Finding Flowers for Your Hon’ on Route One

This Valentine’s Day, scores of College Park lovebirds will receive beautiful bouquets of red roses from their sweethearts, designed by the florists at . 

According to owner Barbara Wood, red roses are the most popular flower her shop sells for Valentine’s Day.  Known as a universal symbol of love, roses can be bought in a bouquet or as part of an arrangement from Wood’s store.

“Red is the most popular kind, although different assorted colors are more popular than they used to be,” Wood said.

The shop, at 9223 Baltimore Ave.­, was opened in 1938 by Wood’s father, Edward.  He originally opened his flower business as a way to pay for his education at the University of Maryland—catering, in part, to the university’s fraternity brothers.

“Fraternity brothers needed carnations for dances,” Wood explained.

Now 96 years old, Edward Wood has seen his family-owned shop grow from its original College Avenue location to its current spot near the College Park Diner.  He met his wife, Yolanda, while both students at the university. After spending a few years doing social work in Prince George’s County, she came to work alongside him in the shop, Barbara Wood said.

Almost 75 years later, the shop still caters to the College Park community.  Wood says her most popular flower during the year varies because she uses the freshest flowers from each season, like tulips and daffodils during the spring and stargazer lilies for most of the year.  By far, though, she says Valentine’s Day is her most frantic holiday.

“Valentine’s Day means long hours,” she laughed.  “Very hectic!”