Ephraim Flower Shops

Ephraim UT News

Nov 3, 2016

New Tunbridge Wells teashop opens in Mount Ephraim gift shop

Comments (0) Mount Ephraim gift shop owner Christina Gudenian has added a teashop to her Tunbridge Wells store. On one of Tunbridge Wells' busiest roads, Zaven's offers locally made cakes plus fresh coffee and tea at tables tucked behind the gifts, cards and fresh flowers. "This is something I have always intended to do, so I'm pleased it's up and running," said Ms Gudenian, who opened her shop earlier this year. Named after her Armenian father, the tiny shop is the fulfilment of a lifetime dream for the former art student. "She said: "After studying textiles, I found myself commuting to an office for 30 years, so this is a return to something I love." ... (Kent Live)

Oct 12, 2015

Bowen Park's hidden gems: wildflower refuge, restored 30-acre ravine

As two hummingbirds flitted among an expanse of orange-hued jewelweed, Ali Gomez's three boys, Asher, Ezekiel and Ephraim, looked for frogs. The family recently moved to Waukegan from Japan with Gomez's husband who serves in the Armed Forces. "It's beautiful here. It's their first time here," Gomez said. "They're looking for critters," something she said she did when she was their age. The boys, who are homeschooled, discovered a large bullfrog, which hopped out of their reach. Occasionally, a smaller leopard frog popped in and out of sight next to the pond laden with lily pads as bees buzzed on the jewelweed amid other native flowers decked in hues of yellow, purple, white and blue. The wildflower refuge includes benches where visitors can pause, sit and gaze at the flowers and pond. Huge oaks surround the refuge, and a small ravine is adjacent. East of the refuge are steps leading down into the much larger 30-acre ravine. The refuge was named after Jack Hofflander, who was born in 1920 and raised in Waukegan. He loved exploring Bowen Park and though he moved to New York to pursue his career as an artist, he returned again and again for family visits over the years, Trigg said. Hofflander, who died in 2003, wanted to create a refuge of rare plants of the region, Trigg said. "We worked with him on fundraising over three years on three phases." Hofflander created a painting to show what he envisioned. The work began in 1995 with a pond, then a shade garden and a woodland and prairie native area, Trigg said. The Sandee Memorial Seating Area and shade garden became part of the refuge in 1996, he said. This year, Hey & Associates, based in Volo and Chicago, has been consulting with the park district to expand and enhance the Hofflander Wildflower Refuge. In the spring, community members volunteered to help plant 9,000 native species in and around the refuge. These include wild irises and columbine that will bloom in s... (Chicago Tribune)