Photo by Trista LeBlanc Serbyn/The Choate News
Despite restrictions set in place by the Covid-19 pandemic, love is in the air in Wallingford as the town prepares socially-distant Valentine’s Day celebrations. The Green Petal, a Wallingford flower shop, has been busy preparing flower bouquets for many locals looking to spread the love during this season.
Allison Corbett, owner of The Green Petal, has been running her business for the past six years, but within the Wallingford community for only the past four. First introduced to the art of floral design at New Haven’s agricultural high school, The Sound School, Corbett quickly found her passion for horticulture. After working at a flower shop in Martha’s Vineyard while in college, she was inspired to move back to Connecticut to start her own floral business.
Specializing as an event florist, Corbett produces bouquets and arrangements for bridal showers, baby showers, and other special events such as weddings, which make up approximately 80% of her business. “When I started the business, I was unsure if I wanted to have that traditional flower shop and do the local deliveries daily,” she said. “After a few years of working, I decided that I do love just the weddings, and I wanted to stick to the events.”
Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, The Green Petal has continued to serve the community. “If you think back to last year at this time, we didn’t really know Covid was coming,” Corbett said, “As soon as spring 2020 hit, there were no weddings.” When health restrictions shut down large gatherings and events, Corbett was forced to get creative.
Last spring, Corbett began a pop-up shop on the sidewalk near her office in the center of town so her business could keep running, and she could connect to the community again. “Mother’s Day was the first weekend I started, and it kind of just took off,” she said.
Throughout that spring and summer, Corbett assembled her pop-up every Saturday, selling a small variety of different flower arrangements each time. “I definitely met a lot more customers and got a lot more bookings,” Corbett said.
As quarantine and social distancing continues, many are looking for new ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day safely. “People are staying home, and not everyone will feel comfortable going out to eat,” said Corbett, who will run her pop-up shop in the center of town this Saturday, February 13. “I’m expecting to be very busy.”
