Chelmsford Flower Shop News
GIFTS FROM THE HEART -- Chelmsford florist grows classics, surprises - Wicked Local Chelmsford
Tuesday, January 24, 2017Margaret Smith msmith@wickedlocal.com @chelmsfordNote: This is part of a series on local businesses offering Valentine's Day gift ideas.NAME OF BUSINESS A Floral Moment By JuJu BudsLOCATION 48 Chelmsford St., Chelmsford.PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OFFERED Floral arrangements, bouquets, holiday-themed arrangements, delieveries, with cards and other gift options available.WHEN OPENED September 2012POPULAR ITEMS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY Owner Judy Burke said "add-on" items with floral gifts are popular, including stuffed animals such as bears and dogs holding heart-shaped pillows with messages such as "be mine" or "XO." There are also stuffed animals that can "hug" a vase.Other items that are popular to included with floral gifts include boxes of chocolates or truffles, or candles.A surprise gift might include rose petals, but Burke noted, be careful where they are tossed or sprinkled, because they can leave a coloration.Burke noted, "Valentine's Day is on a Tuesday this year. Some people might go out to dinner, but many people are worki... http://chelmsford.wickedlocal.com/news/20170124/gifts-from-heart----chelmsford-florist-grows-classics-surprises
Affable florist Henry Sykes fondly remembered - Lowell Sun
Tuesday, September 20, 2016Darren said, wearing a blue Sykes the Florist T-shirt and standing at a counter surrounded by photos of the family. "He loved having the people come in."Sykes was born in North Chelmsford as one of six children. The family moved to Lowell when Sykes was young, and he attended the Riverside School and Lowell High School, where he graduated in 1945.He followed his older brothers into the military, serving in the Navy for about nine months, until the war came to an end. "The story goes, they heard another Sykes was coming, so they called off the war," Laurel said.Sykes' father had a greenhouse, and he took up flowers as a hobby when he was a kid. Opening his own business seemed to be a natural fit.Sykes met his wife, Beverly Laurin, at Fellowship Methodist Church just down the street. They married in 1949; Beverly died in 2012. The couple raised four children together: Three daughters, all named after flowers, Laurel, Heather and Holly, and son Darren. The Sykes had 11 grandchildren.One granddaughter, Hillary Millett, gave a eulogy, recalling his kindness toward others, such as buying meals for strangers in restaurants, and his excitement at seeing his grandchildren."Whenever we walked into any room," she said, "Grampa would throw his hands out to his side and sing, 'There she is, Miss America!," and give a tight hug and kiss.While Laurel and Darren now run the business, Heather owns Wayside Florist in Concord with her husband, Wayne Busa. Ironically, Holly is allergic to flowers and became a math teacher."I always knew I'd work in the business," Darren said. He described his attitude about it, simply, as "it's what we're going to do."Sykes had a comfort zone and he liked it there.He grew up a stone's throw away from the shop on Rockingham Street, and later moved into a home on the other side of the business. After his time in the service, he left New England only one other time, to visit an old friend's grave at Arlington National Cemetery. Laurel convinced him to make the trip by noting that it was a chance to bring some flowers for his friend's grave.Sykes was a selfless man who earned accolades for his volunteer work and board service for several city groups, including the Kiwanis Club, Salvation Army and Masonic Lodge. His extended family included a broad range of people over the decades who he met either through the shop, church or athletics leagues.Bob Anderson, a 72-year-old Tewksbury resident, met Sykes playing softball and bowling and despite an age difference, they easily took to each other. "Henry was like a father to me," he said. "You couldn't ask for a nicer person.""He had a good sense of humor," Anderson added, "but he had a great heart."Follow Grant Welker on Twitter and Tout @SunGrantWelker. http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_30378870/affable-florist-henry-sykes-fondly-remembered
Flower power lands Colchester florist an RHS award - Gazette
Tuesday, August 30, 2016West Mersea, before becoming a Saturday girl.Her natural ability flourished, which eventually led her to Writtle College, in Chelmsford, to complete a degree in the subject, in 2009.The mother-of-two had dipped in and out of floristry before starting her business, but said being at the shop was the best thing to happen to her.She said: “Not having the degree had its limitations. People have this idea you just work in a flower shop, but there's a fast world of floral design and you can end up abroad.“I’m also ambassador for a not-for-profit organisation called Floral Fundamentals, which links designers from all over the world with growers in Holland.“We work with them to encourage growers to stick with florists rather than supermarkets, so floristry can be a career, there’s much more to it.”... http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/14669690.Flower_power_lands_Colchester_florist_an_RHS_award/
Delivering the Power of Flowers - Lowell Sun
Friday, October 02, 2015Jane Rizzo of North Chelmsford is a volunteer with The Power of Flowers Project. COURTESY PHOTOSBILLERICA -- Spreading the joy with floral bouquets will be a little bit easier now The Power of Flowers Project has a new van with the help of the Dana Home Foundation.Without the new van, the Power of Flowers Project would not be able to effortlessly keep up with their 300 deliveries per week, or operate their new flower therapy program, founder Joyce Bellefeuille said.With some deliveries to locations in Lexington, The Power of Flowers Project was able to apply for a grant from the Dana Home Foundation, and was awarded $28,700.In addition to delivering to assisted living homes, Meals on Wheels, and to veterans, The Power of Flowers Project now offers flower therapy programs, where they visit facilities and offer lessons on making your own bouquets.Thanks to a grant, The Power of Flowers Project acquired this van, which will help the group deliver more flowers to those in need.Sun staff photos can be ordered... http://www.lowellsun.com/news/ci_28899355/delivering-power-flowers
McLennan Flowers and Gifts Provides No Contact Delivery - Press Release - Digital Journal
Wednesday, July 29, 2020McLennan Flowers & Gifts - London, ON FloristMcLennan Flowers and Gifts, the leading florist in London Ontario, specializes in the supply of beautiful flowers hand-designed by their experts that are delivered through no contact delivery.London, Ontario - June 30, 2020 - McLennan Flowers and Gifts, the leading florist in London Ontario, specializes in the supply of unique floral arrangements. One area they excel in is designing flowers to convey your sympathy to family or friends who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Sending a sympathy bouquet to the bereaved shows them that you are thinking of them.“Sympathy flowers are a sweet and tasteful way of showing compassion and support to someone who has lost their loved one. Sending an arrangement of sympathy flowers adds pleasantness to an otherwise sombre atmosphere and expresses your condolences for the loss,” said the spokesperson of McLennan Flowers and Gifts.When choosing a bouquet to express your sympathy and compassion for the loss of someone, you want to ensure that you are receiving high-quality blooms that will be a beauti... http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/4728671
25 flower delivery options in Toronto - blogTO
Sunday, July 05, 2020This florist asks that customers call in to place orders for delivery — they will deliver locally in Toronto, and also to anywhere from Whitby to Oakville. At the moment they are offering mostly Ontario-grown flowers and plants, and if you want to know what’s in season check out their site or give them a call.May FlowersMay Flower’s deliveries are still going from Monday through to Saturday, and they offer free contactless delivery throughout Toronto. They also have an option for same-day delivery. Eco StemsThis Corktown florist specializes in locally-grown blooms from the Niagara region that are grown with little to no pesticides. They are doing delivery throughout Toronto.PoppiesPoppies’ flowers are available for contact-free delivery within the GTA only. Their floral bouquets are made to order.Plant CollectiveSpecializing in house plants such as succulents and mini cacti, this Beaches store delivers throughout the country, and they offer free delivery for orders over $100, with standard shipping throughout the GTA at flat rate of $4.99.Wilbe BloominThis Kensington Market florist accepts online orders for delivery throughout Toronto. They offer a colourful selection of arrangements along with cacti terrariums.Pistil FlowersPistil Flower’s shop in the Financial District is closed, but they are still accepting orders through their site and through email for contact-free delivery. The florist specializes in elevated bouquets and contemporary arrangements.Botany Floral StudioThis florist offer daily delivery from Monday to Friday in the GTA. The studio specializes in modern arrangements that are inspired by “nature, whimsical gardens, and nostalgia,” their site reads. They are also sustainable in their practices.Bayview BlossomsBayview Blossoms creates custom arrangements for delivery in Toronto. If you so choose, you can have their stylists create a botanical freestyle arrangement for you.Flower NookThe Flower Nook is offering contact-free delivery so that you can stay connected while apart. They deliver throughout the country, and offer local same-day delivery for orders placed before noon. You can search their site for flowers and arrangements based on occasion or type.Garden’s Path Floral DesignThis Leslieville florist creates intriguing arrangements they're able to deliver contact-free. They ask customers to email in their orders instead of calling them in. At the moment, they're having one staff member inside of the store working with the flowers to facilitate social distancing.Wild North FlowersThis online studio is providing contact-free deliveries in Toronto from Monday through to Saturday. They note on their site that because supply of hard goods such as vases has been limited, they might be substituting vase types for their arrangements in the coming weeks.TelefloraThis online florist has loads of deals up on its site, and they’re curated ones for every occasion. They also provide same-day delivery on most of their arrangements. They deliver throughout Canada, and are experienced at making deliveries to hospitals.BloomenThis online store off... https://www.blogto.com/fashion_style/2020/04/flower-delivery-toronto/
Keirstead's Flower Shop Still Has Strong Saint John Roots - Huddle - Huddle Today
Sunday, July 05, 2020Covid-19.“Our flowers come from all over the world,” said florist Connie Dean. “We get flowers from Holland, Ecuador, our roses come from Ontario. A lot come through Ontario and they get them from different places all over the world as well.”Australia, Africa and Lebanon are a few other places where the shop gets its flowers, with Birds of Paradise and Protea flowers being some of the most popular selections.“Ontario does have locally grown flowers so those are the closest local flowers we get,” said Dean. “Sometimes there’s someone on the Kingston Peninsula or Hampton that’ll bring in garden flowers that we can buy.”A piece of family history (Image: Elizabeth MacLeod)The business was founded by the late Guy G. Keirstead whose passion for flowers led him to first rent a stall at the City Market in 1925.Keirstead’s operated out of the market from 1925 to 1946, until he purchased property on the corner of Charlotte and Princess Street where the shop still operates to this day.Dean said the building survived the Great Saint John Fire of 1877 and used to be a hardware and butcher shop, which were combined to make Keirstead’s.“You have some of the old coolers that we still have from back when they opened up this shop in the 40... https://huddle.today/keirsteads-flower-shop-still-has-strong-saint-john-roots/
Flower growers see sales wither as planting season launches - CBC.ca
Monday, April 27, 2020Demand for non-perishable items pushed decorative plants out of the supply chain in last month's stockpiling frenzy, while the ongoing shutdown of garden centres in jurisdictions including Ontario and New York has cut off critical points of sale, threatening to leave growers high and dry. "This is when we sell. We're on the cusp of a critical period," said James Farrar, director of the Canadian Ornamental Horticulture Alliance. Trees, bushes and bedding plants are usually planted between May 1 and June 15, he said, with customers ranging from backyard gardeners to municipalities. In Ontario, flower producers discarded about 40 per cent of their Easter crop, according to Flowers Canada Growers. The province has designated garden centres as a non-essential service — a painful exclusion for the industry, since nearly two-thirds of 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 bu... https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/flower-growers-hamilton-1.5546023