After more than two decades of running a bustling flower and gift shop, Kelly Hart still gets excited every Christmas.
That’s when The Flower Nook, located at 1406 White St., McComb, is a sea of red, green, gold and silver and filled with colorful holiday decorations and whimsical gifts.
“Christmas is still my favorite time of the year, and I still get excited,” Hart said.
That’s evident when customers enter the shop doors.
Inside, some 20 Christmas trees are fully decorated. They range from a New Orleans Saints tree, decorated with fleur de lis and other Saintly goodies; a music-themed tree, with glittery gold sparkled musical instruments; and a woodlands tree, complete with pine cones, stick bundles and other elements found in the wild, and owls — lots of owls. In fact, it seems that 2012 is the “year of the owl,” and The Flower Nook has got them — furry owls, glass owls, painted owls, in an array of sizes.
Pheasants, cardinals and other birds perch aloft branches of trees inside the store, sharing space with ornaments in silver, gold, green, red and blue, mesh flourishes, bright ribbons, polka dots, stockings, bells, crosses, elves, Santas, angels and glass too numerous to count.
“Trees are more traditional this year,” Hart said, a move back to green and red from the past couple of years where neon colors of p“Trees are more traditional this year,” Hart said, a move back to green and red from the past couple of years, where neon colors of pink and lime green were the trendy sellers.
Big this year are tree toppers that add the perfect finish for a festooned tree. The toppers are always always fixed with multicolored ribbon, greenery, ornaments, and sprays of glittery colored items of whimsey.
Also a big seller were lighted Santa plates, perfect to top a home entryway table, and electric glitter candles that are reminders of 70’s-era lava lamps. Almost all have been sold.
A good seller this year are Hart’s “Mantles to Go.” They’re made of ribbons, mesh, garland and balls and other ornaments tied together.
“They’re so easy. Just put them up and they’re ready to go,” Hart said.
Burlap bags also are good-selling gifts, she said, noting that they hang or stand upright and can be filled with goodies for a special recipient.
The Christmas wonderland feeling that Hart and her staff of 10 work so hard to create year in and year out doesn’t just happen overnight, like in the Christmas movie “Elf,” when Will Ferrell turns Gimble’s Department Store into an astounding toyland overnight in advance of Santa’s store visit.
No, Christmas begins far ahead of the two-month intense shopping season, Hart said.
“We start ordering for Christmas in February and March, and items start arriving starting in July,” Hart said. “This year, we’ve had a little trouble getting things because of Hurricane Sandy.”
The Flower Nook sells yuletide table arrangements, mesh wreaths and swags, even mesh Christmas trees, pop them up and plug them in for a special glow.
If it’s gifts you’re looking for, The Flower Nook offers items for all ages — infants to senior citizens.
Children’s specialty items, jewelry and other fun gifts are divided into a baby area and a young “tween” space in the store, complete with the kinds of gifts that kids love to get.
Looking for a food gift? The Flower Nook sells Ala Carte Alice mixes, fudge and other delicious goodies. For the cook in the family, there are not only Christmas platters — including a fun deviled egg dish — but dishes that can be used year-round. Of special note are the speckled enameled cookware line in red, blue, dark green and yellow.
Other gifts include candles and candle holders, nutcrackers, decorative shirts, Amanda Blu prayer braceletes, Slap Watches and other jewelry, Camille Beckman creams and lotions, collegiate items, decorative crosses, statues of St. Nick and photo frames.
And for someone with a great sense of humor and a thirsty appetite for beverages, check out the Redneck Wine Glasses, which have heavy stems and tops of Ball Mason Jars.
But don’t forget the first part of The Flower Nook and Gifts name. The business takes orders daily for beautiful fresh and silk flower arrangements to be delivered or for pick-up.
Hart said over the 24 years she’s been in business, The Flower Nook has been able to sustain the inevitable summer slump without a big decrease in sales. This year, though, Hart did see a bit of what she tagged a “pre-election” slump.
“But, thankfully, our sales have been fine, despite the economy,” she said.
The Flower Nook is open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
