BY LIZ WITBECK
Flowers are a popular holiday gift. Many
people give flowers as gifts to loved ones, or
use them to decorate their homes during this
time of year.
At The Country Florist, 225 Kingsley Road in
Burnt Hills, owner Arnie Maliszewski creates
beautiful floral arrangements that are rustic.
“We like things a little more natural, country, European,” explained Maliszewski on his
inspiration for creating floral arrangements.
Maliszewski and his staff often are involved
in decorating for new businesses, as well as
sending arrangements to new businesses in
the area.
“If a new business opens and people want to
send them plants or flowers, we do that,” said
Maliszewski.
Jan Murphy has been operating Jan’s Florist
for more than 23 years. Located at 460 Maple
Ave. (Route 9), Saratoga Springs, her familyowned
shop provides quality floral arrangements
to customers.
Business owners also enjoy her arrangements.
She said some of the companies that
have had floral arrangements designed by Jan’s
include the Saratoga Casino and Raceway and
Saratoga Hospital.
“We also do the inside of homes,” said
Murphy.
With the holidays coming up, several people
are shopping for holiday flowers, either for
themselves or for others. The staff at floral
shops have lots of practical advice when it
comes to buying holiday flowers.
The Posie Peddler is a family owned and
operated floral shop at 92 West Ave., Saratoga
Springs. Owner Gretchen Squires is the fourth
generation of her family to operate the shop.
The Posie Peddler has a large walk-in cooler
of freshly cut flowers where customers enjoy
going into the building to pick out what types of
flowers they would like. The experience allows
guests to customize arrangements.
Squires and her staff often do arrangements
for businesses in the Saratoga Springs area, as
well as create arrangements for occasions like weddings and funerals.
“Boxwood trees are our number-one sellers,”
said Squires. These trees are made of boxwood
and shaped to resemble miniature Christmas
trees. The trees may be decorated in a similar
fashion.
At The Country Florist, Maliszewski sells
several poinsettias, wreaths and Christmas
decorations this time of year. He said many
customers choose traditional arrangements
in red, greens, and whites.
While many customers order traditional decorations, there are just as many customers
who want a unique floral gift. Squires remembered
one request she recently received.
“The husband had us spell out “I-Heart-
You” on his front lawn in flower petals” she recalled.
The husband later took his wife up in an
airplane and flew over their house, where she
could see the message written on their lawn.
Floral shops receive requests such as these
on a regular basis. “It’s always variety,” said
Maliszewski. “It’s never cookie-cutter production.”