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Easter bouquets available, thanks to creative Sacramento-area florists


Regardless of coronavirus, Easter bouquets are a traditional part
of the season. Relles Florist in Sacramento is getting creative with
the flowers it can obtain. (Photo courtesy Relles Florist)

With limited supply of flowers for spring events, flexibility counts



Jim Relles was able to find some Easter lilies. For a florist this week, that was exciting.

Traditionally, this is a big week for florists. In the days leading up to Easter, local florists create festive arrangements for churches as well as family get-togethers.

In addition, the spring calendar is usually dotted with lots of weddings, graduations and other celebrations – all flower-filled occasions.

But not this spring.

“For all of us, it’s challenging,” said Relles, owner of Relles Florist in Midtown Sacramento. “We’re taking it day by day.”

Relles’ family business has been serving Sacramento’s floral needs since 1946, through several economic ups and downs. But the current COVID-19 crisis has created unique circumstances. Among them: Midtown looks like a ghost town.

“Since we’re selling floral products, we’re considered part of agriculture and we’re able to stay open,” Relles said. “But we weren’t sure we could get any flowers to sell.”

Like any crop, flowers are planted months, sometimes years, in advance of harvest. Those Easter flowers are ready for customers now. Otherwise, they’re compost.

Some flower wholesalers initially shut down, but reopened once they knew farms would be sending fresh blooms and florists would be able to sell them.

“Luckily, we’re getting flowers, mostly from California growers,” Relles said. “South America (the source of many popular blooms) is trying to get back up and going, too. We may not have every flower requested, but we have about 100 varieties in our store.”

In short supply are carnations, mini-carnations and pompoms – all florist staples. Peace lilies have been hard to get. It was an accomplishment when Relles was able to pick up some Easter lilies, a must for this season.

“We’re being flexible and creative,” Relles said. “Our staff is doing a great job.”

Bella Fiore Designs in Fair Oaks Village makes arrangements
such as this one as part of the BloomNation online network.
(Photo courtesy Bella Fiore Designs)
In Fair Oaks, Arpik Mirzoyan of Bella Fiore Designs is still filling orders for delivery only. The usually bustling streets of Fair Oaks Village, where her shop is located, are empty.

“(The impact of the coronavirus crisis) has been really, really bad,” she said. “Offices are closed, which is understandable, but they’re my weekly accounts. I usually take flowers to retirement homes, but not now (with current restrictions). I’ve had weddings and some other big events all canceled.”

Mirzoyan is still buying flowers and making personalized arrangements. She does a lot of work through BloomNation, the online floral marketplace.

During this time of high anxiety, a bouquet can bring a whiff of relief.

“Of course, fresh flowers ease anxiety,” she said. “They make people smile.”

But her business has been slow.

“Usually, Easter week is really busy, doing a lot of fun stuff,” Mirzoyan added. “But this is a very hard situation for everyone. We have hope that things will get better and events will come back. June weddings are coming up.”

Taking phone and online orders, Relles Florist cut back its hours to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Jim Relles himself is making many of the deliveries.

“Easter Week is traditionally big and we are still sending out some stuff,” Relles said. “The priest at one Catholic church is doing a virtual Easter service and he asked for some altar pieces.”

Relles worries about the weeks ahead, in particular another flower-filled holiday – Mother’s Day. For florists, the second Sunday in May ranks close to Valentine’s Day in terms of orders.

“I think this year, Mother’s Day will be even more important,” he said. “Flowers make people happy, they bring joy into your life. I’m sure people will want to express their love and give flowers.”

Mom will say thank you, and so will the florist.

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Flowers in My Back Yard Series

Sept. 8: A must for fall gardens, asters are little powerhouses

Sept. 1: Yarrow an easy-care, sturdy flowering plant

Aug. 25: Crape myrtles, Sacramento's unofficial tree of summer

Aug. 18: Pollinators adore scabiosa, aka pincushion flower

Aug. 11: Hardy hibiscus adds big tropical impact

Aug. 4: Dianthus a deceptively hardy flower

July 28: Naked Ladies put on summer show

July 21: Thank Luther Burbank for these long-lasting beauties (Shasta daisies)

July 14: How to keep hydrangeas happy

July 7: Grow these bright cosmos for bees and butterflies

June 30: Agapanthus adds blue fireworks to the garden

June 23: Easy-care gazanias fill those hot corners

June 16: Daylilies are perfect for water-wise gardens (and a lot more)

June 9: Grow coneflowers for pollinators -- and yourself

June 2: Sunflowers capture Sacramento's summer attitude

May 29: Are your roses going 'blind'?

May 26: Zinnias are the summer flowers every garden needs

May 19: Plant dahlias now for late-summer flower power

May 12: Know your coreopsis from your bidens

May 5: Mums the word on Mother's Day weekend

April 28: Majestic Matilija poppy is worth a look

April 21: Celebrate roses, America's favorite flower

April 14: Small flowers with outsized impact

April 7: Calendulas do double duty

April 3: Make Easter lilies last for years to come

March 31: In praise of a pollinator magnet (small-leaf salvias)

March 24: Azaleas brighten shady spots

March 17: The perfect flower for beginners? Try zonal geraniums

March 10: Keep camellias happy for years to come

March 3: Fruit tree blossoms are a fleeting joy

Feb. 27: Are your roses looking rusty?

Feb. 24: Treasure spring daffodils now and for years to come

Feb. 17: How and why to grow wildflowers

Feb. 10: Let's talk Valentine's Day roses

Feb. 3: Why grow flowers?

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Taste Summer! E-cookbook

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Find our summer recipes here!

Garden checklist for week of Sept. 6

Now is the time to plant for fall. The warm soil will get these veggies off to a fast start.

* Keep harvesting tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons and eggplant.

* Compost annuals and vegetable crops that have finished producing.

* Cultivate and add compost to the soil to replenish its nutrients for fall and winter vegetables and flowers.

* Fertilize deciduous fruit trees. Make sure to deep water before and after feeding.

* Plant onions, lettuce, peas, radishes, turnips, beets, carrots, bok choy, spinach and potatoes directly into the vegetable beds.

* Transplant cabbage, broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower as well as lettuce seedlings.

* Sow seeds of California poppies, clarkia and African daisies.

* Transplant cool-weather annuals such as pansies, violas, fairy primroses, calendulas, stocks and snapdragons.

* Divide and replant bulbs, rhizomes and perennials.

* Dig up and divide daylilies as they complete their bloom cycle.

* Divide and transplant peonies that have become overcrowded. Replant with “eyes” about an inch below the soil surface.

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Taste Spring! E-cookbook

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Find our spring recipes here!

Taste Fall! E-cookbook

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Taste Winter! E-cookbook

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Time to give vegetable seedlings some more space

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Enhance your food with edible flowers

Why won't my tomatoes turn red?

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Your plants can tell you more than any calendar can

Maintain soil moisture with mulch for garden success

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Should you stock up on fertilizer? (Yes!)

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Don't be fooled by these garden myths

Fertilizer tips: How to 'feed' your vegetables for healthy growth