More on that in a minute.
She moved to Minneapolis and was a graphic designer at TPT-TV for the Zap It program, then moved to San Diego, where she spent the next four years.
The weather was always nice, she said, but the cost of living is high and there is always traffic congestion.
Hedberg moved back to the Twin Cities, where she worked as a visual manager at Macy’s in the Mall of America, then as an assistant manager at Old Navy in Roseville.
A volunteer gig at the Summit Brewing Company in St. Paul led to her role as the tap room manager; Hedberg was also part of the marketing team at Summit — managing, merchandising and assisting with social media and special events.
In 2017, Hedberg heard the flower shop in Dodge Center might be available — and would bring her back to her roots.
She talked to the owners a couple of times, and within a four-day period, she became the owner of Huckleberry Floral Design and Gift. The building was built in 1895 as a YMCA.
That visual arts degree continues to pay off: She uses her skills for marketing and design elements at her shop, and enjoys using her artistic skills when making floral designs.
Huckleberry Floral is located at 25 W Main St. in Dodge Center — and is the only full service floral shop in Dodge County.
Hedberg will make deliveries within a 30-mile radius of Dodge Center, from Rochester to Owatonna and from Kenyon to Austin.
Thanks to the internship program at Kasson-Mantorville High School, Hedberg has up to four part-time employees, because interns often become staff.
While her shop features a wide variety of flower designs for all occasions and events, Hedberg said the floral design business keeps changing with trends and new products.
There are more local flower farms popping up in the region, which she uses for her creations and special events. She gets the majority of her flowers from Plymouth, as well as from a wholesaler in Wisconsin. She can order her products to be delivered overnight, by the time her store is open for customers. It may cost more for that delivery system, but the flowers are ready to use and there is much less damage to the products.
Hedberg has a variety of vendors for the supplies she uses to make her designs — things like baskets, vases and wire — as well as to stock an array of gifts in the shop. She focuses on local handmade goods as a large part of her gift offerings.
She brightens the pages of her Facebook and other social media apps every Sunday with a photo share of the week’s designs; Hedberg said she has 26,000 photos on her phone of the creations she and her staff make.
It brings to life her belief in “flowers for the present moment to appreciate the beauty before it fades.”
Hedberg also believes in spreading the beauty through her innovative “Adopt a Resident” program every Christmas. Customers can sponsor a floral bouquet to one — or several — residents at any of the senior living communities in Dodge County and Byron.
Every resident has been covered each year of the program.
Hedberg supports many youth programs, organizations, local events and benefits, and gives back to her hometown every year with a donation of hundreds of single flowers to be handed out during the Claremont Presbyterian Church’s annual Easter parade, and with delicate arrangements for the church’s annual Mother’s Day Tea.
She volunteers her time to do creative workshops with the Ronald McDonald House of Rochester, bringing floral, plant or art-based projects for the families throughout the year.
Huckleberry Floral Design and Gifts has won Platinum recognition since 2024 for Rochester Community Voter awards, and has been a finalist since 2024 in the Post Bulletin-The Best Of awards.
Hedberg will be the Fine Arts Supervisor at the Dodge County Fair this summer.
The shop is a member of the Dodge Center Chamber of Commerce.
Running a successful business and giving back to the greater area doesn’t leave Hedberg a lot of free time, but she makes the most of what she has — getting back to what started it all, with walks at Rice Lake State Park with her dog Ivy.
She enjoys camping at state parks, reading thriller novels and journaling with a cup of coffee or tea.
Artwork remains at the forefront of her life outside of the flower shop, using mixed media for a variety of projects.
Music and travel are big parts of Hedberg’s life; she will combine the two at a four-day music festival in Kentucky this year; closer to home, she heads to Rochester for the Summer Sunday evening concerts behind Mayo Civic Center when possible.
Costa Rica has been a favorite spot, she said, citing the beautiful flowers and nature; Spain is on her bucket list.
Hedberg didn’t plan on returning to Dodge County, but calls Dodge Center home. It’s quiet, she said, family friendly and full of supportive people.
The bonus is working in her own flower shop, which gives her the opportunity to be creative every day. It fills her heart and soul with gratitude and satisfaction to create for her community.

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Mindy Hedberg, owner of Huckleberry Floral Design and Gifts in Dodge Center, is involved in many community events and activities — often as the one providing the decor and centerpieces.

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Mindy Hedberg, a native of Claremont, owns Huckleberry Floral Design and Gifts in Dodge Center, the only full service flower shop in Dodge County. She keeps busy with orders for birthdays, funerals, community events and, of course, weddings.