Hidden Gem: Violets in Bloom Stands Test of Vase Time
Christina Brown knows flowers inside and out. Owner of Violets in Bloom and Roses are Red flower shops, Brown is herself a rare flower, a Florida State Florist Master Designer with a solid foundation in horticulture. The University of Florida graduate studied under the professor who literally wrote the book on the vase life of flowers. So Brown’s customers can have peace of mind that their arrangements will be around longer than most.
“Our flowers are kept cold from the farm to us, and we keep them between 35 to 37 degrees and with 80 percent humidity,” she explained.
“They’re treated with the correct dosage of flower food with fungicide and we use a hydration system that makes them super-hydrated. It doubles the vase life. Customers keep coming back because our flowers last so long.”
Brown’s love affair with flowers began as a child growing up in Christmas, Florida, where she loved tending to her garden. After earning her degree in horticulture, she served as project manager for the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, where she directed a staff of 50 gardeners tasked with caring for the complex’s 55 flower beds and its innumerable flowerpots and hanging baskets.
She later managed a large horticultural firm’s interior plant division that provided the plants and indoor trees at many Orlando hotels. Then, eager to strike out on her own in Brevard County, where her husband worked, Brown purchased Roses are Red in Indialantic in 2009. Violets in Bloom in Melbourne followed in 2013.
“Even though they are only 10 miles apart, the stores have a very different customer base,” Brown said. “Some things are popular seaside and others aren’t.”
An example are the paddle-out grapevine wreaths surfers order in memory of fellow wave riders. The large arrangements are designed to sit on a surfboard before being given to the ocean. One of the most unusual of these was one that incorporated a boat that was to be set on fire at sea.
“I keep thinking I am going to run out of things people ask for, but it hasn’t happened yet,” Brown said.
Unusual requests continue. For a funeral, Brown and her team created colorful floral centerpieces inside high heels, because the dearly departed had said she wanted to come back in high heels.
Kathleen Graf, like all of Brown’s floral designers, is happy with these special requests, as well as with the more traditional. An expert with 44 years in the business, Graf feels decidedly fortunate to work at both Violets in Bloom and Roses are Red.
“Christi spoils us with premium flowers that make the customers happy,” Graf said.
Brown admits she is indeed a stickler for quality, unique selections.
“We source only premium flowers,” she said. “We aren’t content with the ordinary. We buy some of the coolest flowers.”
Weekly floral deliveries from Brown’s Orlando wholesaler are supplemented by visits — often several times a day — to a local wholesaler. She is also very picky about her floral designers.
“My designers are artists,” Brown said. “It takes years of training to be as good as they are.”
Independents such as Violets in Bloom and Roses are Red are floral Davids to the Goliaths of online floral delivery companies. However, stores like Violets in Bloom win when it comes to customer service, quality and passion for the job.
“I always tell customers to shop local,” Brown said.
Connect
Violets in Bloom
3682 N. Wickham Rd., Suite D, Melbourne
321-242-3360
Violetsinbloom.floristDelivery area: Melbourne, West Melbourne, Viera, Rockledge
Social media:
Facebook: /VioletsInBloomFloristInstagram: @violetsinbloomflorist
Roses are Red
425 5th Ave., Indialantic
321-723-3232
Rosesarered.floristDelivery area: Melbourne Beach to Satellite Beach
Social media:
Facebook: /RosesAreRedFlorist
Map It
