Behind the flower counter

The sprigs of lilies and dots of baby’s breath paint a picture of the city, almost like reading a demographic map.

Sarah Cioni can track trends through her floral arrangements. Based on floral orders, the Boulder florist can tell you what month most Boulder County residents die (January, which matches National Center for Health Statistics).

Photo by Kasia Broussalian In photo: Sarah Cioni

She can tell you when surges of local babies are born (right now — and mostly boys) and when most couples get engaged (Christmas and Valentine’s Day). As soon as the engagement rings pop out, the brides-to-be begin placing orders for weddings.

“When I actually stop and sit and think about it, people wouldn’t believe it, but a florist shop reflects the pulse of the city,” says Cioni, from her Boulder-based shop, the Painted Primrose.

Increasingly more brides are ordering loose flowers to make their own centerpieces, and overall people want less expensive flowers.

Last year, Cioni says she saw a surge in floral arrangements delivered from spouses working out of state or in Australia or Holland — the only places they could get hired. But lately, Cioni says she has seen increasingly more deliveries celebrating, “Congrats on your new job.”

Over the years, Cioni says, she has designed flowers for proud new parents, eager brides, tearful widows and even the Dali Lama.

“I have found that being a florist is not just about arranging pretty flowers in a vase,” she says. “It’s about the circle of life.”

— By Aimee Heckel

Check out these other articles