By Pauline Masson – The first week in May is the busiest week of the year for florists and potted flower vendors. And there is good reason: Flowers are the most popular Mothers Day gift and relatives from the proverbially ages two to 92 will be picking up flowers for Mom.
In Pacific flower sellers and growers are ready. Flowers are on display at Tom Wolf Hardware, B&H Market, Orscheln Farm and Home, Engelhart Farms and St. John’s Florist, formerly Colemans.
If the only thing you know about Mom’s love of flowers is her favorite color, the place to start is Tom Wolf Hardware, 410 East Osage.
A wall of hanging baskets filled with blooms of many color stretch out from both sides of the entry along the entire length of the building. Hanging baskets, display looms of white, pink, lavender, yellow, blue, bright red and bold purple.
Potted plants, ready for planting fill tables on the sidewalk.
At B&H Market, 2244 West Osage, just outside the entrance, a pallet of potted knock out roses and a collection of Mandeville baskets greet grocery shoppers.
Knock Out Roses are an ideal gift for Mom. The are easy to get along with, disease resistant, and they bloom all summer with very little maintenance. Pruning is minimal, the plants are self-cleaning, and the plants require very little fertilizer.
The Mandevilla are a lush plant full of flowers that Mom can hang in the decorative basket or transplant it to the ground or into a bigger or more decorative container.
Next door, at Orscheln Farm and Home store, 2246 West Osage, the sidewalks is filled with row upon row of potted plants and hanging baskets.
For really greedy flower lovers a trip to Engelhart Farms, 2940 West Osage is a must the week leading up to Mothers Day. This is the one time of the year when the greenhouse doors are flung open and customers are invited in to mill among the tables.
Thousands (no exaggeration) upon thousands of potted plants and hanging fill the open air greenhouses with color. Hanging baskets display oceans of color. Bright red geraniums vie with white alyssum, begonias, petunias, portcullis, and bold purple Salvia.
On table tops, a sea of potted plants flutter in the slight breeze that sweeps through the greenhouse to capture the eye.
“This is my busiest week of the year,” Harry Engelhart said.
If you’re inclined to send Mom a bouquet of fresh cut flowers, go to St. John Florist, formerly Coleman Florists, 221 North Olive at the corner of East Osage. A big sign offers fresh flower bouquets at $11.95. You can also check out dozens of fresh flower arrangements on line at www.colemamflorists.com. They delivery not only in Pacific, but in Catawissa, Eureka, Fenton, and Gray Summit.
