Brighton, MI Florists

Brighton Flower Shop News

Growing roses not the thorn once thought - The Columbian

Michael Marriott, technical manager and senior rosarian for David Austin Limited of Albrighton, England, about the many emerging shrub rose varieties.Shrub roses, also labeled landscaping or groundcover roses, blend a diverse mix of old-rose varieties with modern roses to capture the best qualities of each, including fragrance, flowering styles, colors and growth habits.They’re bred for garden performance rather than plant perfection, converting many rose contrarians into vocal rosarians, Marriott said.“There are certainly plenty of hesitant gardeners who mistakenly think all roses will be finicky and hard to grow — but I’d say they’re decreasing in number,” Marriott said.Early landscape designers frequently recommended that roses be concentrated only in rose gardens, in the process creating a monoculture conducive to pests and diseases. Now they’re integrating roses into mixed borders where companion plants surround roses to the benefit of all, Marriott said.Despite longstanding perceptions, rose growing isn’t a specialty particular to older or more affluent gardeners, said Chris VanCleave, a banker and rose advocate from Helena, Ala., who has a wide following on the garden lecture circuit and his “Redneck Rosarian” website.Regardless of where you are or who you are, there’s a rose just for you, he said.“Baby boomers, Gen Xers and millennial generations ... https://www.columbian.com/news/2019/may/21/growing-roses-not-the-thorn-once-thought/

Brighton florist achieves title of certified designer - AdVantageNEWS.com

Leanne Muenstermann, owner of Leanne’s Pretty Petals in Brighton, has earned the title of Illinois certified designer during the Illinois State Floral Association’s annual floral design show March 14-18 in Champaign, Ill. She was assessed in theoretical knowledge of advanced design styles and techniques. She was required to create three “advanced design” arrangements during a timed test. Internationally recognized floral industry professionals evaluated these advanced designs. Muenstermann is one of only five florists in Illinois to earn this accreditation. She earned her title of Illinois certified professional florist during last year’s annual floral design show. She is one of 58 florists in the state to earn this distinction. She is working toward her national certified floral designer accreditation through the internationally recognized American Institute of Floral Designers. To maintain the Illinois certified designer accreditation, the designer must continue to accumulate continuing education credits each year and maintain his or ... https://advantagenews.com/news/business/brighton-florist-achieves-title-of-certified-designer/

Petal to the metal: Man steals Kittelberger Florist van while employee delivers flowers - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

BRIGHTON Criminal mischief: On Jan. 16, a 65-year-old Brighton man was arrested after putting a large scratch on the trunk of a vehicle on South Clinton Avenue. Grand larceny: In a delayed report, a Browncroft Boulevard resident wired money to a suspect after the suspect listed a vacation rental on Craigslist. After completing the transfer, the victim was unable to reach the suspect. Suspicious incident: On Jan. 15, a Buffard Drive resident saw a dark-colored vehicle in front of his house. He said the two occupants of the car appeared to be looking into houses. When the resident went outside, the men drove away. BROCKPORT Trespassing: On Jan. 6, a 17-year-old Brockport girl was arrested for trespassing. Officers didn't reveal where the alleged incident occurred. CHILI Petit larceny: Between Jan. 10 and 11, three vehicles parked on West Ham Circle were rummaged through. All of the vehicles were unlocked. Prescription medicines, an HP gold laptop, Bose headphones and loose change were taken. Grand larcen... https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2019/01/19/monroe-county-ny-crime-rochester-suburbs-brighton-chili-greece-ogden-irondequoit-victor/2599141002/

David Austin, whose new varieties returned fragrance and romance to the rose, dies - Texarkana Gazette

David Austin, a plant breeder who defiantly reinvented the rose flower to the delight of gardeners, florists and brides around the world, died Dec. 18 at his home in Albrighton, in Shropshire, England. He was 92.His family announced his death but did not disclose the cause.In his 30s, Austin began a life's work breeding new rose varieties that captured the romance, character and, most of all, the fragrance of old garden roses immortalized in art and literature through the ages and across the globe. Few shared his vision.At the time, breeders, plant nurseries and consumers were drawn to stiff, tightly furled and resolutely unscented hybrid tea and floribunda roses that embodied the prevailing ideal of a rosebud on a stick."He had gone around to other rose nurseries [in England] and tried to get them to grow them for him," said Michael Marriott, his longtime colleague and company rosarian. "They all rejected him out of hand."Today, Austin's creations, which he called English Roses, are the gold standard in the vast contemporary rose market. Chalice-shaped, multi-petaled, richly hued and perfumed, they are widely celebrated for having restored the charm... http://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/national/story/2018/dec/24/david-austin-whose-new-varieties-returned-fragrance-and-romance-rose-dies/758030/

Cake and flowers: Rockcastle in Greece adds a bakery - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

MacGregor's open in Brighton MacGregor's Grill & Tap Room is now open at Tops Plaza in Brighton.  It's the restaurant's sixth bar and grill in the Rochester region, with other locations in Gates, Penfield, Greece, Henrietta and Buffalo. MacGregor's takes the place of the former Zebb's at 1890 S. Clinton Ave. in an out parcel in front of the plaza. It is known for its beer flights, beer specials as well as its signature sandwiches such as roast beef and hot pastrami.    Bargain of the Week A trip to Greece meant an opportunity to explore businesses there. Across the street from Rockcastle Florist and Special T Cakes is Dell's Market and Deli... https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2018/11/21/rockcastle-greece-joins-special-t-cakes-bakery-gates-macgregors-brighton/2068786002/

For Livingston County nurseries closed over the coronavirus: 'May is make it or break it' - Livingston Daily

Her hanging flower baskets and flats of flowers are beginning to bloom as April nears its halfway point. However, like other nurseries and retail garden centers in Michigan, Morehouse's business, Tulip Tree Gardens, is not going to open for the season on time.The delay is due to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay home order, which she recently extended until April 30 with tighter restrictions. "If Gov. Whitmer keeps everything closed past May 1, she'll kill agriculture," Morehouse said. "Half of what I've prepared to sell would be sold by Mother's Day."She said she believes any more extensions of the stay home order would bankrupt nurseries like hers. MORE: New map shows where COVID-19 cases are in countyMORE: Former judge David Reader to run for county prosecutorMORE: No Livingston County residents charged with order violationsBefore the spread of COVID-19 in the state, Morehouse was planning to open Saturday. She said the season ends for her in July, but most of her business is done in May and June. She said she is worried she will have to toss plants she's been growing and tending for months. The financial loss in equipment and investment in plants could be at least $45,000, not accounting for lost sales. She continues watering her plants every day, hopin... https://www.livingstondaily.com/story/news/local/community/livingston-county/2020/04/17/livingston-flower-nurseries-limbo-may-make-break-it-garden-centers/2986553001/

Flower growers see sales wither as planting season launches - CBC.ca

Canadian production stems from Ontario. Neighbouring New York and Ohio have also forced garden centres to lock their doors, while Michigan and Vermont have banned retailers from selling non-essential products, including home gardening items. "If they don't open, the damage is going to be astronomical," said trade group head Andi Kuyvenhoven, noting garden centres' crucial role for bedding plants in particular. British Columbia — the second-biggest flower and plant producer — Alberta and Manitoba and have allowed garden centres to keep running, while Quebec deemed them essential along with nurseries as of April 15, though not in time for Easter. Kuyvenhoven, who with his wife co-owns a $2.5-million business selling potted Chrysanthemums and indoor calla lilies — largely to U.S. distributors — on a pair of farms west of Toronto, says clogged supply chains south of the border remain a problem. 'I haven't slept in five weeks' "U.S. customers for a time closed their distribution systems to floral and so the main grocery chains were not purchasing plants," he said, which was hard on growers of cut flowers such as roses and tulips. "If a truck can take 24 skids and four skids were flowers, the flowers came off the trucks and they put more food on the truck — which we completely understand. The only challenge is, when you're growing flowers as we do, they also have a shelf life," said Kuyvenhoven, who bought his business from his parents in 1990. "Now we're now facing liquidity issues...I haven't slept in five weeks." Flowers Canada Growers says exports to the U.S. make up about one-third of greenhouse flower and plant sales, which hit $1.6 billion in 2018, according to Statistics Canada. Nursery sales topped $500 million. While garden centres can continue to operate across much of the continent, growers wonder whether bouquets and flower pots will remain on the shopping list of consumers struggling to make rent amid soaring unemployment numbers and a looming recession. Kuyvenhoven is hoping that families confined to their homes for most of the day will choose to spend what they've saved from unpurchased vacations and lattes on plants for their vases and flower beds. "That's part of what's carried us through downturns in the past," he said. Growers associations are in talks with federal and provincial governments over potential financial relief, with Flowers Canada Growers asking for a "cash injection" as well as extended debt repayment plans secured in part by Ottawa, Kuyvenhoven said. So far, the federal government has extended a stay of default for eligible farmers until Oct. 31, giving flower and potted plant producers an extra six months to pay off federal loans that would have been due at the end of April. Ottawa has also granted exemptions on air travel restrictions to temporary foreign workers and invested $50 million to help farmers fly in labourers on charter trips. "New flights are being booked ever day," the agriculture department sai... https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/flower-growers-hamilton-1.5546023

9 Fabulous Flowers To Plant To Remind You Of Your International Travels - TravelAwaits

You can also spot these gorgeous blooms at festivals around the United States in the spring. Tulip Time in the aptly named Holland, Michigan, is the best known of them all.One of the great things about tulips is that they can be grown from bulbs. That means that once you plant them in your garden, they can come up year after year. Though most people think of single tulips in bright yellow, red, and pink hues, there are actually many varieties of tulips, including double, fringed, and multicolor.Pro Tip: Remember that to enjoy tulips in the spring, you’ll need to plant them in the fall.Where To BuySome large stores such as Costco and Home Depot carry tulip bulbs. If you want to order them online, Breck’s and Holland Bulb Farms offer large selections.2. Irises -- FranceThe national flower of France is the beautiful iris. These delicate blooms are the model for the symbol of the French monarchy, the fleur-de-lis. There are some 300 flowers in the iris family, with colors ranging from quite subtle to very vibrant. We especially love the purple and blue varieties.Areas around the Loire Valley offer many wonderful places to view irises; there is even a sightseeing circuit you can follow to see them.Like tulips, irises can be grown from bulbs.Where To BuyGilbert H. Wild... https://www.travelawaits.com/2493621/flowers-to-remind-you-of-international-travels/?pv=related_list

East Lansing flower shop customer honors late wife by giving anonymous gift - Lansing State Journal

TJ and Camille, Jocelyn, 13, and Katarina, 11.TJ was diagnosed with autism at age 2, Shuster wrote in his essay, and Jennifer, who had studied journalism at Michigan State University, put her career on hold to stay home with her children."If it wasn’t for my wife our autistic son would not be where he is today," Shuster wrote. "His success and progress is mostly because of his mama."Shuster's letter resonated.In an email, the anonymous customer told Van Ark his own marriage had come with "career disappointments and multiple re-locations across the country, problems with relatives, miscarriages, and health concerns.""The marriage itself never, ever wavered," he said. "We were going to be together no matter because no matter what we faced, we would face it together, and that’s how it was when she died: we were together."B/A Florist staff delivered the roses to Jennifer Shuster on Feb. 24 at East Lansing City Hall, where she is a clerk.She's never received a flower arrangement that "extravagant," Jennifer Shuster said in an email to the State Journal.The story behind it brought her to tears, she said."...it forced me to slow down during my busy life and think about the life of a woman I never knew," Jennifer Shuster said in the email.The anonymous customer has already discussed continuing to gift flowers to another couple next year, Van Ark said."I guess the way I see it is, she was truly the love of his life, and even though she's not here in body she's no further away in his heart," she said.Contact Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @GrecoatLSJ. https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2020/03/04/east-lansing-flower-shop-customer-honors-late-wife-anonymous-gift/4884506002/