Day: September 13, 2023

The Flower Box, located on Wesley Chapel Blvd. in the Grand Oaks Plaza in Lutz, is a locally-owned-and-operated flower shop providing a wide range of floral bouquets and arrangements for any occasion or event.

“We’ve been here for going on 18 years,” says owner Wendy Hobbs. “We’ve been in the community, in the same location, and we help people from all over.”

The Flower Box is a family-run business, with Wendy originally working alongside her mother and now working with her daughter, Carly Hobbs (as well as six other floral experts).

Although Wendy says many customers come looking for flowers for a specific event or occasion, many also stop by to get a “just because” gift for a family member, spouse, or other loved one.

In addition to offering classic floral arrangements, such as white or red  roses and boutonnieres for events such as homecoming dances or proms, The Flower Box also stocks arrangements of unique flowers, such as circus (two-toned orange and yellow) roses. Also available is a variety of different orchids, which are easy to care for and provide elegance to anywhere they may be placed. 

For those unsure of what floral arrangement they want, as well as those who may simply want to surprise a loved one with an unexpected floral gift, The Flower Box has a “Deal of the Day,” where the customer only has to pick the size of arrangement they want and the florists create a unique arrangement to fulfill that need. The store also offers a similar option called “Designer’s Choice,” where the customer fills out a brief form stating what occasion the arrangement is for, as well as who the recipient will be. 

For anyone looking for more than just the usual floral options, The Flower Box also offers gifts such as gourmet chocolates, plush stuffed animals and balloons that can be added on to any arrangement.

Throughout the years, The Flower Box has provided its customers with many unique floral choices. For example, the shop has provided beautiful floral arches for weddings. Anyone looking for an unusual or large floral arrangement for a special event such as a wedding or baby shower can request a consultation on the store’s website (FlowerBoxWesleyChapel.com) under the “Weddings & Events” tab. Wendy says that many people looking to order flowers for their special occasion will come in with pictures found online from websites such as Pinterest for inspiration, and she does her best to duplicate these so the customer can get exactly what he or she wants. 

‘Tis The Season, Every Season!

Besides having flowers for special occasions such as birthdays, graduations and anniversaries, The Flower Box also offers flowers that correspond with the specific seasons of the year. 

For example, the shop offers a “Springtime Wishes” arrangement that features a variety of colorful tulips and roses in a wicker basket. 

For the upcoming fall season, check out the “Harvest Glow” bouquet, which features warmer-toned flowers to correspond with the warmer yellow, orange and red colors seen in the fall. Another fall offering is a Cornucopia arrangement filled with a variety of fall-toned flowers and foliage. Being located in a subtropical area like Florida, specific tropical flowers, such as birds of paradise, also are available. 

Wendy says The Flower Box utilizes several growers from the local Lutz/Wesley Chapel area. The shop also receives flowers from larger wholesalers as well. To be able to provide more tropical flower varieties, Wendy and her crew work with a wholesaler from Miami that provides flowers from Argentina and other parts of South America.

Overall, The Flower Box always provides a personalized approach to ensure that each customer receives exactly what he or she wants. 

“We try to deal with each customer one on one, whatever their needs are, for all different kinds of events and special occasions.” Wendy says, adding that when working with customers, she first starts out by asking for the particular inspiration they may have and designing an arrangement from there. 

Although The Flower Box is located in Lutz, the store delivers flowers and gifts to a wide array of zip codes, including Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, as well as Dade City, San Antonio and Land O’ Lakes. The store even has a network of florists to allow for delivery to many areas and cities nationwide. In case there is a need for a last-minute gift for someone special, same-day delivery is offered at no additional cost.

Customers love The Flower Box, too: “The ordering process was so easy and smooth,” said Ashlyn Hartford in her recent Google review. “They have a massive, stunning variety to choose from with affordable prices…the arrangements are all gorgeous. (I) ordered a bouquet for delivery as a surprise & I couldn’t be happier with how (it) turned out.”

In another Google review,  customer Kathy Hershelm praises The Flower Box for its excellent service: 

“The flowers are always fresh and the arrangements are beautifully done. I have ordered for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and funerals and the flowers are always stunning!”

Wendy says The Flower Box also has supported the local community by providing floral arrangements for several area schools.

The Flower Box is located at 26302 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Lutz. For more info, call (813) 907-1916, visit FlowerBoxWesleyChapel.com or see the ad on pg. 30. The shop also can be found by searching @flowerboxwc on Instagram.