Special Flowers for Special Occasions

Chrysanthemums so white that they shine beckon to customers to share their historic symbolism of perfection, undying love, fidelity and nobility. / photo by Camille C.Nan

by Abelina J. Nuñez
photography by Camille C.Nan

Her flowers explode with color and vitality. The innovative arrangements reflect the creative talent of the owner. Linh Dang, florist and owner of Blooming View, has been open for 23 years and runs a La Verne Chamber of Commerce-winning floral business. Her arrangements grace everything—weddings, birthdays, funerals, retirements, anniversaries—whatever the occasion calls for and for whatever the customer needs.

When you walk into the store, you are welcomed with the smell of fresh flowers and colorful lanterns hanging from the ceilings with pseudo-flower vines. Soft piano music dances through the store and sets a calming mood. The walls are painted like a Roman village with arches and pillars. The ceiling is painted like the sky, baby blue with faint white clouds. The store itself is artistically decorated with items for sale. There are gifts for loved ones—small knitted yarn bags, ceramic pots and cups, matching tea sets, cards, ceramics crosses, ceramic turtles, handbags and coasters. A small black bird sometimes sings to customers. Baby Chip, who earned his name when he was chipping as a baby, resides in the back of Linh’s shop, eating grapes or bathing in his water bowl.

photo by Camille C.Nan

Linh says she always loved flowers as a young girl and always wanted to be a florist, but before she wished for this dream to come true, she had to take care of her family. She was first a graphic designer and worked at her parents’ printing shop. Linh helped them take care of her brother and sister. Once her siblings went off to college, she started her journey to be a florist. She first took a florist class at Citrus College and says she confirmed her love of the art. She then worked with three florists to gain experience and opened her own shop in 2000.

Before the pandemic, Linh employed part-time employees, but with the pandemic, her staffing is reduced now to just her and her husband. Linh takes care of the customers and the floral arrangements while her husband packages the arrangements for transport. He also does the deliveries. “We’ve been here for almost 23 years, so I know all my customers, what they like, and what their tastes are about, so every time that they order something, I want to do something beautiful and different according to their tastes,” Linh says.

She says she does not want her family to take over the business because the florist industry is very tough, and it is a job of passion and love and only makes a little money. She says some days, she goes home at two or three in the morning. “I love it; it’s challenging,” she says. “For me, it is more like the service for the customer. They tried to support us, and they know that only two of us are working, and we only have a tiny flower shop. We never regret a day having it.”

She says she makes sure her flowers are unique since you can purchase flowers everywhere. Some of the flowers in her cold storage room are roses—red and white—purple veronicas, orange carnations, purple carnations, daisies of all colors, rust orange tulips and exotic tropical blooms. And, of course, she is ready to special order flowers that meet customers’ wishes.

Linh says she wants her customers to feel welcomed when they walk into her shop. She takes pride that her customers always question whether her flowers are real because they are so perfect. The compliments are many for her flowers because they are always fresh. She says she handpicks every single bunch, so they last a very long time, “That’s what makes us unique because they say their wives or their sisters or mothers receive the flowers, and they couldn’t understand how the flowers are not bruised,” she says. “They are all fresh looking and beautiful, not like other florists.”

Blooming View, 2047 Foothill Blvd., is open Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Linh Dang’s decorative plant arrangements capture imaginative themes. / photo by Camille C.Nan

Roses burst forth with emotional color. Linh Dang says she takes great pride that her customers always question whether her flowers are real because they are so perfect. / photo by Camille C.Nan