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Local Flower Shop News

Farmer-florists are the hot growing trend

There’s a lot of trends coming together, but I’m just happy to focus on what I enjoy doing – being creative and growing beautiful flowers.” Located in Thornhill Ontario, Antonio Valente is a perfect example of how the farmer-florist trend is taking hold even in more urban environments. Valente was a substitute teacher with a passion for flowers when he started selling cut flowers from the beds he kept in his parent’s backyard. Also marketing himself through Instagram, where he posts rich photography from his garden as well as how-to videos at @antonionvalenteflowers, he recently took over his parent’s half-acre property and still can’t grow enough to meet demand. “I’m competing with larger growers who are producing acres of flowers, so I grow varieties that a florist wouldn’t typically find from a wholesaler, heirlooms such as dahlias Gerrie Hoek and Pam Howdenand foxglove Sutton’s apricot. This allows me to differentiate myself and compete with the big guys.” Florist Rebecca De Oliveira, of Blush & Bloom Flower Studio, is buying more of her fresh cut flowers from these farmer-florists as the trend continues. De Oliveira’s enthusiasm was apparent in speaking to us, “I buy a lot from the growing number of small batch growers, and it’s amazing. Their product is far superior to anything we see imported. It’s fantastic!” “Fresh”, “local”, “sustainable” and “unique” are common buzzwords that describe both the trend towards farmer’s markets and farmer-florists. Local growers are bound by the same seasonality as the rest of us gardeners – in about a month Canadian gardeners will be digging up dahlia tubers. Sweet peas can be sown in pots during autumn and overwintered in a greenhouse, and “hardy annuals” such as larkspur and love-in-a-mist can be sown this fall. Many local-grown flowers are available now at local farmers markets. The year-round value of seasonal growers is in the relationships that form between the producers and consumers in a world that has long been dominated by commodified supply chains and major auction houses. “You met my friend Melanie at Dahlia May- she’s the coolest!” exclaimed De Oliveira when we called to talk about this story. Friendships that blossom in business over something as precious as locally grown flowers – isn’t that what this business should be about? Mark Cullen is an expert gardener, author, broadcaster, tree advocate and Member of the Order of Canada. His son Ben is a fourth-generation urban gardener and graduate of University of Guelph and Dalhousie University in Halifax. Follow them at markcullen.com, @markcullengardening, on Facebook and bi-weekly on Global TV’s National Morning Show.  ... https://www.burnabynow.com/community/farmer-florists-are-the-hot-growing-trend-1.23423374

Enjoy new and decades-old floral 'masterpieces' in Thornhill Garden Tour - YorkRegion.com

You’re invited to admire and stroll through some of the most beautiful gardens in your community.The Thornhill Garden & Horticultural Society’s annual Garden Tour takes place Sunday, July 10, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (rain or shine).The theme of this year’s tour is “variety is the spice of life ... and gardens.” Each of the eight Thornhill gardens on the self-guided tour has its own unique horticultural features and beauty.Five are previous winners of the society’s annual garden recognition program — Thornhill’s Top 100 Gardens.One award-winning garden is owned and maintained by renowned horticulturalist Marion Jarvie and her husband, Alex.Their front and back gardens have been transformed, over a period of more than 50 years, into “magnificent masterpieces,” showing many exquisite and diverse plant species and colours throughout the half-acre landscaped and pond areas, noted Bernadette Burns, president of the horticultural society.Another garden on the tour was only started a few years ago by an information technology manager who is passionate about gardening. After establishing... http://www.yorkregion.com/whatson-story/6741877-enjoy-new-and-decades-old-floral-masterpieces-in-thornhill-garden-tour/

Marrazzo's Florist To Move If LMT Development Approved: Report - Patch.com

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP, PA — Marrazzo's Manor Lane florists, a fixture in Lower Makefield, will move, but stay open, if a new residential development at its current site is approved. The Intelligencer reports that developer Cedar Crossing Investors is seeking variances to build 11 homes on about three acres of land at Marrazzo's current location, at Yardley-Morrisville and Pine Grove roads. The paper writes that the two-story townhouses would be about 2,800-2,900 square feet, with four bedrooms, according to plans filed with Lower Makefield Township. The development would be at the site of the third-generation Marrazzo's, which was established in 1947 in the Manor Lane section of Morrisville. It moved to its current location, the site of an existing nursery, in 1984, according to the paper. Mike Marrazzo told The Intelligencer that there's a deal in place to sell the land. If Lower Makefield approves the development, the family business will relocate nearby, he said. "Once we know where this is going, then we're going to try to look fo... https://patch.com/pennsylvania/yardley/marrazos-florist-move-if-lmt-development-approved-report

New floral shop in one of the oldest sections of Opelousas signifies revitalization - Daily World

Lex Jagneaux said. More: St. Landry DA Cravins: Reduce criminal docket with pleas, incentives Yvonne Jagneaux, a master florist, said she and her husband both have fine arts degrees. Both said the quaint, Old South ambiance of the building, which they are leasing, was refurbished by them prior to opening. The style of the building, she said, also suits the types of gifts, fragrances, candles, home décor and party supplies sold. Yvonne Jagneaux said she also will provide wedding planning and floral arrangements, along with other items. “I also want to teach a course in letter writing and developing pen pals, something that seems to be a lost art,” she said.   Read next: New life in a nearly 200-year-old building brings honor to owner tracing his bayou roots... https://www.dailyworld.com/story/news/local/2020/02/04/moss-floral-and-gardens-opens-opelousas-landry-street-sign-revatlization/4656376002/

After 73 years, this could be Stagemeyer Flower Shop's last Valentine's Day rush - York Daily Record

Guess that's why they call it dragon teeth," she said.  Hinson has been a florist for nearly 50 years — a fitting occupation considering her maiden name was Rose. She began her career in high school at Doyle's Flower Shop in Bedford. It was around the same time she met her husband, Dan. "We were high school sweethearts, and it went from there," she said.  In 1976, the pair left their hometown and made haste toward York. "My brother was living in York at the time, and he convinced me there were a few more opportunities for work out here," Dan said.  Karen got a florist job at Stagemyer Flower Shop in December of that year. Dan picked up work at Miller's Auto Supply in West York. In June of 1977, they purchased the business from Charlotte and Claire Stough. Charlotte's father opened the flower shop in the first floor of their row home in 1947.  "I had no idea what I was getting into," Dan said.  At any given moment, Stagemyers has about 75 varieties of flora. Simple bouquets such as a dozen cuenca roses may take Karen about five minutes to design. Larger, more intricate arrangements could take upwards of 25 minutes. "It's a physical job, and it is a lost art, but it is an art," Karen said.  Come Valentine's Day, the store wi... https://www.ydr.com/story/news/local/2020/02/06/stagemyers-flower-shop-york-could-final-valentines-rush/4655589002/

Richard Rico | Flora, & a perfect fit - Vacaville Reporter

THE 63-year flower cottage next to McCune Garden Chapel on Main St. is in full bloom again. Stems made it happen. After 9 years on Merchant Street, owner Caryn Mikich uprooted Stems Florist to go downtown, taking her flora and her 8 creative makers of bouquets, nosegays and rose sprays with her. The new Stems opened Jan. 21. “I always wanted to be downtown,” Caryn said in her budding shop, “but didn’t want to overcrowd the floral field.” But it’s clear now that this is where she should be. It’s in her DNA. “My family was always into gardening; we didn’t own a shop, but flowers were in our lives.” As fate would have it, Caryn worked six years for former Rose Florist owner, Janet Lopez Balcom, who retired a year ago after 62 years of Lopez ownership. Caryn has a history of decorating lives, events and nonprofits all over the city and county. Floral touches on the Merriment on Main stage were her gift.The cottage was built in 1938 by Del and Elizabeth McCune as their home the same year they bought the funeral home. They moved out in 1956, converting it to a flower shop operated by John and Rose Lopez. Barbara McCune owns the cottage and the funeral home. “I have really good vibes about the move,” Caryn said, a feeling shared by her daughter, Amanda. Does she like the florist world? “I love it!” she said. She’s a mom to Sadie, 11 and Cason, 7. Caryn’s dad, Mike, is in the pipeline industry. A grand opening is in the works, perfect time to meet Caryn, visit Stems, and chat with shop greeter, Gracie, a yellow-headed Amazon parrot. I’d like to check her DNA against Gracie, our golden pup. They might be related.The author is former publisher of The Reporter. https://www.thereporter.com/richard-rico-flora-a-perfect-fit

Castle Rock florist to design 'Parasite' Oscars party - The Columbian

This is our ballgame now,” Vorse said of Pollen, the Castle Rock florist shop he opened July 2017. “I’ve worked with a lot of very large event production companies, but this is all Pollen. That’s the difference.”Event design and production company Gina Wade Creative met Saturday to decide who would design the party, Vorse said. None of the designers in L.A. fit their vision, and the company knew Vorse from working together on several past projects.“They got out of their meeting last Saturday and immediately they said, ‘We have to fly Pollen in,’ which is pretty neat,” Vorse said. “It was more than flattering, to say the least.”He declined to discuss how much he’ll earn or what the design costs.Vorse started his “creative process” almost immediately by watching “Parasite” for inspiration. Set in Korea, the dark comedy thriller follows one rich family and one poor family as their lives get unusually entangled.Pollen’s Oscar party design “pulls different moments” and “works off what the environment within the film looked like,” Vorse said. For example, all of the containers used in the design will be concrete, he said. He will fill the structures with “dark and sultry” colored flowers such as Japanese sweet peas.“It will all be very industrial, and the florals will be lush and romantic, but deep, dark, moody colors,” Vorse said.The Oscars party will feature suspended pieces and more avant garde decor than the weddings he’s designed in Cowlitz County, he said. But “pieces of Pollen” will shine through.“All that lushness and all the beautiful blossoms … the way we construct things here will be part of it. We will just add the extra flair once we get there.”Vorse will buy most of his flowers and design product once he’s in California, he said. But he also plans to take “a little piece of Washington with us,” because locally grown flowers are “just the best,” he said. Plus, some of those species aren’t readily available in Los Angeles. The Columbian is becoming a rare example of a news organization with local, family... https://www.columbian.com/news/2020/feb/05/castle-rock-florist-to-design-parasite-oscars-party/

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