'Order ahead of time:' Buying your bouquet for Mother's Day in CT

Blaine Callahan, The Bulletin
·3 min read

Mother's Day is almost here, and flower shops are getting busy.

You've still got some time to order an arrangement or pickup a bouquet for your wife, mother or grandmother. Getting the right flowers, vases or plants, however, might be trickier than you'd expect.

Waves from the pandemic's early days are still being felt in the floral industry. Coupled with ongoing supply chain issues, flower shops have gotten creative with how they offer and sell bouquets.

We talked to Michael Rankowitz at McKenna's Flower Shop on 520 Boswell Ave. in Norwich to learn more about what to expect this Mother's Day.

Michael Rankowitz, owner of McKenna's Flowers & Plants, prepares a Mother's Day vase arrangement Monday in the store's refrigerator at the Norwich business.
Michael Rankowitz, owner of McKenna's Flowers & Plants, prepares a Mother's Day vase arrangement Monday in the store's refrigerator at the Norwich business.

Is it too late to get a Mother's Day bouquet?

"No, it is not too late," said Rankowitz.

The Norwich flower shop owner encouraged readers to swing by McKenna's and pick out a bouquet on display. There are vases, house plants, and plenty more to choose from. Same-day delivery is available for orders placed before noon, too.

"You can go online on our website. There's pictures you can pick from. You can call us, too, for more custom arrangements. Let us know your budget and we can make it work."

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Don't, however, wait too long.

"The closer we get to Mother's Day, the busier it gets," said Rankowitz. "Now's the best time to order your bouquet. We can do our best to accommodate last minute orders, but we may run out of certain flowers. Order ahead of time."

A sign at McKenna's Flowers & Plants in Norwich reminding people of Mother's Day this Sunday.
A sign at McKenna's Flowers & Plants in Norwich reminding people of Mother's Day this Sunday.

Supply chain issues still straining flower shops

If you needed another reason to order sooner than later, ongoing pandemic shortages haven't eased up on supplies of flower and plant availability.

"Two years ago, when flowers and house plants we sell now were meant to be planted and weren't due to the pandemic, it left us short on what we have in stock," says Rankowitz. "There's some vases I can't get and flowers I can't get. It's still due to COVID-19 and the lag behind that you have to grow."

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He recommends Designer's Choice if you aren't sure what to get or are flexible on your bouquet. You'll find the option on McKenna's website, as well as other flower shops across the state. He'll take down color or floral preferences and build out an arrangement from there.

Even so, buyers looking for a detailed, custom bouquet can still give McKenna's a call.

Taylor Rinbolt, assistant manager at McKenna's Flowers & Plants, prepares a Mother's Day rose arraignment Monday at the Norwich business. She will soon be a mother for the first time with a due date of May 19.
Taylor Rinbolt, assistant manager at McKenna's Flowers & Plants, prepares a Mother's Day rose arraignment Monday at the Norwich business. She will soon be a mother for the first time with a due date of May 19.

Flower shops in Eastern CT

Not close to McKenna's in Norwich? Here's a list of places you can check out to pick up a Mother's Day bouquet.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Where to buy Mother's Day flowers from CT businesses by Sunday, May 8