International Women's Day - March 8

The Women Behind our Flowers

Historically, flower wholesale was a male dominated industry.  Seagroatt Riccardi now boasts a gender profile of 76 women and 35 men.  The warehouse is an area where we have made great strides and reaped equally great rewards! In celebration of International Women’s Day, we are focusing on two amazing women at Seagroatt Riccardi.

Veronica Jones came to us in 2014 and quickly

took the lead at the Will Call desk and Warehouse and now is our Operations Manager. One thing we have all noticed about her is that Veronica keeps the Warehouse as organized and tidy as she might her kitchen (she’s a fabulous cook!)  Applying a philosophy of “we’re all in this together” has solidified camaraderie and efficiency in the Operations sector of Seagroatt Riccardi. Veronica’s favorite flower is Veronica because they share the same name!

Amanda LaJoy  joined the SR team in 2015 and has dedicated herself to the Operations Department as our Receiving Supervisor. She quietly, with efficiency and proficiency, keeps us informed of where our product is in the supply chain and when we can expect it to arrive. Most importantly, she lets us know when we can get it on a truck to you. Amanda’s favorite flower is Rainbow tinted roses because they surely will brighten up a person’s day!

Veronica and Amanda are two of the remarkable women working at Seagroatt Riccardi.  We are proud of each and every one on our team.  They work quietly, confidently, efficiently and humbly under the radar, but make everything happen to get your flowers in and out on time. Each brings a spirit of collaboration and cooperation that gets things done! We are honored to celebrate each and every one of our women on International Women’s Day!

Staff Picks - Cindy Reed

IF YOU EVER HAVE WONDERED WHAT PRODUCTS "THE FUN GUYS"  LOVE TO WORK WITH BUT NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO FIND OUT, YOU ARE IN LUCK!

We interviewed sales staff, buyers, warehouse and greenhouse staff and even a few individuals that we aren't totally sure what they do to find out which products they are most passionate about.

Cindy Reed... is our greenhouse guru who believes a day without dirty hands was a day spent relaxing.  Her extensive knowledge of plants and greenhouse management are the reasons Seagroatt Riccardi, LTD. is in the business of plants today.  

She is more than just a botanical brain; Cindy is also an American History enthusiast!  We are certainly glad to have her direct approach and her sticktoitveness to serve as a model for others.

When asked about some of her favorite items in the greenhouse, she had this to say:





8” Bulb Pan Spath - One of my best sellers; never gives me any trouble. It is a super performer, no headaches.









6” Anthurium - What a beautiful plant, even when it is resting in between flowering the foliage has a natural self shine and a wonderful shape and gesture.






4” Primrose - This plant screams SPRING. I enjoy the bright burst of festive colors and it reminds me of a crazy table cloth that my grandmother always put on the porch table. I was so surprised when I saw a primrose for the first time in real life and thought “I did not know those amazing fantasy flowers were actually real.”





You can reach Cindy at extension 239 or you can email her by clicking on her name here.

Stay tuned to see which of "The Fun Guys" will be next in the Staff Picks series!

Staff Picks - Gerry Gutto

IF YOU EVER HAVE WONDERED WHAT PRODUCTS "THE FUN GUYS"  LOVE TO WORK WITH BUT NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO FIND OUT, YOU ARE IN LUCK!

We interviewed sales staff, buyers, warehouse and greenhouse staff and even a few individuals that we aren't totally sure what they do to find out which products they are most passionate about.

Gerry Gutto

...is a leading example of outstanding work ethic.  The only photos we have of Gerry show him busy making calls.  He brings insight and a natural curiosity into everything he does.


One of his strengths is is determination to painstakingly ensure that each customer interaction is followed through to the very end.


Outshining Gerry's flower knowledge is a tall order; he takes the time to learn about every new item before selling them.  We recently had opportunity to interrupt his full schedule to ask about some of his favorites.  Here is what he had to say:





White Atlantis Daisy - "Gardens America is my favorite.  This grower provides the most consistent quality you could ever see when comparing these daisies to the others on the market.  This also happens to be my wife's favorite flower."





Sunflowers "You can't go wrong with these any time of year. I would recommend either the lemon shade with a dark center or gold petals with a light center."






Hydrangea - "Regularly available in white,blue and mini green; Seagroatt Riccardi, LTD. sources the premium grade hydrangea that is not only larger than the competition but lasts longer in an arrangement."






Ginestra - "If you’re looking for something different to add to your arrangement you may want to consider our ginestra. It has a nice flow to it, and comes in a variety of colors from Italy or California."





Fillers - "...are coming into season! This means better quality, quantity, and availability. It’s a great time of year for flowers.”


You can reach Gerry at extension 205 or you can email him by clicking on his name here.
Stay tuned to see which of "The Fun Guys" will be next in the Staff Picks series!

FloraLife Finishing Spray Comparison

Notes from the 'Hands On' Design Class

Earlier this week we held a design class sponsored by Fitz Design, Floracraft, Berwick, and Seagroatt Riccardi, LTD.. 

The Designer/Educator was Joyce Mason-Monheim AIFD, CFD, PFCI, AzMF, who brought with her some of her expert design tips and ideas. For those of you that may have been unable to attend the event, we have below one of the pieces she shared with us as well as the “ingredients” that went into the making of this elegant bracelet.

A special thank you to Gretchen Squires from Schrade’s Posie Peddler, Inc. in Saratoga, NY for contributing her bracelet for this article.

2x - Pink Alstromeria

1x - Variegated Dendrobium

1x - Purple Stock

1x - Boronia

1x - Green Hypericum Berry

1x - Geo Flash Bracelet from Fitz Design

-          This is a special order item, your salesperson will be happy to assist you with these or explore our Wedding & Corsage section for alternative ideas!

1x - Gleaming Corsage Leaves

1x - Ivory & Opal Veronica Ribbon

For more information regarding the products above, including pricing and availability, please visit our website or contact your salesperson today!  Stay tuned for more notes from the class and be sure to sign up for the next event early!  

Staff Picks - Jessica Virtue

IF YOU EVER HAVE WONDERED WHAT PRODUCTS "THE FUN GUYS"  LOVE TO WORK WITH BUT NEVER HAD THE CHANCE TO FIND OUT, YOU ARE IN LUCK!

We interviewed sales staff, buyers, warehouse and greenhouse staff and even a few individuals that we aren't totally sure what they do to find out which products they are most passionate about.

What has two green thumbs, a keen eye for design and smiles all the time?   

Jessica Virtue... is one of our greenhouse experts that has the knowledge and experience to recommend the ideal flowering plant for your upcoming event or diagnose an issue with your floor plant that no longer looks as nice as it did when it first arrived in your shop.  

She can differentiate an arboricola from an aralia at a glance from one end of the the greenhouse to the other (not an easy task).  Jessica knows her plant species and how to care for each one.  She also has an inventive quality that has added some new flair to the products offered at Seagroatt Riccardi, LTD.  

The Jessica was named for its creator and has quickly become a popular request from the vast selections of custom dish gardens that are made onsite daily by our talented greenhouse staff.  If you have a taste for something different, stay tuned...there will be newly designed dish gardens available soon made by other dirty hands.

Jess took a few moments from her busy routine of watering, picking, packing, receiving, potting and selling to tell us what her favorites are and why.  (Don't worry, no plants were harmed or neglected during this interview.) Here's what we found out:

1: Jasmine, "(is) a small plant that looks and smells great!"

 2: Purple Wandering Jew, "(is) a 10” hanging plant that is easy to care for and very colorful."

3: Burle Marx, "(is) another houseplant that is easy to care for and very pretty."

4: Gerber Daisies, "...all varieties. They’re my favorite flower."

5: African Mask, "(is) a houseplant for people who are looking for something a little out of the ordinary."

Whatever plants you are looking for, Jessica can help. She can be reached by email by clicking on her name here or by calling her directly at extension 229.  Stay tuned to see which of "The Fun Guys" will be next in the Staff Picks series!

Staff Picks - Sam Saliba

If you ever have wondered what products "The Fun Guys"  love to work with but never had the chance to find out, you are in luck!

We interviewed sales staff, buyers, warehouse and greenhouse staff and even a few individuals that we aren't totally sure what they do to find out which products they are most passionate about.

Salesman Sam Saliba...believes in products that perform well week after week. This trust is reverberated with each phone call he makes and if you can catch him at his desk while not on the phone you should go out and buy a lottery ticket because you have stumbled upon a rarity.

Flower fads with fancy names and new vendors with colorful boxes come and go.  They have to earn their place on Sam's list of favorite items.  Once they make "the cut", his loyalty knows no bounds.

"Consistency beats any flash in the pan product with me every time."

 1: Freedom Roses from Vizcaya (Sagaro & Las Flores). "Year in and year out they are the most consistent." 

2: Alstromeria from Gardens America; "(They have) the biggest flowers and a nice assortment."

3: Carnations from Golden Flowers. "Every week they provide us with the biggest flowers and the best packaging."

4: Purple Mini Carnations from Direct Farms. "Very consistent, nice cut stage."

5: Viking Poms from Tahami, "(are) another consistent performer with nice long breaks too."

You can reach Sam at extension 212 or you can email him by clicking on his name here.  Stay tuned to see which of "The Fun Guys" will be next in the Staff Picks series!