A Blooming Family Business | Lakeside Florist

By
Melissa Gautier
|
Photos by Lake Pointe Photography

Whether it’s
helping teens create corsages for a school dance, comforting
grieving families selecting funeral flowers, or helping brides
envision bountiful bouquets for the wedding of their dreams, Lakeside Florist
always brings a ray of sunshine to every season in life. Their dedication to
bringing a touch of whimsy, artistic flair, or caring symbols of compassion
has made Lakeside Florist a community favorite for the past 23 years. It’s no
wonder they were voted Best Of in Living Magazine’s Readers’ Choice awards
this year.

A Strong
Family Commitment to Customer Service

Owner Tommie
Wells has been touching hearts and soothing souls in the
Rockwall/Heath community with her dazzling array of fresh, colorful
arrangements and gift baskets since the beginning of her business. Her love
for flowers and plants has been a lifelong passion. “Plants are soothing,”
she said. “It’s good for the soul to see God’s handiwork in their
beauty.”

She learned from the ground up, originally
starting with silk arrangements but switching to fresh flowers years ago. The
support and dedication of her immediate family members helped Tommie get her
business up and running. Her son, Preston, joined the business after
completing college in 2012. Working his way up from delivery driver, he now
serves as Lakeside Florist’s manager. His natural affinity for design has
been a proven asset to the business.

Preston’s
twin brother, Austin, made deliveries along with Preston in the
beginning. Later, he developed
the company’s website and handles computer technology. Delivery
driver duties finally landed in the hands of Tommie’s husband, Dennis, who
gets to experience firsthand a customers’
delight as they’re handed a chic, blooming arrangement of vibrant
flowers when they open the door.

Communicating the Language of Flowers

Sometimes
it’s difficult to verbally express our feelings to others. Tommie
believes flowers are a powerful tool for connection. It’s one of the
reasons she started her floral business. Since every flower has a specific
meaning, Preston or Tommie can
design an arrangement conveying a message to the recipient.
“We understand the meaning of
each flower and what it stands
for,” Preston said. You
literally can “say it with flowers,” as the expression
goes.

Adding a
professional, yet personal touch to each floral creation, Tommie and Preston help customers achieve unique expressions of
thoughtfulness to others through the language of flowers. By communicating
love, compassion, appreciation, joy, or thankfulness through inspiring floral
creations, the cohesive efforts of the Wells family help make the Rockwall
community a little brighter.

Maintaining
healthy plants and fresh flowers requires knowledge and
dedication. “We pride ourselves on the care we provide to flowers,
maintaining healthy specimens with an abundance of blooms,” Preston said.
“Our arrangements last at least two weeks after delivery.” A modern florist
with a flair for sophistication, Lakeside Florist lives up to its excellent
reputation. They strive to nurture lifelong customer relationships and enjoy giving back to their
community by donating their
time and resources to nonprofit organizations.

Summer
of Flowers

The Summer
of Flowers promotion implemented this year features a different
flower each month and explains its color and meaning. Peace and serenity is
the meaning behind October’s flower, Cosmos. Tommie and Preston will provide
flowers in October’s arrangements that have the same look and feel as Cosmos,
along with complementary colors including orange, red, and yellow. The
arrangements are named with variations of the monthly flower’s
meaning.

Customers can look forward to the Bejeweled
Blessings lines this fall. Bejeweled arrangements have a non-traditional fall
theme with rich colors and tones blended throughout, including teal,
burgundy, purple, bicolor roses, and yellow and orange
flowers.

Exciting Learning Opportunities, Classes, and
Upcoming Events

Lakeside Florist relocated to their current
residence on North Goliad Street three years ago – the charming,
repurposed older home is right off the downtown square in Rockwall.
The shop’s inviting front porch welcomes guests coming in to place orders,
shop for plants, grab a special gift, or attend fun events and classes.
“We’ve hosted mimosa tastings, fall festivals, Wine & Design classes,
private parties, and more since moving into our new space,” Preston
said.

Wine
& Design Classes

Learn how to
create a floral arrangement while sipping Texas
Hill Country wine. The Wine & Design classes are always
a favorite. You don’t have to be a seasoned
florist to create stunning centerpieces and arrangements. Whether you’re a
beginner or an expert, this class opportunity is perfect for anyone looking
to flex their creative muscles and design something attractive while enjoying
Texas wine. The class is led by experienced florists who guide students
through the process, teaching new skills and techniques. Class themes can be
customized to fit your party theme, family, or group of friends. Mark your
calendars and sign up for the upcoming Halloween Wine & Design
Costume Party and Class starting October 26.

Premier
Halloween Attraction

This year’s
premier event at Lakeside Florist will be a super-spooky, haunted house maze located directly
behind the shop. Opening
October 20 and operating through the first weekend in November, “The Haunting
of Deadwood” will be open to guests 13 and up. For the little kiddos, a
special “Super Hero” area will keep them
entertained.

Lakeside
Florist looks forward to serving their community with incomparable customer service for many years to
come. They invite you to visit their website for details and
information on classes, events, featured floral arrangements, and gift
baskets to suit every occasion.