FACES: Larimore, ND, couple purchase local flower shop For Amy and Larry Cronin, it was baptism by flower when they became Larimore business owners this spring. Although being thrown into the business in the midst of its busiest season has been hectic, the Cronins are enjoying it. "They've been great support," Amy said. Joleen also taught Larry to make flower arrangements, staying on to work in the shop for a couple of months after she sold the business. Larry discovered floral arranging is something he enjoys. When the couple learned that Larimore Flower and Gift was for sale, he and Amy decided to buy it and run it together with their Speaking Roses business. "The greenhouse is where they've had the most fun," Amy said, adding that Hailey and Riley created containers for Memorial Day. Besides their daughters, the Cronins also receive help and advice from the flower shop's previous owner, Joleen Landis, and from her family and friends. The message can be a standard greeting, or it can be personalized. I got my start (creating) in the restaurant business with food. "It's fun. "I always liked something different, a challenge," he said. com website, they have shipped the imprinted flowers, mostly roses, to customers across the United States, including the Texas, Pennsylvania and California. "It's a lot easier to market in the four walls," Larry said. Now, they also market their imprinted flowers from the Larimore flower shop. Besides managing the Speaking Roses business, the flower shop and greenhouse, the Cronins rent tuxedos and operate Larimore Lodging. Larry, a 20-veteran of the restaurant industry, was researching online for something different to do when he learned about Speaking Roses from the Heart International. The flower shop is a good fit with the "Speaking Roses from the Heart" business the Cronins started in 2009, where they imprint messages on live, wood and silk flowers. ". |