Agawam, MA Florists

Agawam Flower Shop News

Flower Barrels from Fini's Plant Farm brighten up sidewalks - Reminder Publications

Just recently, Pat said, ‘I would really like to see a return to doing flower barrels in town,’” Pasquerella said.The West Springfield Garden Club was inspired by similar barrels found in the town of Agawam. “They have these beautiful flower barrels all around Agawam. We contacted Al Fini to see how it works. We now have gotten him to do the program and he grows [the flowers] and provides the outer barrel and places them all around. He said he would be more than willing to do what he does for Agawam for West Springfield,” Pasquerella shared.Pasquerella said she feels that the flower barrels will improve the town of West Springfield. “I think it’s a quality of life thing. There’s something about flowers. There’s a reason why Home Depot or even your local grocery store sells flowers, because it does something for you. It lifts up your heart. It provides a moment of beauty when you drive by or you’re in a store. Psychologically, it improves your mood,” Pasquerella said.Pasquerella shared that the West Springfield Garden Club is already looking to the future of the flower barrel project. “Next year, we’d really like to do 100,” Pasquerella said.The West Springfield Garden Club is currently accepting sponsorships on each of the barrels. Each sponsorship costs $120 and includes the barrel, soil, watering from June 10 to Sept.15, and a 4 by 10-inch all-weather sign inserted in the barrel to display the name of the sponsor. Sponsorships can be purchased by a donor, company, group or in honor of a loved one.Signs will be collected in mid-September and kept by the West Springfield Garden Club for use in future years. If a sponsor chooses to participate in a future year, the same sign will be used and the sponsorship will only cost $100.At the time of publication, 35 of the 50 barrels had been sponsored. To sponsor a barrel, contact Kate Parrow at kfparrow@comcast.net. https://www.thereminder.com/localnews/west-springfield/flower-barrels-from-finis-plant-farm-brighten-up-s/

Deep field set for Bridge of Flowers 40th anniversary

New England.Last season, John Busque, of Manchester, Connecticut, showed up on the morning of the event, registered and won.Busque tracked down defending champion Glarius Rop, of Agawam, on the stretch of course that no longer exists. He passed Rop and beat the two-time champion by 43 seconds.Those two men are back this season and both will be among the favorites to win the race. The third-place finisher from a year ago, Scott Mindel, of Burlington, Vermont, also returns.Rop is a member of the Western Mass. Distance Project, and will have four teammates joining him. One of those is Amos Sang, of Chicopee, who won the 2014 Bridge of Flowers. Sang won the New England 5-mile championship this season with a time of 24:36.Northampton’s Ben Groleau, another Western Mass. Distance Project runner, is the UMass record-holder in the mile with a time of 4:01. Groleau was fourth at the New England 5-mile championships in 25:27. Dennis Roche, of Springfield, another WMDP runner, finished fifth last year at the Bridge of Flowers.The women’s field will be just as deep. Last year’s champion, Holly Rees, of Cambridge, is returning. Rees ran an average of just under 6 minutes a mile in winning the women’s crown in 37:05.Rees will be challenged by Semehar Tesfaye, of West Roxbury. Tesfaye won the Bridge of Flowers in 2016 in 39:03.Another major challenger is newcomer Aisling Cuffee, who graduated from Stanford but now lives in North Grafton and runs for Saucony under coach Ray Treacy. Cuffee has a 15:11 personal record in a 5K.The third, fourth and fifth-place finishers from a year ago also return in the women’s field. Apryl Sabadosa, of Westfield, took third. Karen Bertasso, of Albany, New York, is a two-time Bridge of Flowers winner. She was fourth last year. The fifth-place finisher from a year ago was Jenna Giglioti, of Northampton, who joins Sabadosa as two of the top female runners in the We... https://www.gazettenet.com/Bridge-of-Flowers-19387803

Sang, Cuffe rule Bridge of Flowers

Benjamin Groleau finished third overall in 25:37, as he was in the lead pack for much of the first half of the race before Sang and Leibold separated themselves. Two-time champion Glarius Rop of Agawam was fourth in 26:03, followed in fifth place by Teague O’Connor of Burlington, Vt. (26:10). Shelburne Falls’ Dan Smith was the top local runner across the Iron Bridge, finishing ninth in 27:21.Cuffe and Leibold moved to Massachusetts just two weeks ago, as Leibold began medical school at UMass in Worcester last week. Cuffe said the pair was looking for something to do over the weekend, and discovered the event. Leibold said it was a nice escape from a chaotic first week of school.“We’re kind of aficionados of old races so when we saw this one, it was a no-brainer,” Cuffe explained.While she mostly competes in shorter races, Cuffe, who was 22nd overall in the field, felt right at home on the 8K course. She said she raced against Rees in a 5K last year, and knew the Bridge of Flowers defending champion was the one to watch when the opening gun went off.“I figured she knew what she was doing,” Cuffe said of keeping Rees in her sights.Semehar Tesfaye of West Roxbury, the 2016 champion, finished third in the women’s race with a time of 30:18. Karen Bertasso of Albany, N.Y. was fourth in 30:31, and Mohawk Trail star and Plainfield resident Meghan Davis was the fifth-fastest woman across the tape in 30:55.The weather cooperated for the 3K Charity Race and 8K Classic, as rain held off and the overcast morning made for comfortable, mid-August temperatures. The traditional charm of the race was evident throughout the course, with bagpipers, drummers and fans lining the streets and trails of Shelburne Falls to the delight of the over 800 runners combined between the two fields.“I love the history of Massachusetts races,” explained Leibold. “Old, long-standing races like this one, the community can get behind it and come out and support every year no matter who is running. That’s the great thing about it, it’s really an event that gets people coming back every year.”Locals ruled the Steve Lewis Subaru Charity 3K Run and Walk, with Buckland’s Bryan Dole finishing first overall in 10:24. Jacob Hughes of Shelburne Falls was the runner-up in 10:31, while Toby Hughes was fifth overall in 11:40. Amherst’s Cortney Berling was the first woman across, as she was third overall in 10:54. Leyden’s Kate Ashley was next in fourth place as the second woman across in 11:34.In the 8K Classic, Greenfield’s Aaron Stone was the top area finisher behind Smith as he crossed 31st overall in 30:10. Shelburne’s John Herron finished 36th (30:33), with Davis’ showing making her the top area woman and fourth-fastest Franklin County finisher overall. Shelburne Falls’ Jeremiah Jones was 40th in 31:01, and Shutesbury’s Andy Reagan joined him in the top 50 thanks to a 49th place performance in 32:09. https://www.recorder.com/Bridge-of-Flowers-19415790

Yuletide celebration coming to Storrowton Village Museum - MassLive.com

Thelma Greene of Chicopee will oversee the festive decorating project. Participating clubs and florists who deck out the village through their generosity and inspired ideas include: the Agawam, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham, Springfield and West Springfield Garden Clubs; Garden Club of the Westfield Woman's Club; Deena Rollet of Merry Mite Gardens in Suffield, Conn.; Anthony Gladu of West Springfield's Rose Petal & Thorn; Flowers by Webster; and the Eastern States Exposition Landscape Department.  "Many of these people have been decorating our village for years and are really familiar with its history and surroundings, so they know what they're doing when it comes to sprucing up the village for an old-fashioned holiday. I think what keeps them coming back is the fact that it gives them a chance to step outside what they do every day and to decorate for the past. They go out and gather natural things.....dried things.....that they wouldn't necessarily use all year long," Green said. "Visitors will see natural flowers and plants, and the natural decorations are usually very colorful and relaxing to see. Some folks will be creating garlands to go over the mantles and fireplaces in the village. We have one florist from Connecticut who will be doing a big Christmas tree in the Gilbert Parlor that will be decorated only with dried and other natural products. There are no electrical lights allowed in keeping with the period," she added. Greene noted that many visitors each year attend the event to see how they can incorporate natural materials into their home decorating and take those ideas back with them. It's Jessica Fontaine's first Yuletide at Storrowton as new director of the museum. "I'm very excited about this year's event. We have a lot of things that people have grown to love and expect over the years, as we... http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/11/yuletide_celebration_coming_to.html

Snow's impact on Valentine's Day sales at florists and bakeries - wwlp.com

If customers aren’t home, the flowers are brought to a close neighbor’s or back to the shop.Others show their love through sweet treats, like cupcakes and cannolis at Giovanni’s Italian Pastries in Agawam. “Flowers die, but this, it’s nice you know, you get something out of it!” said Patsy DePergola of Agawam. He was picking out cannolis and carrot cake with his wife to enjoy at home later on Valentine’s Day.Manager Teresa Russo said the snow did impact business a bit over the weekend, with more people staying inside than enjoying an early Valentine’s Day treat. But, she said business was steady on the holiday. She said most of their business was day-of, rather than pre-orders: “You don’t really always know what to prepare for, but the chocolate covered strawberries are very popular, so we always make sure to order plenty of strawberries to be dipped in chocolate.”WWLP.com > Share this:Like this:LikeLoading...Related PostsAdvertisement... http://wwlp.com/2017/02/14/florist-busy-for-valentines-day/

On Mother’s Day, Mass. Florists Struggle to Meet Demand - nbcboston.com

Florists in Massachusetts struggled to meet the demand for flowers this weekend as families observed Mother's Day, Sunday. Many florists stopped taking orders for Mother’s Day after selling out. Central Square Florist in Cambridge was one of the few still taking orders and delivering.Herbert Berg Florist in Worcester said demand was too high because they are short staffed and have a limited supply. "When we all closed up the beginning of March and April, nobody was buying flowers so the suppliers had nowhere to sell them to," said Sally Jablonski, owner of Herbert Berg Florist. "They were just dumping all the flowers."Gov. Charlie Baker allowed florists and some other non-essential businesses to open — on a remote basis — in time for Mother’s Day, but some business owners said it wasn’t enough time to prepare.Some businesses, however, got creative to make the day special. Monument Restaurant in Charlestown partnered with a local florist, Junebug, to create dozens of pre-ordered breakfas... https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/businesses-adjust-to-mothers-day-during-pandemic/2121803/

Winston Flowers is closing three retail florist shops - The Boston Globe

Boston Design Studio and Winston Flowers & Garden center in Chestnut Hill.“While we are downsizing our portfolio of retail stores throughout Massachusetts, this is definitely not goodbye,” the owners wrote. “While it saddens us that we will not be a daily presence in your community, we hope to remain a constant presence in your lives.”Janelle Nanos can be reached at janelle.nanos@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @janellenanos. https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/05/28/business/winston-flowers-is-closing-three-retail-florist-shops/

Massachusetts relaxes rules on florists, car dealers, other businesses - SouthCoastToday.com

Massachusetts relaxes rules on florists, car dealers, other businesses  SouthCoastToday.comCoronavirus restrictions on Massachusetts florists, retail ease ahead of Mother's Day  Boston HeraldFlowers for Mom: Baker loosens retail restrictions prior to May 18  Boston Business JournalFlorists allowed to fulfill orders ahead of Mother’s Day in Massachusetts — with some restrictions  MassLive.comBaker Eases Tight Restrictions on Floral Shops, Garden Businesses Ahead of Mother’s Day  nbcboston.comView Full Coverage on Google News... https://www.southcoasttoday.com/news/20200505/massachusetts-relaxes-rules-on-florists-car-dealers-other-businesses

At Christmas time, poinsettias for everyone who mattered - The Boston Globe

He travels as far north as Wells, Maine, (“That’s where the owners of the Valerie’s Restaurant in Ogunquit are buried. They used to make Caesar salad right at the table.”); and as far south as the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne where Dennis LeFort, one of his best friends, is buried (“He was a Frenchman”). It takes him a week to make the flower arrangements, (“I make each bow myself”) and a week to deliver them. He says he doesn’t mind. “It’s nice to remember all the good people I’ve known.”The day we drive to Everett, his poinsettias are already on all of the graves. He finished early this year, Dec. 1. “Which cemetery do you want to go to so I can see your work?” I ask him, thinking he’ll choose someplace close to where he lives in Quincy. But he chooses Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett because that’s where most of his family is buried and where he will be buried. His stone is already engraved, he tells me.Fred was diagnosed with cancer this year. But he insists he’s in great shape for the shape he’s in. The cancer is gone (“That’s what they say”), and after some hard months, he has his strength back. Most of it, at least. This day he says, with a shrug and a smile, “If this is my last Christmas, I’m gonna enjoy it.” Then he eases himself into my car, propping his cane between his knees.AdvertisementHe tells me stories as I drive. At the cemetery, he tells me more stories. He points to his brothers’ graves. One is a World War II veteran. The other a veteran of Korea. “There were six of us,” he says. “Boy, girl, boy, girl. Boy, girl. I’m the only one left.”There’s snow on the ground and the snow has buried his poinsettias. He walks slowly with his cane and points to where the flowers should be. I dig and find five red flowers in one spot, and five more in another.Next we head to his parents’ grave. “My dad was 56 when he died. My mom died 29 years ago on Sept. 8. I come here every Saturday morning after I go to the Market Basket. I cruise by and say hello to my brothers and sister. I say, “I’m here, Bob! I’m here Mel and Ruth and John!”That’s what he does at Christmas. He stops and says, “I’m here!” He stands at the graves of all the people who were important in his life and says, “Merry Christmas. I’ll never forget you.” And, with a tip of his hat, “I’ll see you one of these days.”AdvertisementBeverly Beckham’s column appears every two weeks. She can be reached at bev@beverlybeckham.com. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/globelocal/2019/12/11/christmas-time-poinsettias-for-everyone-who-mattered/rMrpN2ISnDXX7pdSDe0fXN/story.html