Like skin growing used to heat, Timothy Parsons’ hands no longer flinch at the prick of a rose thorn. After 16 years of working at Patti Ann’s Flowers, Parsons holds a special place as their seasoned floral designer.  

Patti Ann’s Flowers opened in 1982 on Main Street in Frisco, Texas, a growing suburb north of Dallas. In 2007, Timothy moved from St. Louis, Illinois, to Frisco, two blocks from Patti Ann’s. At the time, he was 18 and did not have a car, so he walked to the shop because they were hiring.   

“I came in here, and they hired me pretty much on the spot;” Parsons said.  

He started as a delivery driver, and after the first owner, Phil, sold the business and the only designer quit, Parsons took up the position. His sudden transition to floral designer came with challenges. Parsons said he was thrown into it by accident and had to teach himself how to make intricate floral creations he had never heard of. 

 “I had a little bit of knowledge…but you’re always learning,” Parsons said. 

The change broadened Parsons’ workload and demanded creativity he did not know he had as he worked hard to feel comfortable in his new role. 

 “I still have some pictures from stuff that I made, and it’s awful, but you gotta start somewhere,” he said.   

Parsons starts his workday at 7 a.m. He walks his dog and comes into work around 9:30 a.m. Then, he begins with orders, working on priorities like schools and businesses, and moves on to timed and random orders. On his days off, he does chores at home and goes on walks near the lake by his house. The way Parsons describes it sounds mundane, but an air of fulfillment still wafts around him, along with the smell of roses.  

At Patti Ann’s, some tasks are the same every day, like sweeping up the petals and stems that collect on the floor and putting vases away. “There’s always something like that to do,” Parsons said. But these minor duties keep the store running, and Parsons doesn’t do it alone. On Mondays and Tuesdays, Jessica Garcia, Patti Ann’s newest floral designer, helps take on the load.  

“We get a big load of fresh flowers,” Garcia said. “So, we have to separate all those, cut them, clean them, see if they’re sick plants or if they’re clean,”  

The two don’t only share tasks; their togetherness extends to small talk, which usually subsides into a focused silence, united by their shared passion for making customers happy. 

“We like to see them come back,” Parsons said. “A lot of our customers are regulars. We see them all the time. So, it lets us know that we’re doing something right.”  

Since 2007, the business has had four different owners. Parsons said each was different from the other in their own way. Still, the shop maintains a “Mom and Pop” nature because of its consistent quality. This consistency is a valuable aspect of the store, Parsons said, and despite different owners, some things stay the same, like the employee fridge and the radio that quietly plays music on top of it.  

Parsons said a florist’s job is not redundant; some days are unpredictable, like when a customer comes after a sudden death looking for funeral arrangements. Or when the semi-trailer holding $8,000 worth of flowers freezes on the second busiest day of the year, Mother’s Day.  

“It was an expensive accident,” Parsons recalled from that day four years ago. However, even when dealing with costly mistakes, he always stays calm. 

“Sometimes, we can all get pretty stressed. He’s still even keeled the whole time,” said Cassidy Ross, who works at the front desk. Ross describes Parsons as quiet, but his passionate energy brings a liveliness that she said is the “glue that holds everything together in the shop.”  

Patti Ann’s has a small team that includes only three designers, one driver and one owner. Big events like weddings and funerals can be daunting to coordinate. 

 “It takes all of us,” Parsons said.  

Besides floral design and maintaining a serene environment, Parsons plays a crucial role in Patti Ann’s business operations. He orders every flower and maintains contact with wholesalers to ensure the store remains stocked but does not waste fresh blooms.  

To Parsons, the most gratifying part of his job is the creativity: The larger the piece, the more freedom he gets to add his own touch. He is drawn to large casket arrangements or sprays, which he admits might seem “kind of weird.” But it’s apparent he simply loves to make things beautiful. Perhaps the solemn backdrop of a funeral is a fitting place to create something lovely.  

While Parsons is calm, he is not immune to the stress of meeting at times unforeseen deadlines. “It can be frustrating as a designer,” he said. 

Parsons said the busiest day is Valentine’s Day, but it’s also the least creative. On Feb. 14, the store sells up to 400 individual dozen red roses.  

Parsons has learned valuable lessons during his tenure at Patti Ann’s. 

 “It has taught me a lot. You have to be responsible, show up on time. It pays off in the end to do your job with integrity. Always make sure you give it your all,” he said.  

In a quickly growing city like Frisco, Patti Ann’s has not only endured but thrived. Every day, new customers walk in and comment on the store’s rich smell. Parsons’ creativity and dedication keep the business blossoming just like the city and the flowers they sell in it.  

~Nirvika Dhanasri