Bloomington Flower Shop News
Orange Flower Healing blossoms into new location
Tuesday, October 16, 2018Becky Holtzman discovered Reiki in 2013 when someone recommended she take a class on it. After taking this class, Holtzman said she found something she loved.She moved back to Bloomington from Portland, Oregon in 2015 and opened her own local Reiki practice, Orange Flower Healing, out of her home. In spring 2016, she started looking for places for the practice outside of her home.Orange Flower Healing moved to a new location Sept. 4 in the Landmark Offices off West Third Street. The practice had an open house Sept. 22. Reiki is a Japanese form of alternative medicine. According to the Orange Flower website, the benefits, which include stress reduction and body system balance, are given through light touches.At Orange Flower, a Reiki treatment is 90 minutes. Sixty minutes is the Reiki process itself, which involves the practitioner placing his or her hands on spots on the client's head, stomach and back for three to five minutes each. The remaining 30 minutes are for conversation before and after the session. A sign that says “Keep Calm and Practice Reiki” sits in Becky Holtzman’s healing studio Sept. 26 in Orange Flower Healing. Reiki, an alternative therapy focused on restoring mind and body balance, usually translates as “universal life energy.” Matt Begala Buy Photos Holtzman said she is not the only person in Bloomington to offer Reiki. In fact, there is an active Reiki community and there are many different types. The type Holtzman practices is Usui Shiki Ryoho Reiki. Holtzman said she feels she was trained in the very traditional way, which is a slow process, and is still apprenticing with a Reiki master. She hopes to finish next year. “... https://www.idsnews.com/article/2018/09/caorangeflower092418
Local designer shaping Governor's Mansion renovations
Tuesday, July 17, 2018Pastry says its an honor to design flower arraignments for the Governors Mansion which reopens on Saturday.(Photo Courtesy: Illinois Governor’s Mansion Association/Facebook)By Blake HaasBLOOMINGTON – Stop and smell the Roses has always been an old saying, but for one Bloomington native that has turned into a life long dream.With the seed being planted in 4-H, one local florist didn’t know what she would be doing then would blossom into the face of the Governors Mansion in Springfield.“I was a kid in 4-H and I took flower design and horticulture as a project and then enjoyed it and kept doing it over the years and [then] I majored in horticulture in college,” added Candice Hart, owner of Pollen and Pastry located at 2121 Morrissey Dive in Bloomington. “I started my business during Grad School [at University of Illinois in Champaign] and kept going with it.”When Gov. Bruce Rauner first moved to the mansion in 2014, he found peeling paint, over grown trees and shrubs, buckling walls and other problems including problems with the roof, but after a $15 million renovation was announced on July 18, 2016, by Illinois First Lady Diana Rauner, that paved the way or ... http://www.wjbc.com/2018/07/13/local-designer-shaping-governors-mansion-renovations/
Museum of History dedicates garden to Illinois bicentennial
Tuesday, June 19, 2018The red, white, and blue flowers outside the McLean County Museum of History symbolize the county’s contribution to Illinois’ history. (Patrick Baron/WJBC)By Patrick BaronBLOOMINGTON – Red, white, and blue flowers on the four corners of the McLean County Museum of History have been dedicated to Illinois’ bicentennial celebration.Museum Executive Director Adam Lovell said the museum wanted to do something special to commemorate Illinois’ 200th birthday.“We’re dedicating this as the Illinois bicentennial garden,” Lovell explained. “We always do some sort of garden landscaping every year. We wanted to up the game a little bit this year so we have the red, white, and blue theme to symbolize McLean County’s contribution to Illinois’ and America’s history.”Lovell noted the flowers will be on display all summer. He took a moment to recognize a few people who played an important role in getting the flowers put in the ground.“One of our board members, Russel Francois, he was really instrumental,” said Lovell. “We had our master gardener, Bob Bradley, and he organized a group of a... http://www.wjbc.com/2018/05/25/museum-of-history-dedicates-garden-to-illinois-bicentennial/
New florist opens in Bloomington with 'loose, natural' designs - Bloomington Pantagraph
Sunday, February 11, 2018BLOOMINGTON — A new florist has taken root in downtown Bloomington and the owner plans to bring unique arrangements with local blooms to the community.Vera & Buck Floral Studio & Farm opened for service last week at 320 N. Main St. under ownership of Meg McCormick of Bloomington.McCormick, who previously managed wedding arrangements at a downtown Chicago florist for two years, describes her floral style as “loose and natural.”“I love to let the flowers speak through their natural movements,” said McCormick. “It’s my goal not only to produce beautiful things, but to introduce the community to different flower types and arrangements.”She plans to incorporate fragrant greens, such as eucalyptus, mint, basil and rosemary, into her summer creations.Through a “farm-to-vase” approach, McCormick will cultivate flowers from a plot of land at her parents’ home in Carlock for the business.She said the farm is in the experimental stage, but in the meantime Vera & Buck will supplem... http://www.pantagraph.com/business/new-florist-opens-in-bloomington-with-loose-natural-designs/article_bd9abb7d-c417-5ef1-b519-9f9d4a38a22a.html
Flowers by Jeannie announces new business name: North in Bloom - Herald Review
Tuesday, January 30, 2018Cook. “I’m very excited to start off the new year with a new business identity that truly reflects who we are and what we deliver.”Growing up, Cook’s grandmother owned a flower shop in Bloomington, Minn., called Always in Bloom. Following in her grandmother’s footsteps with her own shop is something Cook is very proud to have accomplished. North in Bloom is a nod to Cook’s history with a northern twist.“Honoring my grandmother means so much to me,” continued Cook. “This name is a special way to stay connected with my roots while making this business truly my own.”Cook worked with Minuteman Press of Grand Rapids to develop the new business name and logo.“We wanted something that captured the northern lifestyle that makes living and working in northern Minnesota so unique. Minuteman Press delivered above and beyond my expectations. I’m really proud of how the rebrand turned out.”With the first year in the books, Cook is developing a reputation for excellence in Grand Rapids and the surrounding community. She’s a sought-after floral designer for weddings and takes special care to incorporate the personality of each couple into her work. Cook also provides tasteful and beautiful funeral arrangements as well as arrangements for everyday occasions and more.North in Bloom is located at 204 NW 1st Ave., in Grand Rapids. Cook specializes in wedding and funeral arrangements, and her work will be featured in an upcoming issue of Lake + Time Magazine. http://www.grandrapidsmn.com/business/flowers-by-jeannie-announces-new-business-name-north-in-bloom/article_876b5508-f251-11e7-ae3d-73dd75618d80.html
Flowers Done Green - local flower shop keeps it unexpected - Volume One
Monday, December 17, 2018Valley.“We don’t have to always go looking to the exotic to find something exceptionally beautiful. We’re celebrating what’s beautiful about Wisconsin.” – Sarah Lambert, Hive & Hollow“What I’m trying to do that’s different is having all of my flowers sourced as locally as possible,” Sarah said. In the spring and summer that means using supplies from her own greenhouse and garden and supporting local flower growers. When the winter months restrict local options to willow branches, pine cones, and evergreens, rather than ordering carnations and roses from Central American farms, she brings out the best of the seasonal options, accentuating them with plants from a Minnesota greenhouse.“We don’t have to always go looking to the exotic to find something exceptionally beautiful,” Sarah said. “We’re celebrating what’s beautiful about Wisconsin.”Sarah is also celebrating sustainability through her choices in product. She recalls a conversation with a fellow florist from ten years ago, when her coworker expressed concern the effect of floral industry chemicals on fertility. Before then, she hadn’t realized the proliferation of carcinogenic chemicals in pesticides and plastics associated with flower arranging. Sarah aims to carry as many organic, recycled, and locally grown products as possible to avoid negative environmental impact.Many of Sarah’s arrangements are presented in thrifted tins, glassware, and pots. On a recent Friday, she placed a bridal bouqu... https://volumeone.org/articles/2018/11/28/27005_flowers_done_green
Appletons Memorial Florists to diversify by growing hemp - Appleton Post Crescent
Monday, December 17, 2018There's literally no way you can get high off hemp," said Rob Richard, senior director of governmental relations at the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation in Madison. Nevertheless, hemp was outlawed as a crop in Wisconsin in 1970, squashing Wisconsin's hemp growing industry. "Wisconsin has a long history of growing hemp and was the top producer in the country from the 30s to the 50s," said Richard. The state Legislature passed a law in November 2017 to allow farmers to grow industrial hemp once again. While legal to grow, Richard said farmers are keeping an eye on a federal 2018 farm bill, yet to be signed, that gives them more incentive. "It clears up any misinterpretation or legal interpretation of what hemp is. It will be a crop. It removes it from the controlled substances act," Richard said. "It makes it eligible for crop insurance, so it takes away some of the risk." Richard sees hemp as a good option for Wisconsin farmers. "Our farmers are going through a rough time because commodity prices and milk prices are taking a beating. This is one avenue for farmers to hopefully make some profit on a crop." Besides Front Range, a number of other companies offering seeds and "clones" or tissue cuttings for propagating plants are starting in the state. "They're looking at Wisconsin because we're No. 2 in available organic acreage. Organics are where a lot of the profitability is," he said. Front Range leased one of Memorial's 15,400-square-foot greenhouses to grow tiny hemp plants — in much the same way greenhouses grow bedding or pack plants for home gardeners — that it will sell to Wisconsin farmers for planting in the fields. The operation will add eight full-time jobs. Memorial Florists' traditional floral and greenhouse operations will continue in the remainder of its 40,000-square-foot facility. That means home gardeners, decorators, brides, funerals and those looking for the business' better quality plants will ... https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/2018/12/04/appletons-memorial-florists-greenhouses-signs-deal-grow-hemp/2201857002/
Manitowoc Roorbach Flowers offers full-service FTD shop | Chamber Notebook - Herald Times Reporter
Tuesday, December 04, 2018The Chamber of Manitowoc County For USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin Published 6:54 AM EST Nov 8, 2018 Since 1952 when Harry and Julia Roorbach moved from Illinois to buy the former Hamilton greenhouse and establish Roorbach Flowers, the Roorbach family has been active in Manitowoc's retail scene. Jim and Claire Olson joined Claire's parents in the business in the late 1960s and took ownership in the early 1990s. This coincided with an extensive remodel that created a new retail store, greenhouses and parking on Custer Street. The store is at 961 S. 29th St. and online at roorbachflowers.com or facebook.com/roorbach. ... https://www.htrnews.com/story/money/2018/11/08/manitowoc-roorbach-flowers-offers-full-service-ftd-shop-wisconsin/1923898002/
Wingo's, English Rose Garden Heavily Damaged in O Street Fire
Tuesday, July 31, 2018June 26, 2018“It was then that I knew that someone really had my back,” she wrote.Wingo’s recently acquired a second location at 2218 Wisconsin Avenue in nearby Glover Park, and it hopes to open its doors August 1, according to a Facebook post.English Rose Garden is also currently closed and sustained heavy damage. An employee who was working at the time of the fire told WUSA 9 the “shop is gone.”Have a reaction to this article? Write a letter to the editor. ... http://www.thehoya.com/wingos-english-rose-garden-heavily-damaged-o-street-fire/