Floral Artistry

HARRIET'S GARDEN

A romantic moment for founders T.R. and Violet Hovey.

In Macondo, the magical town in the fantasy-filled novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 100 Years of Solitude, there is seemingly magic in everything. Open the pink door of Harriet's Flowers, 226 College Avenue West, Ruskin, and you will enter a fantastic, flower-filled, and, yes, magical atmosphere firmly rooted in three generations. Violet and T.R. Hovey settled in Ruskin in the '40s. They first worked in agriculture and then opened T.R. Hovey Nursery to grow ornamental plants, citrus trees and eventually flowers.

J.P. and Carter can't wait to help their grandfather Brantz Roszel, who established and maintains the farm operations. Thomas' wife, Ashlye, often helps out in the shop. It's truly a family affair!

"We are really eight generations in Florida," says Gail Roszel, Harriet's daughter and current matriarch of the family's businesses. "I learned the industry from my mother and grandmother." Gail and her brothers literally grew up working in the business. Harriet, now 85, lives in the home where the shop is located. The rest of the house is all part of the business. Harriet tends her personal garden daily and looks after two orchid greenhouses, with the help of Kim Beck, who is also one of the delivery drivers. "This land has been in our family for five generations. I remember that my grandfather always told us, "Take care of the land. They're not making any more of it."

Sunflowers

Today, Harriet's Flowers is a thriving business that actually grew stronger during the pandemic. "People were isolated and needed to do something to reach out, send love, connect. "The perfect solution was to order a beautiful floral arrangement and send it as a gesture of love." As a result of the pandemic, however, flowers and supplies were hard to come by. "That motivated us to start growing flowers again." Gail's husband, Brantz, and their son, Thomas, with help and advice from the community, created the infrastructure to start a flower farm while Gail researched types and colors of flowers to grow. Bouquets ranging from $50 to $150 can include zinnias, snap dragons, statice, Queen Anne's lace and more. "We grow flowers that do well in our geographic region, including popular sunflowers when they are in season. "This used to be one of the largest flower growing areas in Florida, particularly for gladiolas. I remember visiting large fields of gladiolas at Claprood's (once the largest flower producer in Florida) with my mom and grandmother when I was eight. Knowing this history, we are experimenting with gladiolas."

“T.R. Hovey was quite a character, a self-trained entomologist. He became so well known that, with no high school diploma, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Florida, in 1982.

Things get really hectic on holidays, especially Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. Over the years, they have developed a squadron of holiday help who already know exactly what to do. Most of the time, however, Jo Ann Gauta and Renee Stroud who have each worked for Harriet's 20 plus years, can readily hold down the fort.

Top Row, From Left: Kim Beck, Renee Stroud, Kim Stroud and Jeanne Desario on a typical Mothers' Day.

The final touch is delivery. "Our driver, Tom Connolly, is all 'Gentlemen's Quarterly.' He loves delivering flowers with élan."

Flowers Everywhere!

Flowers grown right on the property.