Cambridge Flower Shop News
Cambridge flower shop brings new life to alley - CTV Toronto
Wednesday, December 02, 2020CAMBRIDGE -- From forgotten and forlorn to blooming with bliss, the Cambridge School of Flowers in the Galt section of Cambridge has reinvented the alley space beside their shop in an effort to help keep their doors open amid COVID-19 restrictions. The community response has been overwhelmingly positive. “A crazy reaction so far! People, I love when I see them walking by and they do that rubber neck thing when they you know, notice the tree,” said Elaine Martin, the owner of Cambridge School of Flowers. The trees, evergreens, mini ferns, wreaths are all holiday themed. The space has been dubbed the Allée which is French for alley. The alley gives customers the chance to shop safely outside, but it has also provided Martin the opportunity to give back. She met Alex, a young man living with schizophrenia back in May. The two struck up a conversation that changed both of their lives. “He was looking for us to support him financially and I said I have a better idea, do you know... https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/cambridge-flower-shop-brings-new-life-to-alley-1.5196757
Flower giant Dennis Edwards passes away - Fruitnet
Wednesday, July 29, 2020Edwards started in the Flower Market as a porter, aged 17. Over the next six decades he would have an illustrious career, with highlights including sourcing Lily of the Valley for HRH the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding bouquet, flowers for the coffin at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, as well as 3,000 rose petals for the 9/11 remembrance service.Edwards was a familiar and popular figure on the market, and a highly valued supplier to florists across the capital.Covent Garden Market Authority's statement said: "We know Dennis will be remembered at New Covent Garden Flower Market as a true genetleman and legend in the floral industry. Covent Garden Market Authority have sent our deepest condolences to his family and will be keeping them along with his friends and colleagues in our thoughts at this difficult time."... http://www.fruitnet.com/fpj/article/182455/flower-giant-dennis-edwards-passes-away
Bouquets as hot as a designer handbag: They're the 'it' accessory - Daily Mail
Wednesday, July 29, 2020The Belfast-born, sustainable floral designer is a hit with the senior royals. ‘I was given the rather extraordinary title of Artistic Director of Flowers for the wedding of the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge,’ he laughs. ‘Everything was made the night before the wedding. Then, we were up again at 4am to check it all.’ In Kate’s bouquet (right) was ‘Lily of the Valley, a little touch of hyacinth, and some Sweet William, which was a bit of fun’. Not to mention the trees. ‘To add intimacy in the Abbey, the obvious answer to me was to use trees.’Steal his style: Romantic, English countryside flowers with a wild, fairytale twist. He adds ‘find flowers you love by visiting gardens, not flower shops.’ No non-recyclable foam or flown-in flowers. For floristry courses with Shane, go to:learningwithexper... https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8573181/Bouquets-hot-designer-handbag-Theyre-accessory.html
Cambridge florist’s truck broken into after delivering meals to frontline coronavirus medical workers - Boston Herald
Sunday, July 05, 2020The owners of a fourth-generation florist shop in Cambridge woke up to disturbing news Wednesday when they learned someone had broken into a truck they’ve been using to delivering thousands of meals to frontline healthcare workers amid the coronavirus pandemic.The passenger side window of Central Square Florist’s truck got smashed overnight inside the Green Street Garage in Cambridge.The family-owned business since 1929 has been shuttered since the coronavirus shutdown, and instead they’ve been volunteering their vehicles to deliver food to frontline healthcare workers.“It’s just very frustrating,” Jackie Levine of Central Square Florist said of the truck break-in. “It’s bad regardless when people do this, but it’s even worse now.“It just hits harder because we’re already stressed out that we’re not open,” she said. “We don’t need this kind of frustration.”They’re on pace to deliver about 4,000 meals to medical workers this week. They’ve been working with the group Off Their Plate to deliver meals to Boston Medical Center, Beth Israel... https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/04/15/cambridge-florists-truck-broken-into-overnight-theyve-been-delivering-meals-to-medical-workers/
On Mother’s Day, Mass. Florists Struggle to Meet Demand - nbcboston.com
Friday, May 29, 2020Mother'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 breakfast in a box packages: meals with flowers.Social distancing rules are preventing mothers from going out to celebrate, so one Charlestown restaurant decided to put Mother’s Day in a box and bring it to some of them.“So we’ve been able t... https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/businesses-adjust-to-mothers-day-during-pandemic/2121803/
Business is 'blooming' at Park Avenue Florist & Gift Shop - Clay Today Online
Wednesday, December 02, 2020McCleod 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
Ham Lake couple trust God as they grow family flower farm business - The Catholic Spirit
Monday, August 24, 2020Jonah grew up on a farm. High school sweethearts, the 30-year-olds met at the parish they still attend, St. Paul in Ham Lake. They went to college together at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio and married in 2012.Six years ago, they rented a farmhouse near Ham Lake, on 20 acres with a field bordered by pines. After it sat fallow for a few seasons, they approached their landlord and arranged to begin farming it. This spring, they planted a plot with 50 different types of flowers. Kristen cuts, arranges and sells bouquets.Kristen and Jonah are convinced that God has led them to begin this venture, but they wear no rose-colored glasses about the challenge they’ve taken on. When asked July 30 what he sees when he looks over the field, Jonah chuckled and said, “a lot of labor.” In the spring, he and Kristen ordered mounds of compost to prepare the field’s otherwise “sandbox” soil, spreading it over layers of salvaged cardboard to help retain moisture and quality. He built a fence to keep out deer, like the five he observed grazing across the road that evening, as well as an irrigation system.Jonah holds a master’s degree in counseling, but decided the career wasn’t for him. He works as a house inspector, but is an entrepreneur at heart. The flower farm by far is the biggest risk he and Kristen have taken, he said. They hope that eventually it could become their full-time business.When they began researching farming, they planned to grow organic food. They were inspired by the writings of Joel Salatin, a Christian farmer in Virginia who has become the godfather of a movement favoring small-scale, sustainable, family-based farming. The Carlstroms were thinking produce and chickens when, in the winter of 2019, Kristen came across a book titled “The Cut Flower Garden” by Erin Benzakein, a florist farmer in Washington.“Basically, I just fell in love with it,” Kristen said. “It was kind of out of the blue for me.”She had always kept a small flower garden with sunflowers and zinnias, but nothing large-scale. But once she began to think about flowers, she became convinced that was the direction she wanted to move.“I knew we were going to take on something really big,” she said. “It was really important for me to be really passionate about it. And so, this was something that just really took a hold of me. And I had so much energy with thinking of doing really hard stuff to make it happen.”She and Jonah took Benzakein’s online course on flower farming, and dove into researching what would grow well in Minnesota’s climate. “Before we knew it, we’re like, we’re really doing it,” she said.Jonah gives Kristen all the credit for the flower focus. “I never thought I would be a flower farmer — I don’t think many men do think of that,” Jonah said, sitting near the field. He agreed to the online course, “and I was just sort of open with the Lord; ‘Wherever you lead us.’”“Ever since leaving school, I wanted to do something in nature. I love working outside. I’ve been praying along the way” for God’s guidance, he said. “Basically, I want to come home and I want to work from home.”The Carlstroms don’t know any other young farmers, but they’re not alone among Catholic millennials. Jim Ennis, executive director of St. Paul-based Catholic Rural Life, said there are like-minded young Catholics across... https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/local-news/ham-lake-couple-trust-god-as-they-grow-family-flower-farm-business/
Looters Ransack Streeterville Florist Shop That Opened Just A Few Months Ago - CBS Chicago
Monday, August 24, 2020It was difficult to see the shop like this,” Nima Manhas said.The refrigerators were shattered, the computers were broken, and the new small business at 209 E. Ohio St. was totally ransacked.“All of us are trying to get back to normal, and it’s just so difficult,” Nima Manhas said.They did deal with some theft.“Just garbage and trash everywhere,” said Gur Manhas.But for the most part, City Scents Flowers was destroyed for the sake of destruction – almost eerily so.You can see the flowers behind the broken refrigerators still arranged in place.“It seemed like the purpose was just to damage,” Gur Manhas said.Their purpose since taking over in April is supporting their community, even when it meant closing down during the protests in May after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police.“We handed out daisies and white roses to protestors to show support for the protesters,” Nima Manhas said.“We do not believe that the violence that occurred this morning had anything to do with any kind of social justice theme,” Gur Manhas said.Now, as they process and finish picking up the pieces, things that can be replaced.“We don’t want people to move away from the city,” Gur Manhas said.Their focus is on a feeling throughout the city right now that’s not as easily replaceable.“I think it’s important for everyone to feel safe in our community,” Nima Manhas said.City Scents is hoping to open back up soon in Streeterville. And on Monday night, like other businesses in this area, big and small, all hit in the early morning, they’re asking for one thing – protection from the city. https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/08/10/looters-ransack-streeterville-florist-shop-that-opened-just-a-few-months-ago/
Local florist brings joy to Clevelanders with massive floral installation at Edgewater Park - News 5 Cleveland
Monday, August 24, 2020At the same time, Mayesh, who is the largest flower wholesaler in Northeast Ohio, had a significant amount of inventory on hand as they prepared to close through April. Bob Fenner Flower display at Edgewater Park. So Thomas loaded up as many flowers as he could, approximately 5,000 stems, onto the bed of his pick up truck.Working after dusk, plucking and arranging each flower with intent, Thomas created an 8-foot tall floral billboard at Edgewater Park.At the base of the installation reads, “Individually, we are one flower. Together we are a beautiful garden,” — a message Thomas hopes reaches as many people as possible during this difficult time. Cleveland Metroparks/Kyle Lanzer. Floral design at the Cleveland Metroparks. Cleveland Metroparks/Kyle Lanzer. “Having flowers is a luxury for most people who think twice about having them even when the economy is good. I had all these flowers and thought this would be a great way to bring joy into as many homes as possible,” he said.Every visitor is encouraged to take a flower or two home to remind them of better times ahead."I designed it so it's easy for visitors to grab flowers," Thomas said.The Cleveland Metroparks, who operates the area where the display is located at, encourages visitors practice social distancing.Spreading joy and hope through flowers is something that runs deep for Thomas, who, for as long as he can remember, has been surrounded by flowers and plants.For generations, his family has been in the flower business, o... https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/made-us-smile/local-florist-brings-joy-to-clevelanders-with-massive-floral-installation-at-edgewater-park