Flowers On Da Pernt
A newsletter by harkins, the florist
Fair Warning!
Usually three of Bunny’s cartoons go out this time of year to remind folks of the three flower holidays (Easter/Passover, Administrative Professionals’ Week and Mothers’ Day. That will not be the case this year.
The last time the three holidays came during three successive weeks was back in the early 1980s when Jawn was a one-man band. This time there’s a great team at the shop to handle the situation, but it will still be a push.
So listen up, folks! The ball is now in your court to remember three good times for sending flowers. If your short-term memory is as bad as Jawn’s, you might want to mark your calendar!
Sarracenia est arrive…
As many who are fond of wine look forward to the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau, florists in south Louisiana get excited about the April arrival of our local exotic plant, sarracenia.
Its unusual facet is not the flower (sometimes called frog bellies), but the trumpet shaped leaf which is a fly-catcher. It’s an endangered species as well, but there is one grower in south Louisiana with an exemption issued by the USDA.
The story of the Tarnok family who bring the sarracenia to New Orleans is quite interesting as well. Around the time of World War I, the first generation of the U.S. Tarnoks, Sigmund, arrived in New Orleans from Hungary. After doing wonderful work on Uptowners’ gardens for a few years, he was able to buy land down in Plaquemines Parish where he began a growing operation. Unfortunately, the Great Flood of 1927 came along, leaders plotted to flood Plaquemines to save New Orleans, and the Tarnok property was devastated.
Rising Tide recounts the time of troubles for Sigmund Tarnok. The settlement of his claim of damage was settled for just 10 cents on the dollar. He took the money he received and started over on property he bought near Carriere, MS. That land became a veritable Garden of Eden as he and then his son, Coleman planted every imaginable flowering tree. Magnificent crops of white yarrow, Sweet William and tuberoses spoiled local florists for decades.
The real piece de resistance, however, was the sarracenia which were shipped by the tens of thousands to New York, Japan and the Aalsmeer flower auction in Amsterdam. Coleman and his wife toiled away till they were in their mid-eighties.
The New Orleans florists’ wonderful source seemed to come to an end a few years ago when Coleman and his wife, Freida, died and their son did not choose to keep the operation alive.
Recently, however, there has been a Tarnok renaissance with their daughter, Linda, bringing the operation back to life. Most of her life she was the lead designer at the storied Rohm’s Floral Design up on Cherokee Street, but she has returned to the country garden, much to her delight. This is much to the delight of all the gentle folk at harkins, the florist, as well. Stop by to pick up a few, or just to take a look.
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