Flowers are symbolic. They convey love, romance, resilience, rebirth, sympathy, peace, remembrance, beauty… but to Marcelo Galarza, they mean so much more. They’re a connection to his homeland.
Marcelo is from Ecuador, a nation that’s the epicenter of roses. Thanks to its presence in the Andes, and the volcanic soil that’s there, it’s the perfect climate for the world’s most beautiful roses.
In his shop in nearby Clifton, Marcelo transforms them into something more. The Enchanted Petal makes them into ongoing art. The flowers here are the raw materials for something more creative – custom works of naturally preserved floral craftsmanship.
This is no conventional flower shop. They start with the roses imported from Ecuador, which undergo an organic, environmentally friendly preservation process before they’re shipped, which maintains their natural beauty. These are not dried flowers – they have simply ceased the aging process. These roses will look as fresh a year from now as they do today.
It’s at this point that Marcelo gets to work. In this small shop (it’s only himself and his assistant, fellow flower artist Angela), they create floral magic. Each rose displayed is hand crafted in-house, employing every possible color of the rainbow, customized with a unique display box. They offer single rose displays, bouquets, flower-enhanced artwork, and custom designs for individual ideas and occasions.
After all, what bride wouldn’t want her wedding bouquet to last beyond the reception? With these roses, she can see them again as perfect as they were the day she was married on her anniversary.
But these roses aren’t just for brides. Any typical flower-aided event is an opportunity to live well beyond its celebration – First Communions, Mother’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays, and all those that you might think of.
In fact, it was just this sort of event that touched Marcelo so much that he found his calling.
“After my grandmother’s funeral in Ecuador, they gave us a preserved rose as a condolence. She had been my inspiration – I still call her my first CEO – and that meant so much that it gave me the vision of how to pay tribute to my grandmother and my home. I’d found my way to bring the magic of Ecuador back with me and share that same feeling of connection here.”
A simple flower changed his life.
In a world where we seem to take pleasure in speeding things up, it’s refreshing to see something that’s preserved in time. This isn’t the latest high-tech marvel. This is natural beauty that will endure – enhanced with Marcelo and Angela’s creativity.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t be creative as well. There’s an opportunity to be had for businesses, schools, and organizations to benefit from what The Enchanted Petal can do. It’s all able to be customized. Companies can jazz up their logo in flowers. Graduations and proms can have floral displays in bespoke school colors. Restaurants can give new ambiance with unique décor. (Side benefit – these roses have no smell, so nothing will get between your kitchen and your diner’s noses.) And just think about the multitude of fundraising possibilities for any group looking to create a visual showstopper.
Honestly, what atmosphere can’t be enhanced by beautiful flowers – especially ones that don’t need to be changed every week?
All it takes is a call to Marcelo to discover a new appreciation for what flowers can do to inspire you.
The Enchanted Petal is tucked in the back of Styertowne Shopping Center at 1051 Bloomfield Ave in Clifton, across the lot from Stew Leonard’s. They can be reached at 877-837-2100 or at theenchantedpetal.com.
A single rose changed Marcelo's life. Why not give him a chance to bring that same magic to yours?