By Barbara Arnstein
Why go to a florist when you can go to a field? The Flower Stand in Springville, a U-Pick-It place, now has thousands of beautiful blossoms available in many different colors and sizes. There are dramatic dahlias, glorious gladiolas, and sweet snapdragons, ornamental grasses and butterfly bushes, lavender plants, and many more. The stars of autumn include Rudbeckia and Gomphrena. Buying fresh-cut flowers there is definitely better than buying those in stores, and so is buying local. The fields of flowers, and the rolling fields behind them, are breathtakingly beautiful, and they have been the setting for nine proposals.
A visit there is more than a simple stop to buy a bouquet or arrangement. It is a memorable experience that the whole family can enjoy. The rows and rows of flowers are separated by aisles wide enough for wagons and wheelchairs. Throughout the rows, there are speakers that continually play serene songs. Behind them, there is a beautiful field of wildflowers with a heart-shaped path and benches in it. Nearby, there is an outdoor table with several seats to relax in, sheltered by an umbrella over it. Kids will especially enjoy the gazebo containing a Little Free Library stocked with children’s books.
“I created the wildflower field this year to celebrate the Flower Stand’s tenth anniversary, and to show kids what an ecosystem is”, said Ellen Krzemien (pronounced craze-men), its owner, who is a Master Gardener with the Erie County Cornell Cooperative Extension.
Besides picking flowers, by appointment, customers, can buy flowers by signing up for a subscription. Making an appointment is as simple as going to the website theflowerstand716.com and scheduling a time. Appointments typically run between 11am-4:30pm, and they last up to ninety minutes. Once you’ve chosen flowers, you can choose from various vases and other merchandise available at the stand.
The Flower Stand is at 13187 Vaughn Street, two miles north of Springville on Route 240. To find out more about it, go to: theflowerstand716.com, facebook.com/theflowerstand716, and instagram.com/theflowerstand716, or call (716) 913-0626. Flowers are available for picking until the first frost.