I'm from the DC area, but my grandmother passed away a couple of months ago and was laid to rest…read morenear her home in Portsmouth. I was put in charge of getting flowers for the viewing and the funeral, which was no easy task since my grandmother was a long-time member of various garden clubs and an avid gardener herself. I knew they had to be perfect, and I was skeptical about my chances for getting it right. Over the years, I had sent numerous bouquets and arrangements via internet order, only to show up myself a few days later and find that horrible flowers had been sent. This time, I decided to go, in person, to a local florist as soon as I got into town.
My first stop was Hughes, a florist that has operated in the area for years and is about a 5 minute drive from where my grandmother lived. I was prepared to drive around town, though, if I had to. Anyway, I was there before they opened, and as soon I walked in, I was worried. It smelled a little smokey and some of the gifts sitting around the store looked like they had been sitting around for decades. But I pressed ahead, and I'm so glad I did.
The staff was very friendly and helpful. I needed the flowers that afternoon, and they called their supplier to make sure everything I wanted - from a moss covered cross to bronzed calla lillies - was available. They promised to get all of the arrangements to the funeral home that afternoon in time for the viewing. I paid and left with my fingers crossed.
When we arrived for the viewing, I am happy to say that the flowers were there and beyond beautiful. In fact, they were perfect. We received so many compliments, and I know my grandmother would have just loved them.
So ... If you're about to place an internet order for flowers for any occasion, stop. Call a local florist if you can. And if the recipient is in Portsmouth or the Tidewater area of Virginia, call Hughes.