Getting creative for Valentine’s Day

By CHRISTINA McCUNE
BGNN managing editor

BARBERTON Sometimes it’s the little things that make all the difference.

Like receiving a basket of muffins. Or being presented with a birthday cake made entirely of colorful flowers and complete with candles. Or a sweet surprise “I love you” spelled out in red roses and chocolates.

A creative floral designer who painstakingly takes care of every detail of flower arrangements for any occasion from designing and meeting the customer’s needs to delivery can help provide much relief during times when a customer may be juggling a lot. Bringing bursts of color in carefully designed arrangements make events all the more memorable.

According to the Society of American Florists, Valentine’s Day tops the list for florists and floral purchases second to Christmas and Hanukkah in dollars spent. In 2022, 22 percent of Americans bought fresh flowers or plants as gifts for Valentine’s Day, the website safnow.org states.

Red roses are most popular followed by pink roses and white roses, the website states.

Other flowers such as tulips, carnations, lilies, mixed flowers and plants also are popular, according to a poll conducted by the Society of American Florists.

Trends that Melissa Flaker, floral designer at Flowers Galore and More in Barberton, has seen include customers taking a break from carnations as people are steering from the more traditional flower. She tries to come up with new creations and designs and bring to Barberton things she sees people doing in larger cities. She has some fun Valentine’s Day ideas such as chocolates and red roses in the shape of an “I,” a heart and a “U”, as well as a bottle of sparkling juice along with a little flower arrangement.

People seem to enjoy ordering baskets of muffins, fruit, and cookies as much as flowers at times.

Another trend she has noticed during prom season and for other dances is high schoolers have been ordering small hand-held bouquets instead of wrist corsages. Also, she has been seeing fall weddings gaining in popularity.

Flowers Galore and More provides flowers, plants and gifts for any occasion from weddings and funerals to dances to all the occasions year-round such as Easter, Mother’s Day and Christmas. Flaker delivers throughout Barberton, Norton, Kenmore, Wadsworth, Portage Lakes, Clinton, New Franklin, Fairlawn, Coventry and Canal Fulton.

She loves designing the flowers of course but seeing customers’ faces when she drops off a bunch of bright blooms makes her day.
“I like when I deliver the flowers I get to see their faces,” Flaker said. “They’re so happy someone thought of them for whatever the occasion. To see their smiles. I enjoy making someone’s day a little brighter.”

Largely self-taught, Flaker has an eye for design and a way with customers that immediately relays they can feel confident they are in good hands for whatever the occasion.

Frances Silva opened Flowers Galore & More about 15 years ago in downtown Barberton. Flaker has worked for her for about nine of those years.

Local nostalgia nuts will delight in the fact that the flower shop is in a former Woolworth’s department store building. Original tiling is at their feet as customers are welcomed in off the sidewalk setting the mood. The expansive storefront also is the original from Woolworth’s and customers are in for a treat as Flaker has had fun designing the storefront. Soft teddy bears, greenery, lights, and hearts everywhere are part of the recent window displays leading up to Valentine’s Day.

Inside the store, breathe deeply as that unmistakable floral scent that greets customers at most flower shops beckons customers inside. Many flowers and plants are in stock along with a variety of vases, baskets, gifts and fun decorative floral picks to go along with the arrangements.

Flaker began working at the floral department in ACME almost fresh out of high school. She researches and goes through catalogues, and searches online and through a lot of trial and error comes up with beautiful unique arrangements.

When Flowers Galore and More opened, the downtown business joined another favorite local florist, Caine’s Flowers, 137 2nd St. NW, Barberton, as an option for arrangements. Caine’s is locally famous and has celebrated more than 100 years as a longstanding tradition in Barberton. There were three other flower shops in the Barberton and Norton area but they closed leaving Caine’s Flowers and Flowers Galore & More meeting local customers’ floral needs.

Chris Silva, Frances Silva’s husband and owner of Silva-Hostetler Funeral home, said Flowers Galore and More gives people in town another option.

“Melissa has done a great job with coming up with some of those fun things,” he said. “She’s been able to come up with some good ideas.”

Silva said the floral shop has partnered with other businesses to help promote them such as Kavé Coffee Bar which also is downtown and the Thirsty Gator Drive-Thru. Motorists can look for a stand set up again at the drive-thru this year with flowers for Mother’s Day.

It’s not too late to order for Valentine’s Day and people can stop in to the flower shop, call or browse online.

For more information, visit flowersgaloreandmore.com. Email flowersgalore541@ att.net. Call 330-745-7673.
Follow Flowers Galore and More on Facebook.