By: Kathryne Davis
Mary Joyce Florist is sitting in the middle of the square, which is in the center of Sylvania, GA. This business is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
A variety of items, not just plants, are ready to greet anyone as they walk into the florist. Mary Joyce has been arranging flowers for the Sylvania community for over 40 years.
Mary Joyce is putting together an arrangement for a customer. The customer wanted only blue, yellow and white as the color scheme.
Mary Joyce is twisting more flowers into the arrangement. “It usually only takes me 20 or so minutes to put together an arrangement this size,” said Joyce.
Mary Joyce is deciding on how many more flowers to put into the arrangement. She decided on having three focal flowers, which are the biggest ones that catch your eye.
Mary Joyce is grabbing the wire cutters to bend and snap the wire. “I wrap the wire around the bouquet three times and then knot it,” said Joyce.
All of the ribbons for the bows on the arrangements are lined up. Mary Joyce always keeps at least two of the same color and pattern for each roll of ribbon.
Mary Joyce is looking for what ribbon color will best match the next arrangement. “Sometimes I have to tie two different bows just to see which color actually looks best against the flowers,” said Joyce.
Mary Joyce is picking up a color to use for a bow. Making the bow for the arrangement is Joyce’s favorite part.
Mary Joyce is fluffing a bow on one of her plants. Most customers come in for a floral arrangement, but some just want a plant for their house.
Mary Joyce is hanging up a new personalized banner she made. Many people order these floral banners to hang on doors or to put on wreaths for a funeral.
Already made floral arrangements are waiting to be bought. The sign between them displays that the personalized banners are $5.35.
The floral banners are hanging up while Mary Joyce walks by. The local Churches always get Joyce to make banners for the Church doors.
The book of floral arrangements for customers to look through is sitting open. Some customers come in knowing exactly what they want, but others like having that book to get inspiration from.
Mary Joyce is deciding on what type of floral arrangement to create next. “Even I like to look through it to gain inspiration,” said Joyce.
A tub full of extra filler flowers is set out for Mary Joyce to use. Joyce usually has a mixture of real and faux flowers in her arrangements.
Mary Joyce is putting a few of the filler flowers into an arrangement. “This one is made with all faux flowers, so that it can sit on someone’s mantle or porch without dying,” said Joyce.
The flowers that have not been cut and placed in an arrangement sit in the cooler. Customers who order just the flowers in bulk are sent home with the buckets.
Mary Joyce is picking up the arrangements she made today and opening the cooler door. To keep the flowers fresh for the customer, they sit inside the cooler till pickup.
Mary Joyce is putting the floral arrangements away into the cooler to sit overnight. Customers come in the mornings to pick up their arrangements.
