Flowers by Shirley

In a few short years, florist Shirley Barnathan has taken the community by storm with her impressive arrays of flowers and plants. Her easy-going demeanor and her ability to get the job done make her a pleasure to work with.

The idea for the business came one day when Shirley was having some friends over. Her mother-in-law, Susan, brought her some beautiful yellow roses, and Shirley had the idea that it would be great if somebody offered an in-home delivery service for flowers.

“At that point, I began a Shabbat delivery service. My husband Joey encouraged me to attend a flower design school in New York City. I listened carefully to what my customers wanted and took it from there,” said Shirley.

Shirley sells many different types of flowers, but her specialty is orchid plants. She has many different shapes and sizes of containers, from simple to elaborate designs. She usually works with stylish glass cubes, or mirrored and black and white vases.

She specializes in Shabbat flowers and small parties. Her impressive work can also be seen at bar mitzvahs, engagement parties, brits, swanees, bridal showers, sebets, birthday parties and card games.

What makes her unique is her use of sharp rock and twig runners that enhance centerpieces. The runners can be lent out, as can the vases, which range from basic designs to showpieces that are not practical to own unless you’re a florist.

When the children of Magen David Yeshivah perform school plays, Shirley provided beautiful bouquets of flowers for the teachers in appreciation of their hard work. The bouquets were delivered fresh on the day of each play, and were met by rave reviews by the parents and the teachers.

“I also offer personalized in-home service. When I see the decor of the home, I have a better idea what colors and flowers will work best in the room. It’s also very important for me to get feedback from the customer because everybody has their specific taste which I take into consideration to insure they will love their flowers.”

Shirley will be having an open house at her home before every holiday where she will be showcasing her products. Customers have the option of dropping off their own vases and choosing flowers from her studio. Orders can be phoned in and delivered free of charge.

She can be reached at (917) 535-8387 or emailed at sbarnathan@msn.com. You can see more pictures of Flowers by Shirley on Facebook.
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Randi Shomer is a freelance writer, mother of four children, and a community member.