South Minneapolis florist works to keep customers, employees safe during COVID-19 this holiday weekend

Owner of Lake Harriet Florist, Naomi Strom, described the beauty of flowers: "The colors, the textures, the excitement and the hope that it brings during the holiday seasons."

Strom said this weekend will be different for everyone.

"This year, unfortunately, people are not able to gather for Easter or Passover, or worship in their respective places of worship … So it hasn’t been flowers so much at the table, but ‘hope’ at the table, within each family," Strom said.

The public health nurse-turned-florist said her team understands the importance of Gov. Tim Walz’s stay at home order while still making sure families have flowers over the holiday to make their homes feel alive.

"It has a huge financial impact on our business … However, as a nurse, I realize and appreciate the fact that it’s greater than ourselves, the well-being of everyone," Strom said.

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Her team is also practicing social distancing.

"We can leave the flowers right on their doorstep," Calvin Boone, an employee, said.

It’s a way to keep both customers and employees safe and healthy.

"I’m able to just deliver the flowers, go back to my car, call them, let them know that they’re on their doorstep and away I go," Boone said.

As with the joy of flowers, a little surprise: Playing off Little Free Libraries, Lake Harriet Florist has a Little Free Flower Shop where people can stop by, grab a bouquet and put it in their home this holiday weekend.

"Gives us an opportunity to bring that joy to their home," Strom said.