ALPENA — May it be weddings, funerals, proms, anniversaries, Mother’s Day, or Valentine’s Day, professing love or asking for forgiveness, congratulations, or dozens of other reasons, flowers bring forth smiles, act as a stress release, and sometimes stimulates tears.

Established in 1884, now with 2,500 members, the Society of American Florists revealed the most significant floral sales periods are Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day.

“Valentine’s Day is the year’s busiest sales day,” Elizabeth Daly, of the SAF, stated.

SAF research noted that, with this past Valentine’s Day, two-thirds of the national sales were red, pink, and white roses.

During COVID-19 in 2020, flower sales surged as customers literally wanted to state, “Wish you were here.”

Daly noted that retailers quickly adapted to COVID-19 restrictions in obtaining flowers and supplies and delivering arrangements and plants.

Daly added the majority of fresh flowers are imported from Columbia and Ecuador. Those countries offer an ideal year-round growing climate. The fresh blooms typically arrive at Miami, Los Angeles, and New York City airports. The flowers and plants work their way across the nation for rapid distribution.

Alpena and neighboring counties have a rich history of flower shops. Many area residents will recall the names of Linke’s, Voss, Flower Spot, and Alpena Floral and Greenhouse, as well as retail names in Alcona, Presque Isle, and Montmorency counties.

With a full-time career in finance, Doreen Thomas established a part-time, Alpena-based wedding and special events firm, Classic Designs, on Water Street.

For years, her business was located in the building’s second floor. Recently, she shifted her business to the building’s street level. That allowed her higher visibility, as well as inventory and sales space.

Thomas, with floral certification from Michigan State University, stated she always had a passion for flowers. That led her to her wedding and event profession, utilizing flowers she personally grew, along with those purchased through wholesalers.

In Onaway, Robin Benson and her husband took a major leap with their established wedding and special events lighting and design service. A local flower shop’s owner was preparing to retire and approached Benson about acquiring her operation. In November 2021, both operations merged and relocated to a new site. Benson’ store, the Flower Box, is located at Onaway’s State and Second streets intersection.

Benson is an elementary teacher and was recently appointed as a principal in the Onaway school system.

Benson acquires her flowers and plants from Michigan wholesalers. Because of her geographic location, she needs to drive and meet the delivery truck in Atlanta or Wolverine. She also augments her flower offerings with local seasonally grown flowers.

She noted that, once she acquired the flower operation, she learned it was a significant community focal point for funerals, weddings, and special events. During COVID-19, Benson accommodated numerous outdoor functions for up to 200 attendees.

In the historic Alpena Flat Iron building located at Washington and 3rd avenues, Lucinda Baker owns Lasting Expressions, which she acquired in the late 1990s.

She stated the floral business was a natural career for her. She enjoyed crafting and her mother was an art teacher. For a portion of her life, she worked at Linke’s Flowers.

Like other florists during COVID-19, she experienced a dramatic upswing in servicing funerals. Like other retailers, during a portion of COVID-19, her store remained closed to customer traffic. Deliveries still occurred in a curbside approach.

This year, weddings and special events underwent significant growth,

Baker noted sales increase during the holidays cited by the SAF. However, in recent years, St. Patrick’s Day sales have declined. She added, “Three-fourths of the store’s sales are flowers and plants, with the remaining as gift items.”

Baker concluded, “The Flat Iron building’s Otis freight elevator is one of the nation’s earliest. And my staff periodically comment they think the building is haunted.”

Across Northeast Michigan and the globe, the “say it with flowers” slogan conveys deep meaning. Steeped in history going back to 1917 in Boston, Massachusetts. Then-SAF president Henry Penn was having a beverage with a friend. Penn commented to his friend, “There is nothing that you can’t say with flowers — when you send flowers, it says everything.”

That morphed into the long-lasting “say it with flowers” advertising theme.

Jeffrey D. Brasie is retired health care CEO and frequently writes op-eds and feature stories. He is a former Alpena resident and resides in suburban Detroit.