The #99 reason why Garden City is so unique is one of the sweetest smelling places in town - Feldis Florists on Seventh Street.
Walk into Feldis and you feel like you’re in a rose garden. Why so many roses? Because roses, especially red ones, are the most popular Valentine’s Day gift, according to Tim Feldis, the owner.
“We have red roses and other colors here at Feldis. They are so wonderful and new varieties are coming out all the time. My favorite is a pink one called ‘Titanic.’ It’s a soft pink with a large head,” remarked Feldis.
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With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, the two weeks before the holiday require logistics and coordination in terms of ordering the flowers and having salespeople and delivery people on hand. The floral designers, along with the others, do “a month’s work in one day,” Feldis stated. One hopes for no snow or a sick employee either.
After visiting the Miami International Flower Show approximately once a year, Feldis then orders the best flowers from farms in California, as well as Ecuador and Columbia. As for Europe, the dollar is too weak right now.
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Feldis went to Michigan State and majored in ornamental horticulture with a specialty in floriculture. Back then one to two new varieties were introduced to the market each year. Now, with advances in genetics, there are hundreds of new ones to choose from.
Tim is the fourth generation in the family to be in the flower business at Feldis Florists. His great-grandparents, Joseph and Antoine, emigrated from Germany. They started the greenhouse and shop in 1922 in Hempstead, now closed. The Garden City shop started in 1964, with a new location just opened in Merrick. The whole family is involved, with many getting degrees in horticulture from Cornell as well as Michigan State.
Feldis advises two things for you to be aware of: Please call in orders for your flowers now and shop locally in Garden City. For more information, visit www.Feldis.com or call 1-800-800-LILY.
Category: Retail
Price: Varies
Season: Year-round
Note: Bring cash or charge
Come back next Tuesday at 10 a.m. for suggestion #98. Click here if you missed #100.
