Maryann developed her love for art early on through gardening, where working with plants shaped her eye for color and balance. At the time, she was content at home, never imagining herself as a business owner or making such an impact on the community.

 

Her late husband, David, encouraged her to explore something beyond the walls of the house, while he pursued his own schooling in the same building. It was in 1970 that she started attending a night school in Miami, Florida that offered pottery classes. A lot of the time she would make porcelain dolls like the ones you use to see at a jewelry stores.

 

Maryann often traveled between Miami and Tampa and Tampa is where she  

continued to take night classes but this time in floristry. Her children attended several of those classes and in between 1970 and 1976 she tried pottery, working at the  nursing home, painting, home renovation and more but her heart always came back to floral design. 

 

The shop began on a small, pie-shaped lot in 1977 at 5002 7th street, Zephyrhills, FL because it was the only lot she could afford at the time. Maryann said it took around a year and a half to really get everything going. Log by log, nail by nail, Chalet Flowers started as learning and long days of work and blossomed into a business built on consistency, care and trust. Chalet flowers is now a multigenerational family-owned business that specializes in everyday floristry, weddings, events, funerals, workshops and anything flower related.  Today, we invite you to meet the team that carries on Maryann's legacy, blending artistry and expertise to bring you the finest floral creations. 

 

Now 93, Maryann is still very much a part of Chalet. You can usually find her sitting out front waving at the cars that pass by, working in the garden, or walking the lot with her cat by her side. 

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