”It is just simply astonishing, it seems like we just blinked,” says Donna. Her children Anthony and Alana, now adults, remind her of how fast these past years have gone by.
Danny and Donna started their organic farm growing dried flowers. This grew into a small mail order business selling the dried flowers. That was before the Internet and it was a lot of work, Donna says. However, they wanted to bring their flowers to Garberville and this led to building a flower cart and selling their dried and fresh cut flowers every Friday in front of Jacob Garber Square for 17 years.
Danny and his guitar added a musical dimension to the flower cart. “I had a legitimate reason for sitting on the corner, selling organic flowers, making music and watching Garberville grow,” he recalls. Often, he adds, local musicians would sit in for a little jam session.
In 2003 the Church Street location became available and the Lovattos jumped at the opportunity. Tranquility Lane expanded and provided a new creative challenge that Donna found especially rewarding. “I truly enjoy the artistic process of translating a client’s needs into a one-of-a-kind, visual communication of beauty,” Donna says of designing flower arrangements for all occasions.
Donna also added a line of vases, containers, patio and garden ware to the shop and a wide variety of patio plants.
As Tranquility Lane clientele grew, Donna listened. They wanted orchids, and Donna became intrigued by the many varieties and the exotic beauty of orchids. Tranquility Lane Flower Shop is stocked with dozens of varieties. “Orchids make the perfect gift,” Donna says and adds that they stay in bloom for months and “are a daily reminder of the sentiments of the gifter.” Many of the people who have received orchids as gifts have turned into enthusiasts, she adds.
Tranquility Lane and the Lovattos will express their appreciation this November with a series of events that say, “Thank you,” to the community.
During the first week of November Tranquility Lane will be gifting flowers to their clients. There is a catch: the flowers are Friendship Flowers. This means that in order to take a flower one must promise to pass it along to someone else. There will also be a drawing for a custom autumn bouquet, entry forms are at Tranquility Lane. This drawing will be held on Saturday, November 7.
And Donna and Danny want to thank all the merchants of Garberville, so for a year, once a month, there will be a merchant drawing. A custom bouquet will be delivered to the front door of the winning merchant from Tranquility Lane. Merchants just need to drop off a business card at the shop. For information call Donna or Danny at 923-7877.
Donna and Danny Lovatto celebrate six years in Garberville with their business Tranquility Lane Flower Farm and Garden.
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