Top Florists in Akron, Ohio

Here are some of the top florists in my hometown. All of the addresses are in Akron and all of the phone numbers are in the 330 area code.

NEIL LEESON DÉCOR FLORAL - 535-0220 - 43 Furnace Street

This is the florist my wife and I used for our wedding. Neil is a expert who is often flown to New York or Los Angeles for weddings. His shop, formerly known as The Topiary, is right downtown near Luigi's. If you're planning a wedding, you should talk to Neil first.

STAIRCASE FLORIST - 844 Copley Road - (330) 376-4592

Staircase has a very easy-to-use website at www.staircaseflorist.com. The store serves Akron and surrounding suburbs such as Barberton, Mogadore, Copley and Cuyahoga Falls. Staircase has a wide variety of choices, including tropicals, high-style floral arrangments, dried floral arrangements, gourmet and fruit baskets, greeting cards and candles. The delivery fee in the Akron area is $6.95. Staircase also has a toll-free number: 888-211-3767.

AMEDEO's FLORIST - 1099 Grant St. - (330) 773-6641

Amedeo's website is www.amedeosflorist.com, and it is organized by the reasons you would buy flowers. This includes special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries and weddings; as well as to express feelings like thanks, sympathy and well-wishing. Even corporate gifts are on the list. This is perfect if you don't know which flowers are appropriate for certain occasions. Some examples of Amedeo's prices are a dozen premium red roses for $49.95; a dozen multi-colored roses for $69.95; and a dozen white roses for $97.95.

COLONIAL FLORISTS - 1853 S. Main St. - 773-6624 - www.colonialflorists.com

Colonial offers flower-care tips on its website, www.colonialflorists.com. The company also advises that you ask how long you should expect your flowers to last. That makes sense, but few people do that. The website also explains the purpose of the floral food that often comes with your flowers. Sometimes the food will be in the foam packed with the flowers, and you need to hang onto that foam to keep the flowers healthy.

ROBINSON FLORIST ----- 730 S. Arlington Road - (800) 448-3570

If you check out www.robinsonflorist.net, you will find the Passionate Reds bouquet for $35. The arrangement includes asters, tulips, carnations and hypericum in a square glass vase. You can also get larger versions of this arrangement for $50 and $65. Rather than a standard bouquet, this would be a different way to tell someone that they get your motor runnin'.

GIANT EAGLE - Several locations

If you need to grab some flowers quickly, you can always go to the floral department at your local Giant Eagle supermarket. They have some good-looking arrangements, and you won't pay as much as you would at a fancy flower shop.

ARCHITECTURAL GREENERY - 106 N. Main St. - (330) 253-8050

Jack Baker has 20 years of experience in the plant and flower business. His company offers live plants, silk plants and arrangements for special events. For a brief look at his work, check out www.architecturalgreenery.com. To tell Baker your specific needs, send him an e-mail at jack@architecturalgreenery.com.