Retail Floral Design Choices in the Niles-Buchanan, MI Area

From early spring's first glowing narcissus, to the plush and gloriously fragrant autumn mums, flowers - and the professional florists who work with them - help preserve the Niles-Buchanan, Michigan area's reputation as a location of four-season natural abundance.

Each with its own special "floral philosophy," three local firms - Buchanan Floral Company & Greenhouses, The Flower Cart, and Beikmann Associates Floral Designs - offer the widest range of choices for the choosy retail flower shopper.

The family-owned Buchanan Floral Company & Greenhouses has been operated 63 years by the Falkenstein family. The flower shop and greenhouse operation backs up its full selection of inventory with personalized service, offering a hometown familiarity that's marked its success since it put down roots in this tiny St. Joseph River valley community six decades ago.

The Falkenstein family is well-known for putting the bloom in this town's yards and gardens since 1942. Their five local greenhouses are the first home for many of the community's Christmas poinsettias, Easter lilies, mid-summer hydrangeas, cyclamen and chrysanthemums. From spring to fall, annuals and perennials flourish, along with hanging baskets and custom-designed green planters, dish gardens and silk creations.

You can't miss Buchanan Floral Company & Greenhouses at 516 W. Front St. nestled at the edge of Buchanan's historic West Front Street neighborhood. They're open at 8 a.m. six days a week, serving customers on-site until 5:30 pm Monday though Friday, and until 4 p.m. Saturdays. Reach them at 269-695-6131 for shipping and delivery detail, or check out their website at www.buchananfloral.com.

A few miles east, The Flower Cart in downtown Niles keeps pace with the busy gift-giver who values both contemporary and traditional floral arrangements, as well as silk and dried creations, and gift baskets for today's on-the-go buyers.

The Flower Cart's professional staff keeps its eyes on prompt, courteous hometown style service. Creative and colorful floral gifts are a house specialty: Choose from their European-style dish gardens, delicately elegant silks, or their sweetly fragrant fresh flowers for that just-picked look. Greeting cards, candles and gourmet baskets make each selection complete no matter what the occasion.

The Flower Cart serves customers at 1124 N. 5th St. near downtown Niles, or phone toll-free at 800-683-5457. The shop is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. weekdays, from 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturdays, and on Sundays, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

And for exquisitely elegant, one-of-a-kind floral designs, or a customized floral motif for your home or business, Beikmann Associates focuses exclusively on weddings, parties and interior designs for corporate and high-style residential projects.

"Custom Elegance to Remember" is the philosophy on which founder and senior designer Sheri Beikmann built her business. A floral design company that's, in its founders' words, "not your ordinary flower shop," Beikmann Associates' professional staff brings 25 years of design experience to Niles-Buchanan corporate and residential clients. The area's interior design industry values Beikmann's ability to integrate imaginative floral accents - silks as well as fresh - - into the broadest range of home and business design styles.

With a degree in retail floriculture and work experience with both US and European designers, Beikmann can be reached at 269-695-0300, or online at www.beikmannassociates.com.

So whether it's petals for parties ... blooms for birthdays ... or wisteria for the wedding or workplace ... European flair, cottage garden color, or sleek contemporary simplicity ... these Niles-Buchanan retail florists offer up service with a smile - and style.