The roses have thorns

Over the years that I have spent in the floral industry, I have learned there are many misconceptions about what it is we actually do. This business is by no means an easy one despite the general idea that "wow, you must love working with beautiful flowers all day". Which in large part is true, we do love it, however it is also very true that the roses have their thorns.

Like many other businesses, we never know what kind of day we'll be faced with when we turn the key to open the doors. Believe it or not, it's not the actual floral work that makes any given day more difficult then the previous one. It's all the "other" stuff going on around us that becomes the "bastone fra le ruota"; the stick between your wheels. The chaos of life.

Sometimes when the work day begins...the internet randomly goes down, you get a call from the school that your kid just got hurt at recess, one of your best customers is on hold waiting to speak to you personally, an email comes through from your accountant that he needs you to sign some papers, the delivery van won't start, the supplier forgot to send important materials needed for that order, your car is ready to be picked up from the mechanic, you just remembered that you forgot to take out the chicken for dinner and that you ran out of dog food.

So, you push all that aside for the better part of the day, why? Because the grieving family needs the flowers to arrive on time for their loved one's funeral, the bride's wedding is tomorrow so she needs her bouquet in the morning and not next month, the centerpieces for the sweet 16 birthday celebration party are needed tonight and you know failure is not an option for any of it.

I think we sometimes forget that behind every business there are actual people making things happen. And when I say people I mean men and women who are also fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, friends. And it makes no difference if it's a small, medium or large business; one that does 100 thousand dollars a year in sales or one that does 100 million, they are still run by people.

Our flower shops are a great example of that. Real people working hard at what they do and also working hard at juggling a whole lot of other stuff you wouldn't even imagine. It is a privilege to work in the flower business. A family business no less. We are reminded often of that privilege by the constant messages of thanks we receive from so many happy customers. And thank goodness for the positive feedback because truthfully it's hard sometimes. The pressure is always on and when we succeed at pleasing our customers, it makes it all worthwhile. Sacrifices are made, patience is essential and the commitment to never quit defines who we are.

Roses have their thorns yes, but they also have the most exquisite perfume unique only to them and they come in a multitude of stunning colours. Simply beautiful, thorns and all.
Let's not forget to smell them from time to time.

Nostalgia ~Ital Florist

Come non ricordare,

“I cipressi che a Bolgheri alti e schietti…”

“L’albero a cui tendevi la pargoletta mano…”

“Nella torre il silenzio era gia’ alto”

“Sempre caro mi fu quest’ermo colle…”

“Ti amo, o pio bove;”

“Ei fu. Siccome immobile…”

“D’in su la vetta della torre antica”

“Ne piu’ mai tocchero’ le sacre sponde”

“All’ombra dei cipressi e dentro l’urne…”

“Silvia, rimembri ancora quel tempo di tua vita mortale…”

“Settembre andiamo. E’ tempo di migrare”

“Cantami o diva del Pelide Achille l’ira funesta che…”

“C’e’ qualcosa di nuovo oggi nel sole…”

“La donzelletta vien dalla campagna”

e tanti tanti altri versi ancora che sono stati l’inizio e il centro della nostra formazione culturale.

E’ un vero peccato, un sacrilegio che certe cose non si indegnino piu’,

Ho 73 anni e da 50 vivo in Canada dove insieme al diploma e la mia gioventu’ portai entusiasmo, ambizione e il ricordo di tutte le poesie che avevo imparato nelle elementari, nelle medie e nelle superiori. Mi sono state sempre di sprono e spesso hanno colmato quei vuoti nostalgici che di tanto in tanto colpiscono chi vive lontano dal paese natio.

Io vendo fiori e il giorno di San Valentino e’ un giorno veramente importante per la mia azienda e durante la settimana che precede la festa ho sempre ricordato la poesia del Pascoli: ne ho usato I primi versi pure negli spots pubblicitari: “O Valentino vestito di nuovo come le brocche dei biancospini”… l’ ho fatto  conoscere pure ai figli e nipoti perche’ sono convinto che la conoscenza della lingua italiana insieme a belle poesie accresce il loro bagaglio culturale.

~Eligio Paris 

Ital Florist, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 

"Valentino" di Giovanni Pascoli ~ Ital Florist

In their childhood, my parents learned this beautiful poem about a small peasant boy, his new suit and his bare feet. From time to time, especially during the Valentine's Day rush, my father would randomly begin to recite this poem. I was reminded about it recently and asked Dad about it.
The poem by Giovanni Pascoli is certainly bitter sweet and I wanted to share it with all of you. I hope you enjoy it. The English translation follows the original Italian.

~Happy Valentine's Day to you and your loved ones

"Valentino” di Giovanni Pascoli

Oh! Valentino vestito di nuovo,
come le brocche dei biancospini!
Solo, ai piedini provati dal rovo
porti la pelle de’ tuoi piedini;
porti le scarpe che mamma ti fece,
che non mutasti mai da quel dì,
che non costarono un picciolo: in vece
costa il vestito che ti cucì.
Costa; ché mamma già tutto ci spese
quel tintinnante salvadanaio:
ora esso è vuoto; e cantò più d’un mese
per riempirlo, tutto il pollaio.
Pensa, a gennaio, che il fuoco del ciocco
non ti bastava, tremavi, ahimè!,
e le galline cantavano, Un cocco!
ecco ecco un cocco un cocco per te!
Poi, le galline chiocciarono, e venne
marzo, e tu, magro contadinello,
restasti a mezzo, così con le penne,
ma nudi i piedi, come un uccello:
come l’uccello venuto dal mare,
che tra il ciliegio salta, e non sa
ch’oltre il beccare, il cantare, l’amare,
ci sia qualch’altra felicità
____________________________________

Oh! Valentino clothed anew,
like the blossoms of the hawthorns!
Just, your little feet tried by the brambles
you wear the skin of your little feet;
you wear the shoes mother made you,
that you haven’t changed from that day,
that didn’t cost a penny: but
the suit she made for you is expensive.
It’s expensive: mother already spent
that jingling moneybox:
now it’s empty: and for more than a month,
the whole poultry pen sang to fill it.
Remember January, when the burning log
wasn’t enough for you, you were shivering, pity me!
and the hens were singing: An egg!
here here an egg, an egg for you!
Then, the hens brooded, and March arrived,
and you, thin little peasant
remained half finished, with plumage,
but barefooted, just like a bird:
like the bird come from the sea,
which hops around the cherry tree, and doesn’t know
that besides pecking, singing, loving,
there could be another happiness.

My brother, the hopeless Romantic ~Ital Florist

The other night sitting around the dinner table like we often do, and with Valentine's Day around the corner occupying all our minds,we start reminiscing about funny and memorable Valentine's Day stories. My brother starts to tell the kids about the time he organized this great surprise for his then girlfriend, now wife at Valentine's Day. If you've ever heard Italo tell a story you'll understand me when I say he had us all in stitches thinking he was the best romantic dude out there...
I asked him if he would be my "guest" blogger on my next entry... so here you go folks in his own words... ~Italo ...The best romantic dude out there~


We were young and working our asses off at the flower shop.
My girlfriend (now my wife) used to go to Florida always in February
I played it like I didn’t get her anything for Valentine’s Day.
I took time away from my busy day to meet her at the airport to see her off…I think it was maybe the day after valentine’s day…can’t remember.
When I went to the airport I saw she was a bit upset and I purposely made it worse. I didn’t get her anything, my excuse was good...it was crazy busy at the shop and I had no time and really the whole thing is so silly. Right?...
I said, "Eva…come on, get over it. It’s just a silly day. What’s the big deal?"
This made her even more upset.
We said good bye and I left. She was sad for sure.

She had no clue that earlier in the day I went to the Check In desk (it did help that I knew the check in person) and I arranged to have them pass the box of flowers to one of the flight attendants on Eva's flight before boarding.
Pre 911 for sure!
Once the plane took off and the seat belt lights went off, the flight attendant, over the loud speaker, asked for Eva to identify herself.
Then the whole crew walked the box of flowers over to where she was seated.
They made a huge scene. All the other passengers oohing and awing..it was perfect! She was speechless.
Now she is stuck on the plane with no way to call me.
When she lands in Florida she desperately wants to call…I avoid the phone for three days.
I knew she felt bad that she had been so upset with me and then I floored her with the delivery on the plane no less!

Romantic or what?
~Happy Valentine's Day