Gunston Flowers: Your Last-Minute Solution to a Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day is this Sunday!

In recognition of Mother's Day, May 12, Gunston Flowers has extended their hours of service. That means that you still have a chance to dash over to the Lorton flower shop to spend a few bucks on the person who brought you into this crazy world. No doubt she'll receive the flowers with a genuine smile, and will think to herself: "What a good kid. This is my day after all!" Mother's Day weekend is the busiest time of the year for Gunston Flowers. "This is the big one," said owner Peter Chabra. ""Everybody's got a mother." Chabra and his staff are hurriedly filling orders and delivering flowers to doorsteps. "And we can still accomodate you if you come in at the last minute," he said.  Mother's Day is a bittersweet time for Chabra. "I lost …

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The Lorton Perspective: Local Businesses Survive Dog Days of Summer

Some businesses are doing surprisingly well.

Hot, isn't it? Well, since summer is generally regarded as a slow time for small businesses, Patch decided to venture out and ask: How does your business cope with the summer heat?  We got some interesting answers: Maurice Clarke, owner of Escape Nails & Day Spa, spoke to Patch on a quick break: "The heat is a little bit of a complexity for my business, because we have to alter our heating and air conditioning with the volume of people that we have inside. Last month, our heating bill almost doubled. We pretty much have to take the hit until the heat subsides… The biggest challenge is maintaining the high quality of service. Heat makes employees tired and lethargic, and I tell them to keep hydrated. We give out bottled water and have a …

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Lorton Photos of the Day

A Perfect Mother's Day with Gunston Flowers

Are you ready for Mother's Day?

In recognition of Mother's Day, Gunston Flowers has extended their hours of service. That means that you still have a chance to dash over to the Lorton flower shop to spend a few bucks on the person who brought you into this crazy world. No doubt she'll receive the flowers with a genuine smile, and will think to herself: "What a good kid. This is my day after all!" Mother's Day weekend is the busiest time of the year for Gunston Flowers. "This is the big one," said owner Peter Chabra. ""Everybody's got a mother." Chabra and his staff are hurriedly filling orders and delivering flowers to doorsteps. "The reality is, though, that the local flower shop is on the verge of becoming extinct because there are so many ways to get flowers online," …

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Lorton Photos of the Day

Photo of the Day: 'Martha Washington' Azaleas at Mason Neck State Park

Where do they get their name?

Today was perfect for pictures at Mason Neck State Park. The diffused light brought out the colors of these pink Azaleas, which, at the time, were being visited by an impressive number of flies and insects. After taking this shot, we wanted to find out more about these beautiful flowers (mainly their name), and called on the services of Peter Chabra, owner of Gunston Flowers. "What've you got?" he asked at the counter. "A lot of these are called 'Martha Washington' Azaleas. They're fluffier, they have more petals than the usual Azalea. Now, as to why they're named after Martha Washington, I don't know, honestly." Do you know how Martha Washington Azaleas got their name? Tell us in the Comments!

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Gunston Flowers: Lorton's Last-Minute Problem Solver

'Earth laughs in flowers.' - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Things are a little hectic at Gunston Flowers. It's Valentine's Day and the shop has extra staff working fast to accommodate a rush of last-minute callers. Plus, two resident dogs and a Blue-fronted Amazon Parrot behind the counter help the small shop look even busier.  "The busiest period of the day will be between 5:00 and 7:30 p.m.," said shop owner Peter Chabra. "The grocery stores are sold out and this is people's last chance before getting in trouble." Here's The Deal: The Flower Business Gunston Flowers opened in 1998 on Valentine's week, and sister store Festival of Flowers opened in 1989. "Actually, our busiest week is on Mother's Day," said Peter. "Everybody's got a mother, but not everyone's got a lover." Peter, a native of …

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