Azusa, CA Florists

Azusa Flower Shop News

No time to stop and smell the roses: Dream leads local florist to Rose Parade - Steamboat Pilot & Today

Bostrom arrived in California on the afternoon of Thursday, Dec. 26, and began working on the float two days later when the fresh flowers arrived. She has been living with other volunteers in Azusa — a town about 16 miles outside of Pasadena where the warehouses that house the floats are located.“They ask you to work straight through pretty much 15 hours a day,” Bostrom said. “Then, you’re done by the 31st, and that’s when the judging takes place.”The floats in the parade are created using chicken wire and plastic skin that become the frame for plants and flowers. The visible portion of the float must all be made from plant material, with roses being part of the design. Designers can also use seeds, grasses, leaves and bark for the remarkable creations.Susanne... https://www.steamboatpilot.com/news/no-time-to-stop-and-smell-the-roses-dream-leads-local-florist-to-rose-parade/

Endangered Brodiaea plant produces 'super bloom' in hills above Glendora - The San Gabriel Valley Tribune

This is the last place in Los Angeles County where they exist. And they are flourishing at super-bloom status,” said Ann Croissant, a plant physiologist, botanist, professor emeritus from Azusa Pacific University and the founder and president of the Glendora Community Conservancy.Listed as endangered by the state of California and threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act, the shy plant that stopped a housing project in 1989 and sparked a community conservancy movement in this conservative town is now in the midst of the largest bloom in modern times. When the Conservancy began buying land to preserve plant and animal species in the hills above Glendora and Azusa, it purchased property known as the Colby Trail at the top of Loraine Avenue in eastern Glendora. On a meadow badly damaged by agricultural activity, botanists counted 900 plants in 1993. That grew to 6,900 plants in 2012 and about 8,500 today, Croissant estimates.“They are spectacular. It’s just incredible what’s going on even in the lower level of the Colby Trail,” she said. “This is the best bloom I’ve ever seen.”The debutantes of the bloom ball being celebrated in Southern California this spring don’t display a blanket-like palette like the state flower, the orange-hued California poppy, as seen in record numbers in Hemet, Lancaster and Chino Hills.Instead, the thread-leafed Brodiaea, as they are more commonly known, bunch in clusters of eight to 10, standing tall on thin, spindly, green stems, unfurling their star-like purple-striped flowers under the shade of an oak or amidst the shelter of the taller, beige-colored wild oat plants.AdvertisementOn Thursday, Croissant walked the lower meadow, explaining how the unusual plant deposits ... http://www.sgvtribune.com/environment-and-nature/20170507/endangered-brodiaea-plant-produces-super-bloom-in-hills-above-glendora

Rose Parade floats -- including those of Disney and Irvine -- run on volunteer energy - OCRegister

Nearby, Chris Buck, director of the hit movie “Frozen,” knelt down to paint floorboards. Others in the Azusa warehouse stood on ladders and scaffolding, carrying boxes of pumpkin seeds and other plant material, gluing feverishly so that Disneyland’s 150-foot-long float could make its grand appearance in the 127th annual Rose Parade by dawn Friday.In the weeks, and then just days, and now final hours leading up to the parade, volunteers who want to be a part of the News Year’s Day tradition work long shifts doing whatever is needed to complete floats.While most Rose Parade floats are built entirely by professionals – and the electronics and mechanics of all modern floats are made by pros – several floats are still largely finished off and decorated by volunteer labor.“It’s just a small box, but I’m going to call all my friends to let them know that I cut the flowers for that,” said Deleskiewicz, 47, of Garden Grove, referencing the carton of petals that add some color to a section of the float known as “Disneyland Diamond Celebration – Awaken Your Adventure. ”“It’s fascinating to be part of this.”Prepping the massive floats for their public appearance requires a mix of time and volunteers, said Chris Paulson, media relations spokesman for Phoenix Decorating, a float-building and -marketing company that helped design the city of Irvine’s float, which is 55 feet long, 18 feet wide and 25 feet high.Working for free seems to be popular, at least if that work is connected to the Rose Parade. Paulson said more than 700 volunteers a day signed up this season to help decorate floats at Phoenix Decorating’s Pasadena location. Some started as early as 8 a.m., and others stayed as late as 11 p.m.A few hundred thousand people usually watch the parade live in Pasadena, and tens of millions more tune in on TV. This year’s grand marshal is documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, and he’ll be followed by 44 floats, 20 marching bands and 400 horses. This year’s theme is “Find Your Adventure.”Not all of the float work can be done by volunteers.On Disney’s float, for example, faux snow will fall around an ice castle featuring Queen Elsa, Princess Anna, Olaf the snowman and other “Frozen” characters. In the center, Mi... http://www.ocregister.com/articles/float-698024-parade-irvine.html

Business is 'blooming' at Park Avenue Florist & Gift Shop - Clay Today Online

FTD designs and Teleflora designs. They deliver all over the country as well as internationally. “We deliver worldwide – we FTD and Teleflora. We have wire services. So if it’s going to California, you place your order today, we can have it out there tomorrow,” McCleod said.“I’ve just started coming here,” said Orange Park’s Marlene Revella. “My parents and most of my family live up in Ohio, and obviously I won’t be going home for the holidays this year. So I decided to maybe send them a plant. But I came in and saw the different flower arrangements and plants, and I ended up being here for over an hour. The salespeople were so helpful and patient with me.“I ended up deciding to send a plant and flowers. I think it’s something I’ll probably do again in the future. It’s not too expensive, and it’s a pretty timely gift to let someone know you’re thinking of them.”McCleod says that the florist is doing mostly contactless deliveries and pickups on orders, as people are trying to maintain suggested health and safety protocols.“Usually within 24 hours,” said McCleod when asked about the turnaround time of delivery and pickup orders. “That way, if they pick out something special, we can order it in. We have a wide variety on hand, so we can usually fill it [the order].” McCleod hasn’t seen any particular demographic doing most of the buying.According to her, it’s across the board. Although, she says she’s seen more men than usual – doghouse buys, she calls them – assuming that quarantine has caused them to irritate the women in their lives.“We’re doing more centerpieces right now, especially for Thanksgiving,” said McCleod. “Scented with candles, something festive for their holiday table. Christmas is usually about the same thing. We have ornaments in the specialty type containers as well.” ... https://www.claytodayonline.com/stories/business-is-blooming-at-park-avenue-florist-gift-shop,25109

9-year-old boy earns praise for helping struggling flower vendor: ‘You are one awesome kid!’ - Yahoo Lifestyle

A 9-year-old boy from California has been lauded for going above and beyond for a flower vendor who had appeared to be struggling on the job, KTLA reports.Jeremiah Reyes was on his way to basketball practice with his sister Stephanie when the two came across 57-year-old Israel Parra, who was selling flowers on the side of the road in Santa Ana. Reyes, a fifth grader, told the station that was when he noticed that Parra seemed to be having trouble in the heat with only one arm.“I felt really sad,” he said. “I really wanted to help him out.”When the boy later learned that Parra, who doesn’t have health insurance, was also struggling financially, he decided to take matters into his own hands and created a GoFundMe with a goal of raising $20,000.“It just stayed in my heart and it just made me sad, kept on thinking about it and I really wanted to help him out,” Reyes explained.The generous act caught Parra, who picks up bouquets six days a week from Lupita’s Flowers and tries to sell them, off guard. According t... https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/9-old-boy-earns-praise-180731402.html

ROUNDUP: JP Parker Flowers vacates Indy store, adds retail truck - Indianapolis Business Journal

Mark Weghorst and Nick Smith. Weghorst opened the area’s first Slapfish location in July 2019, inside the Broccoli Bill’s grocery store that his father, Bill Weghorst, owns in Noblesville.California-based Slapfish offers a mostly seafood-focused menu, with an emphasis on sustainably sourced fish. Menu items include fish tacos, burritos, grilled fish bowls and other items, including a children’s menu. The chain is based in the Los Angeles suburb of Fountain Valley and has about 20 locations in several U.S. states, plus England.— Fast-casual Indian restaurant Tandoor & Tikka has opened its third Indianapolis store, and its fourth overall, at 5650 W. 86th St. The restaurant’s grand opening was June 26.It opened in Indianapolis in June 2018 at 805 W. 10th St. near IUPUI, followed by a Castleton location in 2019. Tandoor & Tikka also has a location in Bloomington.— The culinary establishment Studio C, 1051 E. 54th St., has discontinued its coffee service though it is continuing with its other lines of business. Local chef Greg Hardesty opened Studio C in 2019 as a place for a variety of food-oriented offerings based on market demand. The business’ offerings include carry-out meals, private dining and a wine club.— Peppy Grill opened June 19 at 910 W. 10th St. in The Avenue, a mixed-use development near the IUPUI campus. The restaurant is in the spot formerly occupied by Madd Greeks Mediterranean Grille, which closed in March after 3-1/2 years.The new Peppy Grill is associated with the Peppy Grill at 1004 Virginia Ave. in Fountain Square—it is not affiliated with Burt’s Peppy Grill at 3401 E. 10th St.— The Fudge Kettle plans to open its first brick-and-mortar retail space... https://www.ibj.com/blogs/property-lines/roundup-jp-parker-flowers-vacates-indy-store-adds-retail-truck

Small but mighty, a Washington florist battles back in the pandemic - Reuters

I really think they did a good job by not reopening too soon, because look at all the places that are having to close back down, like California, Texas,” Banks said. As the White House and Congress debate the next coronavirus relief bill, Banks said she would like more business funding and clarity on Paycheck Protection Program loans. The shop received a $75,000 loan under the program, allowing it to rehire furloughed staff. “They say it’s forgivable, but they haven’t come out with any clear-cut rules on how to make it forgivable,” Banks said. “I am on pins and needles.” Reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Dan Burns and Richard ChangOur Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-smallbusiness/small-but-mighty-a-washington-florist-battles-back-in-the-pandemic-idUSKCN2511D6