Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Mar 15/02) - Finding fresh flowers on the 68th parallel is not easy this time of year, unless you know the right place to look.

Owner of Delta Flowers and Gifts, Rose Ann Snow was busy preparing dozens of roses for Inuvik's International Women's Day celebration. - Terry Halifax/NNSL photo

Just follow your nose to Delta Flowers and Gifts to see Rose Ann Snow and she'll fix you up with a bouquet of Valentine roses for your sweetheart, mums for Mothers Day or flowers for any other occasion.

Originally from Aklavik, Snow took over the flower shop on April 1, 2000, just because she wanted a business of her own.

"This business just happened to become available at the time I was looking," Snow said.

Without any previous experience or training in flower arranging, she dove right in and found she had a real knack for the art.

"I took up the flower arrangements and it came very easy and the people seem very pleased," she smiled.

The flowers are shipped in twice a week, but on her busiest days, Valentine's and Mothers Day, she pulls out all the stops.

"It's a whole week of just preparing and then two or three days of sheer madness," she laughs.

She does all the deliveries herself and employs two part-time workers to help in the store.

As well as fresh flowers, the shop also offers silk flower arrangements for Delta communities and a good selection of crafts made by friends throughout the region.

Unique gift items include muskox woolens hand-knitted by Lena Wolke in Sachs Harbour, mukluks, mitts and slippers made by Dora McNeely in Fort Good Hope, embroidery and bead work and carvings supplied by Nellie Cournoyea at the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.

Snow also has a selection of live tropical plants, soaps lotions and other gift items.

She enjoys coming to work each day to breath in the smell of fresh flowers and enjoys putting smiles on her customer's faces.

"I love it," she smiles. "I love working with fresh and silk flowers, as well as knowing about the local crafts."

"People come in and want to know what kind of fur it is and who made it; and I actually know the people who do it."