Blackwell, OK Florists

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Flower Power: Farm-to-Vase Movement Takes Root on Chicago's South and West Sides - WTTW News

All of which serves as a prologue to the story of Eco House. Eco House founder Quilen Blackwell. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News) Rain barrels are the sole source of water for the farm's irrigation system. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News) Beehives at the farm. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News) Lilies, biding their time before blooming. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News) Southside Blooms' floral studio, in the basement of the Blackwells' home. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News) What a Midwestern flower farm looks like, when spring bloomers are spent, and summer's are freshly planted. (Patty Wetli / WTTW News) Southside Blooms seasonal spring bouquet. (Southside Blooms) Eco House upends pretty much everything we just told you about the flower industry. Here’s a farm with land located not in South America but the South and West sides of Chicago. Flowers are grown outdoors in the dirt on formerly vacant lots in Englewood, Woodlawn and West Garfield Park, and then sold directly to consumers.That’s not just one but a series of seemingly quixotic choices.Yet Eco House founder Quilen Blackwell looks at his fraction of acreage and sees not a fool’s errand but the seeds of what could be Chicago’s own Napa Valley, a thriving homegrown industry built from the ground up, one stem at a time.“We hope we can scale this up, that one day the ghetto as we know it is gone and it becomes a place of abundance and prosperity and peace,” Blackwell said.Here’s why the idea could actually succeed.Eco House is part of the blossoming slow flowers movement, which sprung up in the last decade as the farm-to-vase equivalent of the farm-to-table concept. Across the country, intrepid farmers are reviving the long dormant traditions of growing flowers locally and seasonally, bringing back practices abandoned decades (and in some cases centuries) ago.Visit one of the Eco House farms in early spring, and daffodils, hyacinths and tulips will be flow... https://news.wttw.com/2020/07/08/slow-flower-movement-chicago-eco-house

Growing A Community’s Future, One Flower At A Time - CBS Chicago

I’m just glad to be here and I’m just trying to make a change to my community and to the world,” Richardson said.He’s one of the employees at Chicago Eco House. Quilen Blackwell is the president and founder of the organization.“The whole point of this project is to create jobs for local youth and young adults on the South and West sides of Chicago, reduce blight, and convert vacant lots into viable economic spaces,” Blackwell said.Currently, Chicago Eco House has four farms in Chicago; two in Woodlawn, one in Englewood, one on the West Side. But there are plans to get more unused spaces to plant bulbs and bring in bucks to help those in the community.In the Englewood garden, a double lot is used to grow brilliant zinnias, soft snapdragons, and more; including tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths. Blackwell said the flowers are direct-to-consumer through Southside Blooms, a floral company that provides arrangements small and large for individuals and events.For Richardson, being surrounded by beautiful flowers gives him a calming feeling and he said the experience has changed his life. His favorite is the red-orange zinnia that has a bloom as big as a baseball.“It takes teamwork to maintain a garden. It’s like a baby. It takes a family, it takes a community to build,” said Robinson. “So that’s what we’re trying to do. To build more (Chicago) Eco House eco-farms across the world.”The organization has also launched a Kickstarter site to raise funds for its e-commerce flower shop.For more information on buying flowers from Chicago Eco House, visit the Southside Blooms website for details on pricing, availability, and flowers for 2020. https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/10/22/growing-a-communitys-future-one-flower-at-a-time/

NC couple reschedules wedding due to Florence; donates flowers to cancer patients

SATURDAY UPDATES: Social media captures Florence's push inland] Atrium Health’s Laura Blackwell called it a bright spot for patients. “The patients were thrilled when they saw all the beautiful flowers being brought in. We’re happy to know that they were going to able to get those flowers when they left today from their infusion,” she said. Hurricane content: A warmer world makes hurricanes wetter and more intense Mother, infant, among several killed by Hurricane Florence Florence could dump enough rain to fill the Chesapeake Bay WHAT'S HAPPENING: Rain still in the forecast from Florence Regulators keep watch on toxic waste sites during hurricane Hurricane Florence to test South Carolina infrastructure Snakes alive! As waters rise, beware of reptiles Birds thrown from vehicle while being transported from the coast 'We are coming to get you': Crews work to rescue residents from rising flood waters 5 hacks to keep your smartphone charged during a power outage 'Threat becomes reality': Florence begins days of rain, wind 2 years after disastrous flood, Florence scares small town Verizon Wireless, other companies offer free service to those impacted by storm a href="https://www.wso... https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/nc-couple-reschedules-wedding-due-to-florence-donates-flowers-to-cancer-patients/834688189

Tropical Storm Florence: Couple reschedules wedding due to storm, donates flowers to cancer patients

Riser said. Atrium Health’s Laura Blackwell called it a bright spot for patients, WSOC reported. “The patients were thrilled when they saw all the beautiful flowers being brought in. We’re happy to know that they were going to (be) able to get those flowers when they left today from their infusion,” she said. While North Carolina remains under the cloud of now-Tropical Storm Florence, the patients who took home those fresh flowers will have a reminder that there are good things in the world. “To think they would be so generous that they would want to contribute to the community and be so concerned about the joy of people they didn’t know is pretty special,” Blackwell said. “That doesn’t happen very often and it’s always a blessing to be able to see that.” © 2018 Cox Media Group. ... https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/national/tropical-storm-florence-couple-reschedules-wedding-due-storm-donates-flowers-cancer-patients/iyeQCq2bXFdvbq3IkJeipL/

Brookdale Riverwalk seniors, staff hand out flowers, kindness - The Bakersfield Californian

It made my day. I’m sure it’ll make other people’s days, too,” she said.While making people’s days a little brighter was a major focus of the event, resident Juanita Blackwell said getting out of Brookdale Riverwalk also does a lot of good for the residents’ health, physically, emotionally and spiritually.“We need to be out with other people. We need to be out doing something,” she said. “You can feel pretty hemmed in if you just stay here all the time. You can get to feeling old. Just because I’m 90 doesn’t mean I need to feel old.”Newman said participating in events like Random Acts of Kindness Day makes the residents feel that they are making a difference in the community, even if it’s a small, short-lived one.“It isn’t just the recipient who feels better. I think the giver is rewarded even more,” she said. “To think you’ve made someone, even if for a very brief time, enjoy the day more and feel better about themselves is a great thing.”Brookdale Senior Living Inc. operates senior living communities throughout the United States. The company operates independent- and assisted-living centers, dementia-care facilities, and continuing-care retirement centers.Brookdale also offers outpatient therapy, home health and hospice services. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/brookdale-riverwalk-seniors-staff-hand-out-flowers-kindness/article_27f66b80-1367-11e8-b4fa-8b9f862d8db6.html

Specialty florist Mia Fiori moves to new Plano location - Community Impact Newspaper

Community Impact Newspaper. A Fort Worth native and Baylor University graduate, Daniel reported previously for The Associated Press in Oklahoma City and The Dallas Morning News. ... https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/plano/impacts/2020/08/24/specialty-florist-mia-fiori-moves-to-new-plano-location/

Flowering trees in full bloom - Westside Eagle Observer

Another tree with colorful blooms is the eastern redbud, the state tree of Oklahoma, with its reddish-violet flowers, showcased in downtown Decatur around the depot and log cabin area, as well as in many places in Gravette, Gentry and the surrounding area.Take a little time with the family to explore the beauty that springtime has to offer. Whether it be trees, bushes or simple houseplants, all are here to savor and enjoy.General News on 04/01/2020... https://www.eagleobserver.com/news/2020/apr/01/flowering-trees-in-full-bloom-20200401/

HER | Local decorator helps get homes ready for holidays - Texarkana Gazette

Bank in Texarkana is just one of the businesses Marie decorates this time of year. Others can be seen in Broken Bow, Idabel, Valiant and Hochatown."I've decorated several businesses in Southeast Oklahoma," Marie said, "including four banks, a phone company, some cell phone businesses and lodges at Beaver's Bend."But Oklahoma isn't as far as she is willing to go. "Every July I go to Dauphin Island, Alabama, where I have several clients. They get decor 'refreshers' each summer," she said. "When I go down there I also go deep-sea fishing for Red Snapper, so it's an annual vacation for me."When she isn't decorating for others, she and her husband Jerry reside on the Louisiana side of Caddo Lake where they enjoy entertaining. They are also very active at Trees Baptist Church. They have four children: Tony Campbell of Queen City, Dee Dee Wells and Misty Lutton of Atlanta, and Damon Donnell of Athens, Texas.Marie says she has never gotten too busy to take on more clients."I never turn anyone down," she said. "I just hire more people to do the work. We will do what it takes to make people happy." n... https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/her/story/2019/dec/03/her-local-decorator-helps-get-homes-ready-holidays/806564/

Teleflora Recognizes Michael Kraft of Nanz & Kraft Florists as the 2019 Tom Butler “Floral Retailer of The Year” - PerishableNews

Sun Award; Michigan State Florists’Association Award of National Industry Service; Michigan Floral Foundation Hall ofFame Award; Arkansas State Florists’ Association Distinguished Service Award and Oklahoma StateFlorists’ Hall of Fame. Tom passed away in August 2014, after a battle withcancer. Many who knew Tom considered him to be the “Chief Champion of Florists”– always there when they needed him, always understanding their issues andconcerns, and always representing their cause. Say everything and share your “Love OutLoud®” with the gift of Teleflora® flowers— all made by hand and deliveredby hand by your local florist. By tapping over 10,000 member florists in NorthAmerica alone, Teleflora offers the kind of personal touches, artistry andexpertise you expect from a trusted neighborhood florist—even if thatneighborhood is across the country. No prepackaged flowers in nondescript boxesdropped on your doorstep—Teleflora’s network of professional florists createsartistic arrangements personally delivered in a vase, often on the same day.Teleflora makes every day an occasion with a two-in-one gift that includes amultipurpose keepsake container for long-lasting enjoyment. Follow Teleflora onFacebook and tag your own #LoveOutLoud moment. ... https://www.perishablenews.com/floral/teleflora-recognizes-michael-kraft-of-nanz-kraft-florists-as-the-2019-tom-butler-floral-retailer-of-the-year/