Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 19, 1993 TAG: 9311190216
SECTION: HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE PAGE: HGG-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By SARAH COX
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Both he and George Clements of George's . . . An Affair With Flowers agree that from Thanksgiving through the end of December, people have more than a month of giving time, which is perfect for centerpiece presents that are made primarily of various greenery.
They last, can be freshened up with cut flowers, and used both as centerpieces or points of accent in a room.
"Years ago, flowers (particularly poinsettias) would last only a few days," said Burtch-Vogt, "but now, they've developed strains so durable that if people take good care of them, they'll look wonderful until New Year's and beyond."
Burtch-Vogt said there is nothing more Christmasy than a poinsettia, but that supermarket variety and florist variety can be easily distinguished. "The blooms are small, the foliage sparse, the color is faded," he said of the ones found in a supermarket.
Another reason in favor of florists' poinsettias, he said, is the quality of the flowers found in their shops. They should last longer because they're fresher. Preservatives, greenery, the arrangement done by an artistic eye - "that is what they get for their money, plus help and service," he said.
He said his centerpieces, for instance, should last through Christmas, so he uses more greenery than flowers. These arrangements, which can start at about $20, might include fresh pine, cedar, holly, cones and fresh fruit - apples, oranges, pears.
"When I was a little boy, we were very poor. I never knew we were poor, because to say I was the cherished object of my parents' eyes was an understatement. But we would hang our stockings - literally our stockings - on the backs of a chair in the living room. And since we ate what we grew on the farm in Michigan, fruit was a real special gift. That was when I would get it - along with a toy - the apples, walnuts, peanuts and oranges," said Burtch-Vogt.
Today his centerpieces are reminiscent of those times, and he said that for the most part, his shop and floral arrangements are rather uncommon.
"I am definitely not a typical shop. I am regarded as odd. I like things that are more natural-looking; I'm not a great lover of the contrived look," he explained.
Another florist known for natural, airy arrangements is Kerry McCarty of Greenway Court Flowers. He says he believes that flowers are the perfect gift for the person who has everything.
McCarty says traditional Christmas arrangements with lots of greenery, or large masses of the same kind of cut flower - tulips or iris or lilies - to brighten your house, both work well.
McCarty also pointed out that cash-and-carry flowers from Greenway Court are comparable in price to supermarket flowers, if you buy what's in season and not what's in high demand (red roses at Christmas are in great demand). Since he goes to the wholesaler everyday, he said he selects the best deals for his customers and that his floral shop has prices for any pocketbook.
"If you spend $5 you may not get a lot, but you can certainly come away with pretty flowers. We have a lot of people who buy on a regular basis who pick out of our cooler themselves."
Burtch-Vogt said he has shown his customers how to pick out the freshest flowers.
The other way to get flowers is to order them ahead. Made-up arrangements, said McCarty, are naturally more expensive because of the labor involved. Starting prices may be $25, although they try to keep a small selection of arrangements in the $10-$15 range on hand.
McCarty said one really nice present they sell a lot of this time of year is the orchid plant, which runs about $35-$40 and lasts six to eight weeks. With careful cultivation, it will rebloom, he said.
Another suggestion is a European garden basket, which can be made to the size of your budget. A woven basket is filled with a collection of blooms and green plants that will last four to five weeks. He can include miniature poinsettias, ivy and fern, plus twigs, branches, moss and bird's nests. "It's almost a Christmas fantasy garden," he said.
"It's very rare that you find a person who doesn't like flowers," he said, and sending flowers is a good way to send presents.
But, both he and Burtch-Vogt warn about the pitfalls of the wire service.
"The florist sending the flowers makes his best educated guess, but he's not there to see what the other florist will do. If you want to send flowers by wire at Christmas, get your act together and do it early. After all, if you really want to send something to warm someone's heart and that's not what arrives, a money-back guarantee is not going to matter," McCarty said.
He advised finding a florist with a good reputation in town, preferably someone you have a good working relationship with. And, "the more the customer knows, the easier it is to satisfy the recipient. If you don't know, it's best to leave it up to the florist. We know what is available at any given time, what is the best value, and if you're flexible, you can get the best deal."
Burtch-Vogt said sending flowers around the holidays can be fraught with misconceptions and misunderstandings. The people sending flowers have to know who they're dealing with in terms of florists, and they must be able to verbalize their wishes.
And, he warned, "stay away from specials because they are not special. They've been made up by the hundreds of thousands and kept in a cooler."
McCarty also suggested avoiding the most popular, or out-of-season, flowers, such as any red flower.. In tulips, ask for springy colors like white, pink, and yellow, he advised.
Clements said another idea is the gift certificate for 12 months of flowers, to be received once a month. It's fairly economical - about $10 per month - and the florist will pick out what's in season.
"We provide the customer with the best value for that month, although some specify to only give a certain kind, like lilies, carnations or roses," he said.
Clements said his florist offers same-day service in the Roanoke, Vinton and Salem area, and he can wire flowers worldwide - last year he sent his first order to Moscow.
One point all three florists made is that people shouldn't be put off by florist shops. There are always cut flowers that can be purchased in accordance with the customer's budget, and with flowers, you can never go wrong.
by CNB