Ocala, FL Florists

Ocala Flower Shop News

A new start for the Chadds Ford Barn Shops - Chester County Press

Arden + James brand – is in her home. She has grownup in the village, and worked for five years as the sandwich girl as“the wooden Wawa,” as she called it, making lunches for localartists, including Andrew Wyeth, as well as the people who owned andworked at the Barn Shops across the road.Last Sunday afternoon, Brant walkedthrough the historic home that housed the Chadds Ford Gallery since1969. “We'd like to get a cafe in the back,” she said. “It usedto be a fudge shop, back in the day. We need a hub, a place foreveryone to meet. Barbara Moore, who helped run the Chadds FordGallery for decades, will still be here in the center portion of thespace, doing custom framing and art sales. It will be called BarbaraMoore Fine Art. She's really excited and can't wait to get started.”Jacqueline Winther, former owner of theChadds Ford Gallery, is keeping the business going online(www.awyethgallery.com),and will be taking many of the gallery's favorite artists with her toa new retail space opening in Florida. The gallery's “Christmas inMiniature” show will be held this winter in the new location.In the front room, the desk used fordecades in the gallery will remain, but the space will bereconfigured to allow better traffic flow. Renovations includedpatching untold thousands of nail holes put in the walls over theyears, Brant said, as well as uncovering doors that had been coveredup, and wonderful architectural details, such as the bookshelvesflanking the fireplaces.Her father has installed barn-woodbeams as new mantle pieces, and the shelves will now be used to holdmerchandise in the Arden + James store. A path will lead visitors tothe front door of the retail space, clearing up confusion about howto approach the building, Brant said. Window air conditioners havebeen tossed and wall units have been installed to clean up the lookof the building's exterior.Signage is going to be installed, shesaid, crediting local township supervisors for clearing the way forthe renovations she's planning. “They've been really cooperative,”she said.“We're lucky that things are inpretty good shape,” she said. While the shops have changed, theowners have kept up with repairs, and nothing has been vacant longenough for damage to set in.“We redid the patios and thestonework, and rebuilt the gazebo in the center,” Brant said,pointing out some changes. “We're redoing the lighting andreplacing it... http://www.chestercounty.com/2017/07/31/151265/a-new-start-for-the-chadds-ford-barn-shops

A love of painting and a love of flowers is a perfect pairing for local artist - Ashcroft Cache Creek Journal

This painting was one of Alice Durksen's entries in the 2013 Ashcroft Art Show.— image credit: Alice DurksenOneinaseriesofarticlesprofilinglocalartists,intherun-uptotheAshcroftArtClub’s50thanniversaryshow.ItrunsfromApril21toApril25,2017atSt.Alban’sAnglicanChurchHall.ForartistAliceDurksen,alifelongloveaffairwithflowersgoeshand-in-handwithhermorerecentloveofpainting;somethingshebegandoingin1998.“Almostallphotosofmeasachildweretakenamongflowers,”saysDurksen.“DadhadcreatedalovelybackgardenwithfruittreesandrosesinourSouthernCaliforniahome,andtherewasaspaceinthebackbeyondawallwhereIwasallowedtogarden.Iplantedandcaredformanyflowers.”Durksentookfloristtrainingclasses,andworkedforatimeinfloristshopsinSouthernCaliforniabeforeobtainingherteachingcertificateandbecomingateacher.ShehadanopportunitytoenrolinasummercourseatOxfordUniversity,wheresheimmersedherselfinEarlyRomanticEnglishlandscape,painting,andpoetry.ShewasalsoabletotraveltoItalyforaconference,whereshetookintheartgalleriesinVenice,Florence,andRome.“I’mpassionateaboutart,classicalmusic,andspirituality,soIalwaysmakesurethatIvisitthegalleries,gardens,churches,andcathedrals/span... http://www.ash-cache-journal.com/ourtown/419206794.html

Club to host Violets for Valentines Extravaganza - Ocala

Show and sale will take place Friday and Saturday Susan Smiley-Height @SSmileyheight Sweets for your sweetie are nice, but how about some violets for your valentine?The Ocala African Violet club is hosting a show and sale from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday with the theme of Violets for Valentines Extravaganza!The event will take place at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 NE Jacksonville Road, Ocala. There will be hundreds of all sizes and types of African violets, leaves and supplies for sale, along with  educational displays and demonstrations, experts to answer questions, a yard sale table of new and gently used items, and baked goods for sale.The event itself is free to attend. And, for those who wish to bring African violets with questions, one of the “violet doctors" will be happy to help you.To learn more about these beautiful flowers and the event, we did this Q&A with Linda Schwambach, president of the club. Question: Where did African violets originate and how did they get to America?Answer: Baron Walter von Saint Paul served as governor of Tanganyika in North East Africa and discovered the flowering... http://www.ocala.com/news/20170207/club-to-host-violets-for-valentines-extravaganza

Flower purchase is sign of spring to come in La Grange - Chicago Tribune

Our goal is to give the village a showy display," she said.The color palate will consist of pink, purple, yellow and silver Grey, she said.amannion@tribpub.comTwitter @triblocalam... http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/la-grange/news/ct-dlg-flower-planting-lagrange-tl-0223-20170216-story.html

Flower delivery complaints bloom in the spring - ConsumerAffairs

Lee of Kailua Kona, Hawaii. "They then argued with me and said they were roses when clearly they were carnations."Olivia of Ocala, Fla., also had a problem with the selection. "They sent whatever they wanted!!! Not even close to what I purchased for $103.00. They said they were local... THEY ARE NOT!"Kiki of Waynesville, Ohio, called on a Friday afternooon to get flowers for a Saturday funeral. "I was called this afternoon (Tuesday) and told that the flowers were not delivered but they could send a nice arrangement to another address. They stated that they miscalculated the distance to the funeral home," Kiki said. "I spent close to an hour trying to speak to someone to get a refund. I was disconnected, or repeatedly sent to a Customer Service Expert who gave me the same story each time. While on hold, a recorded voice told me that Avas is locally owned and operated. Each time I called, I got through to a call center."Avas, headquartered in Mahwah, N.J., claims to have been in business for 30 years, much of it as a brick-and-mortar floral shop. It now takes orders nationwide, sending them on to local florists for fulfillment.While all flower delivery services have their problems, especially at busy times of the year, Avas has lately seen the brunt of many reader complaints. As with any vendor, consumers should carefully review Avas' cancellation and refund page before placing an order: In the unlikely event you are unhappy with your product(s), please notify us within 24 hours of delivery and you may return the arrangement for a refund, request an exchange of products, or receive store credit.To receive a refund, non-perishable products may be returned unused and in its original state within 7 days of delivery for a full refund of the cost of the item, less any service fees. Hand-delivered floral product or perishable goods may be returned in its original state within 24 hours of delivery and may be subject to a 50% restocking fee of the cost of the product.  To receive an exchange of goods, notify us within 24 hours of the issue with the delivered arrangement and we will pick up and re-deliver another product(s) of equal or greater value at no additional cost to you. We will need to be provided the opportunity to pick up the product(s) you are dissatisfied with prior to processing a redelivery. If you have a complaint about a delivered product but do not want or cannot provide an opportunity for us to pick up the original delivered arrangement, we will provide you with a courtesy store credit for future use.Refunds or credits given for orders that have already been delivered or have had a...

Royer's Flowers and Gifts CEO talks about returning to the family business - Reading Eagle

The only thing I buy from the U.S. is some of our greens that we use to make arrangements. We get stuff from the west coast, the northwest of the United States, and we get some stuff from Florida. In the summer, we use a lot of locally grown flowers, like sunflowers. There's an Amish family that we've worked with for like 15 years that grows a lot of our sunflowers that we use during the summer. We don't get any greenhouse-grown flowers anymore."BW: How often do you or someone from Royer's travel out of the country to inspect flowers? TR: "At least two or three times a year. I go to all the farms that I buy roses from to go inspect them. While they're in the process of cutting them, harvesting them, I'm there seeing what they're doing to make sure that the cut point on the rose is right: it's not too far open, it's not too tight, I check on the head size to make sure the size of the flower is the right number of centimeters and also to make sure they're fresh. After I do that inspection, I'm there for two or three days, and then I fly into Miami where we fly our flowers and they clear customs there, and I inspect them again to make sure everything is OK, then we load them on our refrigerated trucks to ship them up here to Pennsylvania."BW: How has the internet changed the flower business? TR: "I would say about half of our business runs through the internet. It's been very helpful for us for communication and showing people what we have. One of the biggest issues we had at Valentine's Day before the advent of the internet, we couldn't handle the volume of business on Valentine's Day because we didn't have enough infrastructure to be able to deal with it. We needed 100 phone lines instead of 12. We just didn't have enough structure. People waited until the last minute. It's been a wonderful thing."BW: Are there any plans for additional Royer's locations? TR: "We're always looking at potential growth through acquisition. There are always things out there that we're aware of, nothing that I can report. We're always looking to grow."BW: Do you think your grandparents would have ever imagined the company would get as big as it is? TR: "No. My dad told me when he was younger he wanted to be the largest florist in Lebanon County. Back then, there was a lot of flower shops in Lebanon. It was very competitive. There was a lot of really good family businesses that were florists. It was a constant struggle with competition, but he eventually realized his goal of being the largest florist in Lebanon County and now we're probably the largest florist in the country because of our size. They never had an idea that it would grow to the size it is today."BW: Are you indeed the largest florist in the country? TR: "I'm pretty sure about that, because I know all the biggest florists in the country, and we're bigger than all of them. Grocery store chains sell a lot more flowers than I do by sheer numbers. But a traditional retail flower shop, we're the largest in the country."— Interview by Brad RhenFYIAge: 63Residence: Hummelstown, Dauphin CountyEducation: Penn State, 1977, business; Lebanon High School, 1973Work History: After college worked at a Whataburger in Texas for two years. Returned to Pennsylvania in 1980 and started at Royer's as a painter. Was also a store manager in Lancaster, distribution manager for about 25 years, chief operating officer and senior vice president for about 20 years, and he became CEO in January.Best Piece of Management Advice: "Six P" rule: prior proper planning prevents poor performanceFamily: He and his wife, Cindy, have six kids — five girls, one boy — who range in age from 10 to 32Hobbies: golf, yard workRoyer's Flowers and GiftsAddress: 810 S. 12th St... https://www.readingeagle.com/business-weekly/article/royers-flowers-and-gifts-ceo-talks-about-returning-to-the-family-business

Armstrong, Charlie Hugh - The Chattanoogan

Charlie Hugh Armstrong, 87, of Chattanooga, passed away on Monday, August 5, 2019, in Jacksonville, Florida.  Charlie dedicated more than 50 years to the pharmacy profession, as an owner/pharmacist of Lakeside Pharmacy in Chattanooga; as a pioneer in the treatment of decubitus ulcers; and as a leader in Tennessee hospice development in the mid-80s. He was a longtime PCCA (Professional Compounding Centers of America) member, former PCCA pharmacy consultant, and most recently, PCCA treasurer, serving on the board of directors. Charlie went home to be with his Lord on Monday, August 5, 2019. He joined PCCA as a member in May 1984, began helping out with pharmacy consulting calls in the early 1990s, became a major PCCA shareholder and treasurer in November 1998, and then officially joined the PCCA team in September 1999. He retired from PCCA in January 2004, but continued to serve as a consultant and on the board of directors until March 2019. His son, Charles H. Armstrong, Jr., known by all as “Chick,” continued his father’s legacy by joining the PC... https://www.chattanoogan.com/2019/8/8/394276/Armstrong-Charlie-Hugh.aspx

Jackie Lacey, AAF, AIFD, CFD, PFCI, Is Named National President of American Institute of Floral Designers - PerishableNews

BloomNet offers to flower shop owners and floral designers. He assisted in the launch of Floriology® Institute located in Jacksonville, Florida and he serves as an instructor at the Institute. Floriology® Institute is recognized as one of the country’s foremost centers for innovative floral design and florist-related education. Mr. Lacey also engages florists and shares his knowledge throughout the floral industry at state and regional trade shows, company sponsored events, and Floriology® “on the road” educational events.During his distinguished career, Mr. Lacey has owned flower shops in Tennessee, Texas and South Carolina and he is one of the nation’s leading authorities on retail floral operations and best practices. He has also won numerous awards and earned many accolades through floral design competitions at the national, state and local levels. He is also renowned internationally for his leading-edge approaches to design and his imaginative floral creations. In addition, he has shared the principles, elements and artistry of his craft during memorable stage presentations, wowing audiences around the world. His floral designs and educational insights have been featured in many magazines, including Floriology®, Flowers &, Modern Bride and Inside Weddings. He has provided his talents to such notable events as the Tournament of Roses Parade, and many celebrities have also called upon his expertise.“I am honored at being named President of such a prestigious industry organization as the American Institute of Floral Designers,” said Mr. Lacey. “The journey to becoming President has been educational, enlighteni... https://www.perishablenews.com/floral/jackie-lacey-aaf-aifd-cfd-pfci-is-named-national-president-of-american-institute-of-floral-designers/

Bridal Bliss: Keva and Leonard's Bahamian Wedding Was A Photographer's Dream - Essence

Leonard are a young God-fearing couple that wanted their wedding to be both rustic and spiritual.The couple met online in 2017 while Leo pursued his master’s degree at the University of Central Florida while working at Bethune-Cookman University. Both of them are photographers, and Keva admired his work enough to inquire about him taking some birthday photos for her. “Initially, Keva wanted to shoot in Nassau,” Leo explains, “but I was persistent insisting about shooting in her hometown Bimini because I’ve always wanted to visit.” Their connection was instant, and there were many signs from the Lord up above that told Leo he should make Keva his wife. With the help of Keva’s pastor, family and close friends, he pulled off a memorable engagement that is wife will cherish for eternity. “I felt his words with every fiber of my being and I said YES! ,” Keva remembers. “There were no tears on the outside, but inside, my heart was crying and leaping for joy.”Thanks to the help of their inner circle, Leo and Keva received help with their DIY accouterments which allowed them to stay on budget. “We were blessed with numerous family and friends who supported our union, so we didn’t have to ... https://www.essence.com/love/weddings/bridal-bliss-keva-and-leonards-bahamian-wedding-was-a-photographers-dream/