The popular flower market located in Willows, bustles with color and friendly staff who passionately serve patrons who dash in and out while others spend a little more time as they smell the fresh roses before opting for another fresh bunch of flowers that caught their attention.<\/p>\n
This family business was built on sacrifices and a passion for flowers. Behind the success, is the 52-year-old Rhoda who had to leave school at the age of thirteen to help her parents sell flowers from just a bucket on the street, making Rhoda the third generation florist in her family.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the year 1998, we decided to finally set up the business in Bloemfontein. We then opened a small flower stand in the Middestad and that\u2019s how we built up Africa Flowers. Back then there weren\u2019t really flower shops and we managed to build our name because most clients knew we exist. We took our business even further by moving to Park Road and opening a bigger market. Today we are recognised as one of the biggest flower markets in Bloemfontein,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Her grandmother Ouma Asie was the inspiration behind opening the flower business. \u201cThe flower business has been a source of income and as time developed it became a passion because I was introduced to different kinds of flowers and also getting these flowers required me to climb mountains to go and pick them. So this was challenging, and every day was a challenge \u2013 that\u2019s what made it interesting and how the passion started.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rhoda recalls how she grew up helping customers get that perfect bouquet and seeing them smile. It created a desire for her to continue making people happy, since \u201cBloemfontein is the City of Roses, why not host that within ourselves and keep the city of love growing and going,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
It makes it even more fitting that their best-selling products are roses.<\/p>\n
Flowers are not just a source of income for Rhoda and her family but also serve as a legacy built out of love and appreciation, something she said is in her genes.<\/p>\n
\u201cFlowers are the purest form of love. Its delicate advocacy enhances symbolic emotions. It\u2019s an innocent act of kindness and brings out the truest connections so deep that anyone can be touched by its gesture,\u201d expressed Rhoda.<\/p>\n
Even in difficult times, perhaps losing a loved one, Rhoda feels that flowers can still bring a sense of light into a sad atmosphere which shows appreciation towards the loved one lost.<\/p>\n
The Cape Town born florist and entrepreneur has been living in Bloemfontein for all her life. She said she loves how the local community stands as one with love and support. With her favourite flowers being a \u201cmagnificent bunch of red roses\u201d it would be safe to say that the City of Roses is home.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean roses are red, violets are blue. Bloemfontein is the city of roses and so are its people.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking on how February is often associated with love and romance, Rhoda highlights that it is also a very busy time for the flower market.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur collection of gift hampers and flowers during this time captures the essence of affection, making it a beautiful way to express love and admiration. Each arrangement is carefully crafted to convey heartfelt sentiments, creating memorable moments for those special occasions in the month of love,\u201d she concluded.<\/p>\n
Text and photography: GYPSEENIA LION <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Flowers are the purest form of love for Rhoda Africa from Africa Flowers. A kind of love that embodied her childhood and inspired her to continue her family\u2019s legacy that started out with selling flowers from buckets to having one of the biggest flower markets in Bloemfontein. The popular flower market located in Willows, bustles […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":15226,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,20],"tags":[6349,409,3633,6348,6347],"class_list":{"0":"post-15225","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-people","8":"category-personalities","9":"tag-africa-flowers","10":"tag-bloemfontein","11":"tag-get-it-bloemfontein","12":"tag-rhoda-africa","13":"tag-with-love-rhoda-africa"},"yoast_head":"\n