Florist ready for busiest day

Published 7:16 pm Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Valentines’ Day is the busiest day in the life of a florist and to help keep the hundreds of roses and other blooms pristine, Helen’s Florist has an 18-wheeler refrigerated truck parked out behind their shop.

Mary Kaylin Gray of Helen’s Florist said the truck is filled with tables loaded down with floral orders set to be delivered today.

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for The Vicksburg Post's free newsletters

Check which newsletters you would like to receive
  • Vicksburg News: Sent daily at 5 am
  • Vicksburg Sports: Sent daily at 10 am
  • Vicksburg Living: Sent on 15th of each month

“Each table represents a different section of town and so when the (delivery) truck pulls around the back we can take that table and have it ready to go,” Gray said.

Nancy Gray, the owner of the shop, said they keep the truck for a week.

And whether it is a dozen or one long stem, red roses are still the favorite flower for Valentine’s Day.

“This year we have kind of a new one,” Mary Kaylin Gray said. “It is a garden rose and it is called Hearts and the inner blooms look like a heart.”

Nancy Gray said deliveries to businesses began at 7:30 a.m. this morning, and the goal is to be finished delivering by nightfall, unless of course it is to be delivered at a requested time.

A plethora of typical Valentines’ Day orders have been made at Helen’s, Mary Kaylin Gray said, but the flower shop did receive one very unique order this year.

There is an elderly couple that has been patrons of the business for many years, Mary Kaylin Gray said, and because of their health and the chance this may be their last Valentines’ Day together, to delight them their daughter ordered flowers to be delivered every day this week.

“The daughter called and asked us to put flowers all throughout their house. It was so sweet,” Mary Kaylin Gray said.

And for those who may have forgotten today is Valentine’s Day, Nancy Gray said orders can still be placed.

“We will take orders until the flowers run out,” she said. 

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

email author More by Terri Cowart