Viola, WI Florists

Viola Flower Shop News

Clarence Thomas Breaks a Three-Year Silence at Supreme Court - The New York Times

TON — For the first 55 minutes of a Supreme Court argument on Wednesday about racial discrimination in jury selection, the justices seemed united in their view that a white Mississippi prosecutor had violated the Constitution in his determined efforts to exclude black jurors from the six trials of Curtis Flowers, who was convicted of murdering four people in a furniture store.As Mr. Flowers’s lawyer concluded her argument, Justice Clarence Thomas asked his first questions from the bench since 2016. He wanted to know whether the defense lawyer in the sixth trial had excluded any jurors. The lawyer said yes.“And what was the race of the jurors struck there?” Justice Thomas asked.White, said the lawyer, Sheri Lynn Johnson.Justice Thomas holds the modern record for silence on the bench. Before his questions in 2016, he had gone a decade without asking one. His explanations have varied, but he has said lately that the other justices asked so many questions that they were rude to the lawyers before them.The balance of the argument went well for Mr. Flowers, whose case has attracted widespread attention. Justices across the ideological spectrum said the track record of the prosecutor, Doug Evans,... https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/20/us/politics/clarence-thomas-speaks-supreme-court.html

'The Fire Within': 9 years of honoring Great Falls women in business - Great Falls Tribune

Deb Evans, CEO of Embark Credit Union said. Meet the 2019 Winners: Kari Lane Johnson and Susan Crocker. Kari Lane Johnson of My Viola Floral Studio Johnson is the 2019 Inspire Award winner and the first ever double honoree in the program. She was the 2012 Aspire Award recipient. She's been the owner of My Viola Floral Studio for nine years, but started in the floral business when she was 19 years old. "It was a surprise...I wasn't expecting that," she said. "I find it as an honor that they thought I stood out among the other nominees...to me a little surprising, but it's wonderful." She started at Riverview Floral in Fort Benton where her boss pointed out her eye for color. From there it was five years of delivering at Sally's Flowers, Electric City Conservatory for seven years and finally her own store in 2010. "She has hired staff with no floral experience and turned them into designers," Evans said. "Kari offers flower design classes throughout the year...as she shared her knowledge and skills with others," Evans said. Johnson said she has fun being a part of local events, but one of her biggest passions is being a part of weddings and teaching her flower classes. "I like to be able to help the brides and help them select what flowers they want to make them look beautiful," she said. "...the flower classes that I teach, those are always exciting, because I get to share my knowledge with the ladies." My Viola had outgrown its first building within four years and now resides at 716 Central Ave., where she said she's able to offer more classes and have more employees. In the future, Johnson sees herself and her employees continuing to serve the comm... https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/2019/04/01/the-fire-within-9-years-honoring-great-falls-women-business/3314905002/

The humble spade flower moonlights as the love shrub - Phys.Org

A hidden talentViolets are familiar objects, from the showy native Viola banksii or the scent of European sweet violets. What is not common knowledge is that members of the Violaceae family produce some very curious molecules called peptides. People – and many other organisms – use peptides as signals that enable communication between cells and tissues. An example of a peptide messenger from humans with an important function is oxytocin, also known as the "love hormone". Oxytocin regulates social bonding and other key aspects of our biology and sociality. In contrast, plants sometimes use peptides for a different purpose, as toxins to protect themselves from insects and other pests. Credit: The Conversation But unlike most peptides, those produced by Violaceae are circular instead of linear. Because of this circular shape, they are highly stable in conditions that would degrade other peptides. This special class of peptides are called "cyclotides" and are only found in relatively few plant species. This is why we have been searching all across northern Australia, from the Kimberley region in Western Australia to the Queensland coast, for samples of native Australian Violaceae. The first cyclotide to grab the attention of scientists comes from an African plant called kalata-kalata, traditionally used in teas to hasten childbirth. In 2013, it was shown that a specific cyclotide from kalata-kalata acts on smooth muscle to cause contraction of muscle tissue. But easing childbirth might not be the only effect cyclotides have. Initial experiments with spade flower extracts demonstrate a significant effect on the mating behaviour of rats. Rats treated with peptide-laden extracts from spade flower exhibit, uh, increased copulation frequency.In us humans, the receptors that detect peptides control libido, sleep, and othe... https://phys.org/news/2019-02-humble-spade-moonlights-shrub.html

NW florist-gay wedding case before top court - Oregon Faith Report

Barronelle serves all customers; she simply declines to celebrate or participate in sacred events that violate her deeply held beliefs,” said ADF Senior Vice President of U.S. Legal Division Kristen Waggoner, who argued on Stutzman’s behalf before the Washington Supreme Court in 2016. Waggoner also argued for Phillips before the U.S. Supreme Court.“Despite that, the state of Washington has been openly hostile toward Barronelle’s religious beliefs about marriage,” Waggoner explained. “It not only went after her business but also sued her in her personal capacity —putting all her personal assets, including her life savings, at risk. Rather than respecting her right to peacefully live out her faith, the government has targeted her because of her beliefs. Meanwhile, the state has applied its laws unevenly, choosing not to sue a coffeehouse owner who profanely berated and expelled customers for their Christian beliefs. In Masterpiece, the U.S. Supreme Court made it clear that government hostility toward people of faith has no place in our society. We are asking the Washington Supreme Court to affirm that in this case.”ADF claims that while Ferguson failed to prosecute the coffeehouse, Seattle’s Bedlam Coffee, he has steadfastly — and on his own initiative —pursued unprecedented measures to punish 74-year-old Stutzman.The ADF brief explains that the U.S. Supreme Court’s Masterpiece Cakeshop ruling condemned what the ADF termed “one-sided applications of the law against people of faith.” After Ferguson obtained a trial court order allowing him to collect on Stutzman’s personal assets, he publicized a letter offering to settle the case for $2,001. In exchange, he demanded that Stutzman give up her religious and artistic freedom.Stutzman responded, “It’s about freedom, not money. I certainly don’t relish the idea of losing my business, my home and everything else that your lawsuit threatens to take from my family, but my free... http://oregonfaithreport.com/2018/12/nw-florist-gay-wedding-case-before-top-court/

US Supreme Court sends anti-gay florist case back to state court - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Colorado baker who also objected to same-sex marriage on religious grounds.The court said in the Colorado case that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission expressed anti-religious bias in violation of the baker’s constitutional rights. Washington courts will review the florist’s case for similar issues.It’s not clear from the record that the Washington Supreme Court will evaluate Stutzman’s case any differently in light of the Colorado ruling.There are no similar allegations that bias affected the state court decisions, and Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson said the recent Supreme Court ruling will have no effect on the case against Baronelle Stutzman and her Arlene’s Flowers store in Richland, Washington.But the Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel Kristen Waggoner, who represents Stutzman, said Ferguson “pursued unprecedented measures to punish Barronelle not just in her capacity as a business owner but also in her personal capacity.” ... https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/us-supreme-court-sends-anti-gay-florist-case-back-to-state-court/

Flowers Done Green - local flower shop keeps it unexpected - Volume One

Valley.“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

There'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

The 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

June 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/