Photograph by Robert Scheer
Bob Gilmore's Flowers 'n' Things owners Flora Sennewald (left), George Pappas and Mariette Williams are ready with spring flowers for their annual Spring Open House.
Bob Gilmore's Flowers 'n' Things at 12230 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road is getting ready for its annual Spring Open House, set for Saturday and Sunday, March 15 and 16. Flower experts will demonstrate seasonal floral arrangements from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday; the demonstrations are free and open to the public.
Even though Bob Gilmore has passed away, the busy florist business still bears his name in honor of the founder and his wife, Jean. When Jean died last year, she left the business to her three longtime employees: Flora Sennewald, Mariette Williams and George Pappas.
The owners have just completed their first year in business, and they are continuing the traditions of the firm, such as the annual open house.
"We'll be doing demonstrations of spring floral arrangements at 2 p.m. on both days and serving refreshments also," Sennewald said.
The florist shop delivers all over the Bay Area, in addition to doing custom and interior work.
"We have 10,000 square feet of space filled with silks, dried and fresh flowers and antique furniture," Sennewald said.
The firm teaches classes on decorating with dried and fresh flowers.
But the season everyone looks forward to is Christmas. From September through December, some 20 lavishly decorated Christmas trees are set up in the shop. Each tree has a separate theme, and the florists demonstrate how-to decorations every weekend from November through December.
In October, there's a Fall Fest, with the emphasis on fall arrangements.
Bob Gilmore's Flowers is 25 years old and has always been at the same location, Sennewald said. In terms of square footage, it is one of the largest floral shops in the South Bay.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, March 12, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.