Reader's Choice Awards - Reader's Choice Shopping

POSTED: Monday, Dec. 08, 2008

Best florist: Belle Flora and Home Decor

FIRST PLACE

BELLE FLORA AND HOME DECOR

Location: 1201 N. State St., 734-8454, hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Saturday. Summer hours vary.

Web site: www.bellinghamflowershop.com

From the boss: "I want to thank Whatcom County for being so loyal to me all of these years I've been in business. I want to continue with our great customer service. The wave of the future is the Internet and we update our site monthly with examples of our work to see online and a blog." Janice Oberg-Barrett, owner.

Reader rave: "I am a long-time client of theirs. They have done a number of functions for me and the arrangements have always been fabulous, from a small private dinner party at our house to a large 200-plus -person reception." Amy Drury Highlights: Owner Janice Oberg-Barrett grew up in the florist business and purchased the shop in 1970 from her parents, Pearl and Alex Gitts. Once known as Ferndale's Red Top Floral and Nursery, it moved to a Lakeway Drive location in the '70s then moved to the corner of North State and Chestnut streets as Belle Flora nine years ago. Besides fabulous floral work, it features home décor items that Oberg-Barrett finds at shows in Atlanta, Dallas, New York and Los Angeles. Watch for the platinum wintry wonderland theme at the store's front window.