The Beginning
When I think about my childhood, I think about flowers.
My mother had a row of daffodils along the back of the house that I was fascinated with and a lumpy patch of soil where tulips always came up each year. I always wanted to be outside and be in the dirt. My Mom - who we lovingly call Mama Jo after her name sake, likes to tell stories about how I was the dirtiest kid ever. One day she got sick of constantly washing dirt out of my hair and decided to chop my curls short. My father was so distraught over this he cried and saved my curls. He still has them taped to index cards.
My first job outside of the home (my Dad is an electrician and I started answering the phone at age 9 and taking messages from customers) was at the Bannister Garden Center working for the Mistrettta family. Tony and Neva were well known in the garden center industry and lovingly grew most of what they sold. Tony spent 3 whole days teaching me, age 14, how to properly water. Watering is truly an art. Too much and you flood a plant. Too little and its roots will grow shallow.
The days were long and hot, but I loved it. I was hooked.
My family moved in Lee’s Summit my sophomore year. My Dad had worked on a job with Vincent Scire, owner of Springtime Garden Center in Lee’s Summit and asked if he might be hiring. After meeting him, he immediately put me to work beside his wife Maria working in the greenhouse seeding. After the first day he asked me to meet him at their Downtown Lee’s Summit location. So after school, I walked the 7 blocks to Springtime Garden at 4th and Douglas. There Vincent met me. In his thick Sicilian accent he said, “this is the price list,” motioning to a piece of paper in his hand. “Annuals go here,” he pointed. “Vegetables are over there.” “Here is how you work the cash register.” “This is the telephone and the keys. I will see you later.”
And with that I became the after school manager of the store. At age 15.
I had no idea what I was doing.
Angela age 15 at Springtime Garden Center at 4th & Douglas - 1997.
Each day during lunch I would read horticulture books. Anything I could find in the library - I would read it. Maria was just a phone call away and I called her often for advice.
I was scared and excited all at the same time.
Twenty Plus years later I still ask Vincent and Maria how they knew I could do it. “I just knew,” he always says with a smile.
Maria recently told me that she was so happy I was back in horticulture - she always felt it was my natural element and never felt the music business fit me - even though I was really good at it. That meant a lot coming from someone who I consider to be like another Mom.
My painting of the above photo. A copy is at Springtime Garden Center on Tudor Road.
My journey to flower farming and floral design has been one many years in the making. No journey is a linear line.
In a future post I’ll talk about how I discovered flower farming, got the courage to walk away from a life that was making me miserable, and how through the support of my husband, returned to horticulture - my first love.
- Angela