Grayson: Memorial Day Arrangements Individually Handcrafted

A surprising amount of effort and creativity go into each silk flower arrangement crafted annually in the basement of a Grayson business in anticipation of Memorial Day.

The shop has no name, although it has been in business for "at least 15 years," according to owner and arranger Kathy Hockley, who is working exclusively with her son-in-law, Dustin Howard, to make this year's saddles and bushes.

 Surrounded by brilliantly colored silk blooms and foliage, Hockley said people's preferences are impossible to predict.

"It seems like purple is popular this year, but it wasn't last year," she said, adding that green mixes are also being well received this year.

 Hockley said she and Howard got a late start on this year's arrangements, noting her son-in-law is definitely "under pressure" to get several large saddle pieces ready. With a laugh, she says it would take her days to do what Howard can accomplish in a matter of hours.

Normally, all of the arrangements are created individually, although Hockley said she did purchase some pre-made flowers for 2020.

"I just didn't have time," she offered apologetically.

 While there is no way to anticipate this year's demand for Memorial Day flowers, Hockley said the otherwise quiet little shop tends to get extremely busy as the holiday draws closer.

"It usually gets crazy the last week," she said, confirming she expects to work 14 hours a day until Memorial Day 2020 has come and gone.

The shop, located in the lower level of the Antiques N Uniques building at 602 Carol Malone Boulevard in Grayson, will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily "for the next two weeks," Hockley said.
For more information, call 606-831-1445.

Story and Photos by TIM PRESTON 

Carter County Post