Florist Linda Baker gives advice and options for the upcoming holiday, SEE GALLERY
By Andrew Harris
Did you know that a new florist has been serving Allegany County since 2022? Linda Baker opened Cherish the Moment to pursue her love of floral design and provide more options for local flower lovers and funeral homes. Linda owns and operates the Baker-Swan Funeral home with her husband Bud Baker.
Cherish the Moment is located on Riverside Drive, right next door to the Baker-Swan funeral home. We asked Linda why she decided to expand into the floral business:
“This is my second Valentine’s Day and my third year of business. I love creating beauty with flowers. I am an artist of mixed and many mediums. I have created art for our funeral customers for 20 years. In my high school years, I spent a great deal of time in our school’s art studio and received a prestigious award in my senior year (National Scholastic Gold Key for a print.) I have a good feel for color, line and balance. I have been observing and studying funeral floral art for 20 years as it comes into our business.”
Linda has some great advice if you’re planning to show your love with flowers this Valentine’s Day: Order Early!! As the busiest day of the year, Baker says ordering early is in the customers best interest, for a few good reasons:
1. It gets it done and off the customer’s mind
2. It gets the order into the Florist’s system so that product can be set aside for that order
3. If it is something a bit unique that the customer wants, early ordering gives the florist time to obtain product.
4. Some florists have a point in time where the price for Valentine’s flowers is increased significantly. (I do not, but I also end up turning orders away because I don’t have enough product to add many last-minute orders.)
Cherish the Moment Floral Studios also has more than flowers!! Oliver’s Candies are now available, made in Batavia NY, and a rare chance to purchase FRENCH CREAMS, “I’m told they are a “nostalgia” item and my senior customers would enjoy them,” says Baker.
This year chocolate assortments, Pecan Delights, and packages of foil wrapped milk chocolate hearts will be on sale along with Wilson’s Beef Sticks packaged into “Sweetheart Packs.
Linda has added other popular snacks and gift items for this Valentine’s Day offering:
“Valentine’s Day = Flowers, Chocolate, snacks, candles. Our shop has great choices for Valentine’s Day 2024. Along with the expected rose choices, I am offering mixed flower arrangements featuring roses (Not just roses) These arrangements appeal to people who like a bit of variety. I also have some plants in the studio because there are people who would just prefer a live plant.
While located on a funeral home property, Cherish the Moment offers products for a broad range of occasions and events. People can get “Every day” or “Just Because” flowers, Birthday arrangements, Get well arrangements, recital bouquets — including school dances and Senior night bouquets Linda loves doing centerpieces for dinners and events and large pieces for stages and lobbies. If funeral flowers are needed, Cherish the Moment provides service to all funeral homes in the area, not just Baker-Swan.
Visit the website for online ordering: Cherishfloralstudio.com
