LAHARPE — TLC Garden Center, LaHarpe, has grown a new addition to its business, a flower shop. Savannah and her husband Levi Flory have opened Flory’s Flowers.
TLC is a family owned business that Savannah took over after her mother passed away in 2006. Savannah has a degree in horticulture from Kansas State University.
“I grew up with it and I enjoyed it,” Savannah said of the business.
She manages the garden center and Levi manages the landscaping portion of TLC.
Savannah said adding a flower shop to the business had been a longtime dream.
“I tossed around the idea and hadn’t planned on acting on it anytime soon,” she said.
She knew there was an interest from customers because the store would get calls for plants for Mother’s Day or funerals.
The “right time” appeared to the Florys when Kelly Spears decided to close her Iola shop, Diamond Daisy, asked the Florys if they were interested in buying the shop or its inventory.
The Florys started out slowly.
“We bought a cooler and Kelly’s inventory,” Savannah said. “We’re planning on doing some remoldeling this winter. It will be a store within a store.”
The floral shop is currently in a small room at TLC, but will be expanded into where the gift shop is currently located.
To update her knowledge on arrangements, Savannah is enrolled to take a 10-week floral class in Kansas City. The course starts from the beginning by teaching how to make arrangements and bouquets.
“It will give us new ideas and a fresh look on things,” she said.
Savannah has also received lots of welcome advice from local horticulturists Connie McWhirter and Dennis Williams.
The road construction on U.S. 54, which is right outside of TLC, hasn’t put any bumps in the flow of business for the Florys.
“As much as we’ve advertised, it’s going well,” she said.
She said the shop will create arrangements for its first wedding order in October.
The flower shop is open during the same hours that the garden center is open Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The shop is closed on Sundays.
Flory’s delivers to residents all over Allen County. To receive same-day delivery the order must be placed before 2 p.m.
To contact Flory’s Flowers call 620-496-1235.
Business in bloom Flory’s Flowers now open at TLC
