Carolyn Salmon retrieves flowers from a freezer at Relles Florist in Midtown Sacramento. Salmon, the floral design manager, has worked at Relles for 23 years and her favorite part of the job is the same today as it was back then: “The joy,” she says. “Flowers are going to bring joy to people’s lives.”
On this day, she is working on an order for 40 arrangements. Salmon previously pulled the pollen off all the lilies. “I do not want any of that pollen to get to our customers,” she says. If the lilies haven’t yet opened, she tags it so customers know it’s in their best interest to remove the pollen as soon as possible: “It will stain and it will not come out.” After assembling each arrangement, Salmon sprays the flowers with a mixture of water and preservatives to extend their life
Relles Florist guarantees their flowers for seven days, so hydration is important. “People pay a lot for flowers and it’s beneficial for us to keep those customers,” she says.
Founded in 1946 by Ross Relles, Sr., Relles Florist is now in its fourth location on J Street in Sacramento (a second store on Howe Avenue has closed). After Ross died in 1972, sons Jim and Tom Relles took over; their sister JoAnn Bradley joined in 1975. Tom retired in 2008. “The legacy that my father started and seeing that continue on would be real rewarding,” says Jim Relles, who also counts two children and a cousin as colleagues.
The floral business has changed through the years; now Relles gets its flowers not just from the U.S. but from all over the world, including New Zealand, Australia, Ecuador, Chile and Hawaii. “If the people really want something bad we can usually get it,” Jim Relles says. What hasn’t changed is the enjoyment his employees experience from their job, including Carolyn Salmon (pictured).
“It’s real rewarding to be in the flower business and helping people to express their feelings through flowers at the happy times — anniversaries, birthdays, love and Valentine’s — but [they] also bring comfort and joy when you’re sick, and for sympathy,” Jim Relles says. “So that makes you feel good.”