Friday, March 05, 2010
Place an order for a little springtime cheer
Priscilla Richardson is columnist The Botetourt View. You can contact her at 981-3430 or via e-mail.
Priscilla Richardson
Recent columns
What's a good way to dispel the end-of-winter blues? Go to the folks in the smile business. Order flowers from one of Botetourt's three Teleflora shops for lots of smiles: Cahoon's Florist, Botetourt Flower Shop or Floral Expressions. You can get arrangements created for Teleflora, or their own. If you don't see what you want, either in the shop or on the Web, all you have to do is consult with the designer at the shop you pick.
Rita Young of Floral Expressions warns, "It's always good to give a couple days' notice if you chose something off the Internet." Because every shop cannot carry every kind of flower all the time. Then, whatever you select can be delivered quickly to you or to a recipient anywhere in the nation.
No, it's not magic, although it can seem like it. And part of the glue holding the Teleflora network together lies in the volunteer efforts of individual florists who support the Teleflora association. The way it works? The entire nation is divided into sections, each with its own governing board. For example, Botetourt lies in the Blue Ridge division, which starts at Bristol, goes north to Winchester and east to Lynchburg and Charlottesville. Karen Peery, who works at Cahoon's, currently serves on the Blue Ridge board.
Floral Expressions' Rita Young, who has served this district in many different capacities such as secretary and vice president, had her name presented to serve two years as the leader for the Blue Ridge district. A great honor, but also a lot of work. "I went to California for five days and attended classes on Teleflora. We have two design shows a year and educational specialists from Teleflora come and present a design show for us. I oversee the whole unit for the show."
This spring's show will be in Roanoke in April, bringing many of the folks in the floral industry to learn new ideas and techniques for weddings. Sorry, only floral industry people can attend, or horticultural or vo-tech students. But if you work in a Teleflora shop you can apply for a scholarship for four days of intense training in different kinds of arrangements.
You don't have to wait until April's wedding show to order one of Young's special wedding creations. "We decorate wedding cakes with fresh flowers when the cake's delivered for the reception. They turn out real pretty." This in addition to all the flowers for the ceremony, the wedding party, the tables -- they do the whole nine yards.
These florists don't forget those who never get flowers with their Make You Smile week. This year for the 25th time folks in places such as Bethel Ridge, Brian Center and so on, will get mugs filled with flowers. "I've done it the past two years," Young said. "When we deliver these mugs, just to see the smiles on their faces. Some have never received flowers in their lives. I can't explain the warm feeling you get."
Young, 59, has been working with flowers for 27 years. Her daughter, Cloverdale's Autumn Cramer, helps out her mother occasionally. Young's parents had a flower shop, so she grew up in the business. After her parents sold their place, she went to work for a gift basket company. "It gets in your blood."
When Young saw how the Botetourt area was growing, she decided to open up here. You may remember the first shop, next door to Kroger at Botetourt Commons. About three years ago, Young moved Floral Expressions to the corner of Catawba Road and 220. Even looking at the Teleflora web sites can give you a mental boost, so think how great the real thing will be when the florist delivers that smile.
floralexpressionsdaleville.com
Botetourt Flower Shop: (540) 992-4441
