EUGENE – What happens to floral centerpieces and bouquets after a big celebration? Do guests take them home and admire them until they perish? Do they get tossed and return to the soil they came from?
Tabitha “Taby” Phifer thought of an idea to give already-used flowers a second chance at life, while also making a positive impact at nonprofit organizations.
The Springfield resident is the founder and owner of Flowers by Taby, newly located at 1307 Lincoln St. in Eugene.
Phifer began repurposing flowers from events such as memorials, weddings, birthdays, ceremonies, and celebrations, and donating them to nonprofits like the Ronald McDonald House Charities and Visiting Angels. She coined the term “Twice Loved” for these special arrangements.
“None of the other florists are doing this, so I thought I might as well start,” Phifer said. “They’re still good for another week to two weeks after the event is done.”
Recently, she was able to reuse a casket spray flower arrangement and turn it into eight separate bouquets to give away to mothers at the Ronald McDonald House.
“When I did the Ronald McDonald House, Robin (Yozzo), she’s the one who kind of heads it up, she said the moms just had tears in their eyes,” Phifer said.
Even the vases she puts them in are donated to her flower shop or second-hand, making the whole arrangement truly twice loved.
In addition to the newly reused flowers and vase, Phifer includes a hand-written note and a white turtle dove ornament.
“I give the person who donated the flowers one of the turtle doves, and then whatever charity they choose to donate to … I give them the other turtle dove, and that way it’s like a little connection,” she said.
“Sharing God’s love one flower at a time,” reads the slogan on her teal apron.
Phifer has been a florist for about 10 years. What started out as floral workshops at The Flower Market in Springfield slowly evolved into a career.
She arranged bouquets as a side hustle in her garage and eventually moved into her first shop at 1229 W. 7th Ave. Last May, Phifer retired from her day job to focus on flowers full-time and moved into her new shop on Lincoln St.
