Blackstone, MA Florists

Blackstone Flower Shop News

New business: Six stores opening up in Fresno & Clovis CA - Fresno Bee

This is the company’s second store, the first one is at 5412 N. Blackstone Ave. in Fresno. The comic book and board game seller recently moved its Clovis store at Sierra Vista Mall to a larger space in the Bonanza Center. The new space allows them to stay open longer to accommodate more board game players and they have more room to stock new stuff. There is also an entire wall devoted to the popular vinyl figures made by Funko. “People can’t get enough of these,” said Darrick Oyama, one of Legends’ owners. “They aren’t too expensive and they are fun to collect.” Along with carrying collectibles, the new store also sells new and vintage video games, graphic T-shirts, card games, model kits, and hundreds of comic books. They also have room for up to 40 board game players. Oyama allows players to come in with their own board games or they can try out a new one from the store’s game board shelf. And don’t be surprised if you see a line of people outside the store on Wednesday mornings. That’s the day comic book companies issue their new releases. The store opens extra early at 9 a.m. to handle the rush. Legends’ new store is located at 1752 Clovis Ave. (559) 207-3659. Jorge Flores poses with a popular flower arrangement that displays roses in a... https://www.fresnobee.com/living/food-drink/bethany-clough/article226272515.html

Worcester florist readies for FTD America's Cup - Worcester Mag

Ecuadorian greenhouse, is located in Quinsigamond Village. It was built in the 1870s to accommodate Swedish immigrants destined for careers in Worcester’s wire manufacturing industry. Today, 19 Blackstone River Road is inhabited by one of America’s most distinguished floral design competitors: Sally Jablonski. Jablonski lives above the fragrant oasis of Herbert E. Berg Florist Inc., which has operated in the space for the last 83 years. Berg, who excelled as an agriculture student at North High School in his adolescence, sold the shop to Jablonski 23 years ago, just as she was making a name for herself as a fierce competitor in the country’s most prestigious floral design circuit. In 1989, she was a contender at the FTD World Competition in Tokyo, and in 1996 she competed at what she imagined would be her final FTD America’s Cup. The ’90s marked a pivotal time in the flower industry as online business disrupted the market. The Economist reports that between 1992-2014, the number of florist shops in America fell from 27,000 to 15,000. But flowers are timelessly extravagant, heart-stirring and sophisticated, and florists willing to evolve persisted with ease. Herbert E. Berg Florist Inc. was no exception. Jablonski’s selection as a competitor in the 2018 FTD America’s Cup in July marks her reentry into the...

Mark Cullen: Six favourite plants to attract butterflies - Ottawa Citizen

Get his free monthly newsletter at markcullen.com. Look for his new book, The New Canadian Garden published by Dundurn Press. Follow him on Twitter @MarkCullen4 and Facebook.Blackstone home built for New Home Buyer's Guide sells to young familyDownsizer recalls the move from family home to condoAdvice from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and movers Two Men and a Truck... http://ottawacitizen.com/life/homes/gardening/mark-cullen-six-favourite-plants-to-attract-butterflies

East Africa: Ethiopia Wins Big As Cement, Flower, Shoe Firms Set Up Shop - AllAfrica.com

By Allan OlingoEthiopia is using a range of incentives to woo investors to the country. Already, US private equity groups KKR and Blackstone have announced their interest in the country's infrastructure and floriculture sectors.Dangote Cement has set up shop in the country too and one of India's largest paint-makers, Asian Paints, has entered the market through the acquisition of a local manufacturer last year. Unilever is building a factory there too, while Chinese shoemaker Huajian Group set up shop in the country four years ago.Ethiopia offers investors in the horticulture sector Customs duty exemptions of up to 100 per cent on imports of capital goods for eligible areas of investment; income tax exemptions for up to nine years; a duty drawback scheme and loss carry forward for businesses that suffer losses during the income tax exemption period for half of the tax exemption period. This has seen several Kenyan-based flower firm diversify their operations into Ethiopia.Fitsum Arega, head of Ethiopia's investment agency, said they expect the country's FDI to increase by at least 20 per cent from last year, with... http://allafrica.com/stories/201609190463.html

Life is beautiful with houseplants, according to Queen of Green - Ottawa Citizen

The Indestructible Houseplant: 200 Beautiful, Easy-care Plants that Everyone can grow, by Tovah Martin (Timber Press, 2015). $30.95 at Amazon.caAilsa Francis blogs at hortus2.wordpress.comBlackstone home built for New Home Buyer's Guide sells to young familyDownsizer recalls the move from family home to condoAdvice from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and movers Two Men and a Truck... http://ottawacitizen.com/life/homes/gardening/life-is-beautiful-with-houseplants-according-to-queen-of-green

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

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/

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