Portsmouth Flower Shops

Portsmouth RI News

Sep 7, 2020

Historically Speaking: Florists a big part of Dover - Seacoastonline.com

Joe Ham). The size of the operation was such that he was able to open and supply retail outlets in Portland and Augusta, Portsmouth and Laconia. He put down more roots by marrying a local woman, Ellen "Nellie" Vittum, and he built a sizable home adjacent to the greenhouse complex. In addition to growing flowers he was an active member of the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and a relatively exclusive organization, the Society of the Colonial Wars (perhaps the male equivalent of the Daughters of the American Revolution?).In 1921, Howe sold the business to Elwill Shortridge, a prominent Dover entrepreneur, owner of the C.E. Brewster Co., wholesale druggists, which was located in a building at the corner of Chestnut and Fourth streets, now the site of St. Mary's Parish Hall. At one time Shortridge also served as president of Merchants National Bank and president of the Dover Realty Co. He and his wife, who had been Ada Massingham, lived at 4 West Concord St., and he remained active in the business until his death in 1946. Ada then took over and with her nephew, Tom Massingham, managed the operation until her death in 1958.Tom Massingham had been born in England, but at age 5 was sent by his family to Dover to live with the Shortridges. As a young man he worked in the business, served in World War II, and upon his return and at Ada's death, became the owner of the Garrison Hill Greenhouses. In 1950, he was one of the first to construct a building on the nascent Miracle Mile, at what was then called Page's corner, opposite Glenwood Avenue. It was originally intended to be a retail flower and gift shop, but on Nov. 25-26 Mother Nature intervened at the Garrison Hill site with close to hurricane force winds that shattered greenhouse glass, entirely uprooting one building which landed on another, and causing an estimated $50,000 damage, well over a half million dollars in today's money.As a result, production at that location was limited and a much-reduced greenhouse space was grafted on to the building at Central Avenue. Over time the original greenhouse structures were dismantled and removed, the space eventually covered by apartment buildings, and the only ...

Aug 25, 2017

Floral industry adapts to avoid withering

It’s a trend he’s noticed more often and one he hopes won’t reach his shop’s doorstep.Parker owns and operates Churchland’s Village Flower Shop in Portsmouth. He took over the business from his parents, Walter and Janice Parker.The business has been open since 1964 and has only ever had one storefront — something Parker said he doesn’t intend on changing.Parker said one location can do just as well as “multitude of locations,” but this doesn’t mean he hasn’t seen a decrease in the floral business over the years.“At one time, we were doing as many as 125 to 150 deliveries a day. When the economy slowed down, that went down to 25, 30 to 50 deliveries a day,” he said. “There’s nothing in my shop that you have to have. You have to have air and water. Everything else is just a luxury.”Sarah Munford, co-owner of The New Leaf in Norfolk, agreed flower arrangements have always been a luxury.“It’s a luxury business. You could easily buy a Hallmark card or a free email card…” she said. “I think it’s a lost art. ... You don’t have to go to a flower shop anymore to get flowers. You can buy them (at grocery stores), but if you want the experience and expertise, you’ll come to us.”Munford opened her floral shop with co-owner Lau... (Virginian-Pilot)

Mar 9, 2017

Memorial service for Will Taylor is Saturday

Santa Monica; his brother Michael Wicklund Taylor, also of Mercer Island; his grandmothers Carolyn Wicklund of Sun Valley, Idaho, and Janet Taylor of Portsmouth, N.H.; his much-loved aunts, uncles, and cousins; and many friends from Mercer Island, Santa Clara, and elsewhere, including his girlfriend, Paige Olson. He is preceded in death by his grandfathers, Alvin Taylor and Eldon Wicklund.In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services Foundation, In Memory of Will Taylor, 2040 84th Ave. SE. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 11 at the Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. (Mercer Island Reporter (subscription))

Sep 28, 2016

Volunteers Plant Therapeutic Garden on Grounds of Newport County Community Mental Health

Lehane said the health center, on Johnny Cake Road, is open 9 a.m. through 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and serves Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Jamestown, Tiverton, and Little Compton. No appointment is necessary. Anyone can come in and be seen by a specialist, he said. Caption1 : Garden in progress on Friday at the mental health center. Caption 2: Blue Cross volunteers build the therapeutic garden. Caption 3: Dyan Daley, a nurse at Blue Cross, transfers a potted plant to the earth. Credit: Margo Sullivan Get free real-time news alerts from the Middletown Patch. (Patch.com)

Sep 7, 2016

Made in St. Louis: Designer prefers unexpected luxe bohemian style

Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com Laurie Skrivan Always an entrepreneur • Flowers has an accounting degree from Kee business college in Portsmouth, Va., and says that she always planned to have a business of her own, but she had no idea it would be jewelry design. “When the store closed I knew that I needed something where I could be transient, and this just happened. I’m self-taught, and I’m always learning,” Flowers said. Creative streak • Flowers has always enjoyed sketching, so the image she created to represent her brand comes from one of her casual sessions with pen and paper. “It’s Eve,” she said of the line drawing composed of electrified zigzag lines that outline a female form with an Afro sitting cross-legged and backward. The abstract sketch shows that she’s hugging herself, arms wrapping around to her back. “You have to love yourself,” Flowers explains simply. +6  Latonja Flowers owner of Sahgol by Elle M. with brass and sterling silver bangle bracelets over her company logo. Photographed on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch studio. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com Laurie Skrivan Tattoo test • The soft-spoken designer appeared to have the “Eve” figure tattooed over her lower arm spanning 6 inches and extending over the back of her hand. A collection of her geometric mixed metal bangles envelop the figure centered over her wrist. She reveals that this is a temporary tattoo ($10) at sahgol.com, but she’s considering a permanent one along the inside of her forearm up to her wrist. Naturally chic • A native of North Carolina, Flowers came to St. Louis with her husband about 15 years ago, but her personal aesthetic has always been a cool, sleek earthy vibe that she described as upscale bohemian. (STLtoday.com)

Aug 15, 2016

Aug. 12-13: Hard Working Americans, Lou Evans, San Jose Summer Jazz Fest, Conservatory of Flowers Summer ...

Jon Jang, SF Guzheng Music Society, Jest Jammin’, chamber ensemble Melody of China and electronic music artist Gingee. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., free. Portsmouth Square, 733 Kearny St., S.F., www.c-c-c.org Sex Worker Confidential: Gina Gold and Dr. Carol Queen hots the TMI Storytelling presentation with performance artist and feminist pornographer Madison Young and sex worker, writer and Pundit Andre Shakti. [7 p.m., Center for Sex and Culture, 1349 Mission St., S.F.] 10,000 Maniacs: The alt-rock band, celebrating its 35th anniversary, is promoting the new release “Playing Favorites,” its first live album with lead vocalist Mary Ramsey. [7:30 p.m., Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West, Oakland] PokeCon 2: The Hawaiian food and music festival hosts more than 10 vendors serving poke and other island specialties, including drinks, along with a performance by BigBody Cisco of BigBody Radio. [11 a.m. to 9 p.m., SPARK Social SF, 601 Mission Bay Blvd. North, S.F.] Found Footage Festival: The SF Sketchfest summer offering is a one-of-a-kind event showcasing videos found at garage sales and thrift stores and in warehouses and dumpsters throughout North America. [9 p.m., Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., S.F.] The Goonies: The San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation screens the beloved comedy adventure in its 2016 Film Night in the Park Outdoor Film Series. [8:05 p.m., Dolores Park, 19th and Dolores streets, S.F.] Fruit pie contest: Tasting is free for those who bring a pie, and $5 for those who don’t; the baker of the afternoon’s favorite wins the door prize money. [3 to 4 p.m., Omnivore Books on Food, 3885 Cesar Chavez St., S.F.] Click here or scroll down to comment In Other News ... (San Francisco Examiner)