Meet Barbara Hoover | Owner | Baker

I was born and raised in Bakersfield, CA. My mom was a single mom and we didn’t have a lot growing up, but I remember my mom getting all dressed up everyday to go to work. She would cook our meals and do the best she could to raise us four girls. I was the youngest at the time and I think it truly impacted me and her work ethic always stuck with me. We couldn’t afford a lot and so when my mom would bake, man, it was always exciting. I would watch her from the time she would pull the butter out of the fridge to make chocolate chip cookies to mixing all the ingredients with our old hand mixer to putting them on the cookie sheet, and of course, my favorite part, when she would open the oven and the smell of the freshly baked cookies would fill up our apartment. And no matter what was going on or how hard things were for us at the time, when those cookies came out of the oven and their scent filled the air, I knew that everything would be okay. And as hard as my mom worked and as hard as it was for her to raise four girls on her own, she still did her best to make sure we had what we needed and sometimes, she took the time to make sure we had what we wanted. As I got older, I started learning to bake on my own and I always remembered how hard my mom worked, and I will say that example has shaped my dedication, work ethic and has instilled in me a desire to always provide for my family. Especially, when I became a mom, yeah, I was even more appreciative for what my mom sacrificed for me. Now, I want to work hard to provide a warm, loving home for my son, where he can watch his mom work just as hard but I want to work hard to make my dream come true so he knows that whatever he wants to do, whatever he dreams of being, he should at least try.

The Wildflower is a home bakery, specializing in from scratch, home made desserts. Each of our recipes are my own that I have developed since I started baking in junior high! So, a while. I bake everything from the heart with love and real ingredients. I bake everything myself in my home kitchen, so when I say its from my kitchen to yours, I really mean it.

We are a new business about a year in but I’m blown away with how far we have come. It was not easy and I didnt have anyone around me to help me figure it out so I did a lot of research. Definitely have a google degree in how to start a successful home bakery. haha but you know, I wouldn’t change one minute of it. I learn something new all the time with owning a business, accounting, marketing, etc. and I now have other home baker dreamers reaching out to me telling me that The Wildflower is their inspiration and asking for MY help!? what?? haha its mind blowing because I still feel like I’m just figuring it out myself.

I’ve learned that networking and building relationships is huge. Accept help and ask for it! Its not a weakness. Also, its not a bad thing to have a circle of people who are trying to better their lives because they will help you in yours.

And the biggest most important thing I’ve learned is to stay true to you and your dream. Its so easy to get caught up in trying to mirror other peoples success and everyone will want you to adapt your business model to meet their needs. But stand strong in who you are, in what your dream is, and its okay to say, no. Be the business you want to be, I only offer items that I enjoy baking, because, I don’t want this to turn into a job I hate. So yeah, be you. its enough.

Some of my favorite places?!

Breakfasts we would hit up Cindy’s Deli in Richardson. Their pancakes are amazing! And since I live in Anna we would of course hit up Sunview. The owner is so sweet and the breakfast is soooo good.

We would check out the Dallas Arboretum because its so gorgeous and you can have a picnic on the lake. Of course, a tour of downtown Mckinney and hit up The Celt, Harvest is amazing, and a wine tasting at Landon while sitting on the patio. The Texan is a great red blend there!

Tupps Brewery, such good beer and a huge outdoor space for my son to run around and outdoor games. They even have live music Saturday nights with a food truck now.

Of course Lockwood Distilling Co on Friday night because of the great food and their hibiscus vodka is phenomenal. And they have live music and outdoor seating, dogs are allowed and kid friendly so, I love it! Sally and Evan the owners always make it a great time too!

Whiskey Cake is also a must go! Roman Cucina in North Richardson/Dallas is also a must! AMAZING Italian food and drinks, the ambiance is perfect.

If we were staying home I would get a take and bake pizza from Chicago Pizza in Allen. I mean, if you haven’t tried their pizza, you are missing out! They even import the sausage from Chicago!

And we would be spending our Saturday morning at the Mckinney Farmers Market.

Definitely my mom, Mary Harp, the older I get the more I see and appreciate all her sacrifice and that plays a huge part in where I am today.

David Hoover, my business partner and husband, him allowing me to quit my corporate job to take the risk of baking full time and going after my dream is a huge piece of where we are today.

The McKinney Farmer’s Market because they did not have to let The Wildflower in being a brand new business haha but they did and if it weren’t for Michelle and the amazing support and community from the market customers, I would not at all be where we are today. And the community from some of the other vendors there is truly inspiring, Brooke from Rosemary’s, she, without even knowing it, has been an inspiration from the moment I met her at the Market.

And honestly, all of our customers, without any of them, we would not be where we are as a business, and to all of our regulars, I am beyond blessed by you and cherish each of our relationships, and on those weeks where orders are overwhelming and the market seems impossible, its you guys that gets me through and makes it all worth it. Knowing you guys, hearing about your lives, being more than just your baker, yeah, its you guys and your support that is one of my biggest driving forces.