ON THE COVER
Longtime florist stays busy creating arrangements
Benny Harrison has kept his hands busy for more than 50 years by creating floral arrangements for a variety of businesses , as well as his own flower shop .
Before he got married and left home , he had a small shop , Quality Flower Shop , built in his mother ’ s yard in Suqualena . He later got married and moved to Collinsville but continued to drive to the shop for work . He also has served as a florist for several other florists , as well as at Winn Dixie .
These days , the 73-year-old often creates flower arrangements from his kitchen counter for people he knows . He also teaches a floral arrangement class through the City of Meridian – something he has done for more than 30 years . He also works part-time as a funeral assistant , setting up for visitations and helping to transport flowers from funerals to graveside services .
Harrison said he has a tough time explaining why he enjoys flower decorating so much – but it is something that has appealed to him since childhood .
“ When I was just a child , my mother had a friend across the street who would bring me things to plant and giving me different things to arrange ,” he recalled . “ Even when I was really young , I would make arrangements for the church from things I found out in the yard . If I had a friend who died I tried to make an arrangement myself to send to the funeral home . It ’ s just always been my cup of tea – it ’ s just in me . And once it ’ s in your blood , I guess you can ’ t get it out .”
Harrison often crafts arrangements for funerals , weddings , and other events at First Baptist Church of Meridian , where he also attends .
Among amateur florists , Harrison said that one of the most common mistakes people make is plucking items out of the yard and immediately taking them to someone . Instead , he said people should put flowers and greenery in fairly deep water , letting them sit overnight .
“ You have a blank canvas , so to speak . And then you go from that to creating your own little oasis – something beautiful . That ’ s very rewarding and it ’ s also a lot of fun to share that with other people .”
Benny Harrison www . meridianstar . com
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