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New florist opens on Westminster St. in Lehigh

By Staff | Nov 2, 2009

Isoline Litchmore

Isoline Litchmore, the owner of the new Westminster Florist in Lehigh says it is time for people to begin planning for their fall decorations in their homes.

There is always a sales slump just before fall, but now is the time to decorate your home with flowers and plan for a nice floral centerpiece for Thanksgiving Dinner.

Litchmore is the owner of Westminster Florist at 50 Westminster Street in Lehigh.

Her husband, Dr. Loven Litchmore, is a dentist, who not only practices general dentistry, but is an oral surgeon. The two offices are side by side in a new building on the street.

“Some people can’t find us, but we are very conveniently located off of Homestead Rd. All you do is turn by the Shell station onto Westminster St. and go past the physicians’ offices.

Isoline Litchmore stands in front of several floral arrangements she has prepared at her new florist shop on Westminister St. in Lehigh.

“We are the new building just opposite Broad St., which goes to Presbyterian Homes,” she said.

Litchmore loves flowers and it has been a lifelong dream to own her own florist. But along the way, she has done other things, among them is nursing and teaching.

Originally from Jamaica, Litchmore says she loves living in Lehigh because the weather is very much like it is in Jamaica and the outlying areas with the woods is much the same as on the Carribean island.

“We saw a model of a house and fell in love with it and had it built here. This is our home and we plan to stay,” she smiled.

The couple moved to Lehigh last December and the building with the dental practice opened in March.

“The florist opened at the end of July,” she said. “And I am enjoying it very much,” she said.

Litchmore doubles up as the receptionist at her husband’s dental practice, which is a few feet from the florist,” she said.

“Business is building up slowly and I am back and forth sometimes,” she said. She has also employed a gentleman whose name is Neville Bryden of Lehigh who delivers flowers to customers and when he is not out on the road is often inside the florist.

Her florist will deliver flowers to any address in Lehigh, she said.

Litchmore is Catholic, attends St. Rafael’s Catholic Church in Lehigh, and being of that faith led her to eventually owing her own florist, she believes.

“When I was a child, I’d walk to the church in the mornings and people along the street would give me flowers from their beautiful gardens to take to the church for the altar.

“I really enjoyed the beautiful flowers the people gave me. I think that is when I really began to appreciate beautiful flowers,” she said.

Later in her life when she was a nurse in Philadelphia, Pa., she provided floral arrangements to the Catholic church that she attended.

“I did weddings for the members of the church and I really enjoyed it,” she said.

“I could work seven days a week with flowers and not be bored, that’s how much I love this type of work,” she said.

There are three florists in Lehigh and Litchmore believes there is enough business for all three. However, she acknowledges the downturn in the economy and how hard it has hit Lehigh.

“But you know, inexpensive flowers can make people happy. Both men and women enjoy beautiful fresh flowers in their homes. It’s a good mood builder,” she said.

She loves roses and just recently ran a promotion of a dozen of roses for $8, an unheard of cost for such beautiful flowers. She advertised that price until they run out.

“Roses are always popular for people throughout the year, in all seasons. And now as fall is beginning, we have orange – red flowers, which are very popular,” she said.

Litchmore has beautiful arrangements at the florist, some are inexpensive and ready to buy if you are in a hurry, or if you have a few minutes, she will prepare any type of bouquet to fit the situation.

She has compassion for people who are having financial problems. Just recently she provided flowers for a boy who died and the arrangements were handled by the Anderson – Patterson Funeral Home in Lehigh.

“Flowers are always popular. You can take them to a friend and watch their moods change. During these hard times, a lot of people are feeling down.

“Get them some flowers and watch how they smile,” she said.

And Litchmore had a little hint for men in the community.

“This really works, too,” she laughed. “If a man buys a dozen roses and puts them under the sheets, happy things happen.”

“I’m talking about romance,” she laughed again while a friend standing by looked over with an almost approving grin.

“I say send flowers. It changes the sad to the glad,” she said.

Litchmore is one of the most uplifting people you will probably meeting. She makes friends easily and laughs a lot.

You can contact here at the florist from Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also reach her by phone by calling either 1-866-998-6160 or 239-368-2375.

“Give me a visit and make someone happy,” she said. “That’s what flowers do.”

Westminster Florist has an online website: westminsterflorist.net.