LOVE IS IN BLOOM Valley fl orists ready to help on Valentine’s Day

Love is in Bloom

Valley fl orists ready to help on Valentine’s Day

Story by Cindy O. Herman and Jerri Brouse

Getting a loved one a special floral arrangement can be harder than you think, especially when it comes to romance. Sure, roses are a popular go-to for Valentine’s Day, but Valley floral designers are ready to help. Here are few of the Valley’s floral designers gearing up for the season:

SCOTT’S FLORAL, GIFTS & GREENHOUSES 347 NORTHUMBERLAND ST, DANVILLE SCOTTSFLORAL.COM — 570-275-4610

Scott Edwards was a recent graduate of ColumbiaMontour Vo-Tech, Bloomsburg, when he began his floral business in the basement of his parent’s rural home. Today, Edwards, his wife Judy and their daughters, Holly Edwards Hoffman and Heather Edwards Marks own and operate Scott’s Floral, Gifts & Greenhouse.

Edwards is an award-winning floral designer and has studied with master designers in Europe, Japan and Hong Kong. Several highlights of his career include his selection as a “member of the elite design team that created floral decorations for the Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebration in New York and the presidential inaugurations of George Bush and Bill Clinton,” according to Scott’sFloral. com.

“A dozen red roses are the most popular and most traditional arrangement for Valentine’s Day,” Edwards said. However, he noted that houseplants are selected by some as gifts and Scott’s Floral carries a wide selection.

“I enjoy talking with people. Everyone is so different. It’s fun to learn where they’re from. Today a couple from Port Royal was in the shop,” Edwards said.

Preparing for Valentine’s Day begins shortly after the New Year, and Edwards suggests planning and ordering early is

the way to ensure you can send the gift you want to send to your Valentine.

Special opportunities and purchases for Valentine’s Day will be updated regularly on the website.

GILLY’S LILIES 370 CHESTNUT ST., MIFFLINBURG GILLYSLILLIES.COM — 570-551-0806

For Sarah Wheatley, flowers were a tradition in her family during her childhood in northwest England and she worked in her uncle’s flower shop when she was just 10. She swept the floor and made cups of tea.

Wheatley, who refers to her flowers as stems said, “I enjoy working with unique stems and being creative with color palettes. I like to use my artistic ability and create with flowers as my medium for weddings and any occasions.”

Regarding Valentine’s Day, she said, “It’s mostly tradition. I feel that flowers and chocolate are the go-to choice. It’s classic, especially with roses. Again, traditional,” Wheateley said.

But new traditions may be in the making. “We do sell a lot of plants, too, for Valentine’s Day,” Wheatley said. “That’s becoming more popular, especially with the younger generation.” Gilly’s also sell a lot of dried flowers. too.

Gilly’s Lilies first started in March 2016. The company name became an homage to her late mother Gill, “whom I lost in 2013 due to breast cancer. Gill loved flowers, and taught me some tricks of the trade during her lifetime. I have rekindled the passion we shared and gained experience developing styles for various events and media, while using my art and design background, I became the primarily self-taught florist that I am today.”

Wheatley said, “I love to tailor my work to what you like and who you are. The design will manifest itself specifically and uniquely to you.”

PRETTY PETALS & GIFTS BY SUSAN 1168 PA-487, PAXINOS PRETTYPETALSBYSUSAN.COM — 570-509-2072

Primarily self-taught, Susan Adams-Brouse grew up with flowers. In 2014, when her position at another business was eliminated, she opened her shop, Pretty Petals & Gifts by Susan.

“I decided this is what I wanted to do until I retire,” she said.

Like the other designers, she encourages people to order as early as possible for Valentine’s Day.

The number one flower for Valentine’s Day? The red rose, of course, she said.

“Other colors are requested, too,” Adams-Brouse said, and “we also sell balloons, Victoria’s Candies from Hazleton, Teddy bears and cards.”

“We treat our customers individually and look for what they’re looking for.”

Holidays, especially Valentine’s Day, are a frantic blur

SUSAN WHEATLEY OWNS GILLY’S LILIES IN MIFFLINBURG.

Photo provided