Nothing ushers in the Christmas holiday season quite like a brightly colored poinsettia.
Duane’s Flowers, 5 S. Jefferson Ave., offers the ever popular holiday plant in a variety of colors from deep red to pink to pristine white.
“Poinsettias are easy to decorate for the holiday season. All you need to do is put a big colorful bow on the container to draw attention to the plant,” said Duane McGraw, owner of the flower shop.
Duane’s is in its 35th year on the Iola square. The shop was located on the north side of the Iola square from 1976 to 1980.
“We closed on a Friday night and by Monday morning Judy and I had relocated our shop here to the east side of the square,” McGraw said.
Popular embellishments for holiday trees and planters this holiday season are small lime green sprigs covered in glitter that can be inserted between the tree’s branches and in planters. Other colors that are popular this holiday season are gold and red.
Angel figurines, which aren’t necessary a seasonal decoration, have also been popular this Christmas, McGraw said.
For the person who likes to decorate but doesn’t want to be tied into a Santa Claus and reindeer theme McGraw suggests using snowmen.
“You can put a snowman out in November and leave it out until February,” he said.
Duane’s also has a variety of cement memorial plaques that can be placed in a garden in memory of a family member. One plaque is embellished with a broken chain that says “There is a link missing in our family.”
Christmas centerpieces should be ordered several days in advance, but he said, “If the person needs it sooner we try to accommodate the customer.”
Duane’s also will decorate a loved one’s grave at the cemetery for the holidays.
“We have standing orders to decorate gravesites. I always take a photo of the decorations for the person who placed the order,” he said.
Duane’s will make holiday bows for customers for a small fee.
“Making bows is a service of the flower shop that people will say, ‘I didn’t know you make bows.’ We make bows every day for flower arrangements, sprays and centerpieces,” McGraw said with a smile.
Duane’s also offers gift baskets of fresh fruit and snacks that can be customized to the purchaser’s wishes.
The flower shop is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to assist with holiday decorating.
Flowers brighten holiday homes
