Blooms from the past, flowering into the future

Stacy Holbrook
Contributing Writer

(Photo by Stacy Holbrook – Shirley VanDorp artistically arranges florals at Hastays.)

Hastay’s Greenhouse and Flower Shop; Blooms from the past, flowering into the future. Doc and Patricia Hastay wanted to share the beauty of greens and blossoms with the local community in 1955. Starting with a few greenhouses they began growing an array of plants offered on location. Offering products for gardeners and landscapers as well as fresh cut bouquets. As business grew, the growing process expanded as well. When a hundred-year-old nursery closed in Detroit, The Hastay family purchased and arranged for eight plus greenhouses to be disassembled and reassembled to their location.

Later Doc and Patricia decided to pass the business on to their children. Roger and Barbara worked well together, until Barbara decided to retire, and Roger took over the business, and is now the sole proprietor. Shirley Van Dorp, Roger’s daughter, left the medical field, returned to school, learned the art and care of flower arranging, joining the business, and adding a wonderful imagery to the world of fresh flower arranging, providing unique and sometimes extravagant designs. Shirley’s creations have been featured in “The Professional Florist, Volume IV”. You can also view these beautiful arrangements on Hastay’s Facebook Page and at www.hastaysgreenhouse.com.

Shirley runs the showroom, where Hastay’s features many local artists’ designs along with the flower arrangements. Roger takes care of the growing, works in and monitors all the greenhouses, preps soil for growing, deliveries and works the business end. Hastay’s offers same day delivery service.

The month of May is the busiest time for Hastay’s, creating designs for Mother’s Day and Proms. Events covered include Mother’s Day, Prom, Graduations, Weddings, Funerals, event center pieces and Daily Standing Orders. Hastay’s arrangements travel to places across Michigan including Battle Creek, Charlotte, Dansville, Holt, Ithaca, Leslie, Michigan City, Potterville, Springport, Williamston, as well as Eaton Rapids. Hastay’s flower arrangements have been delivered as far up north as Mackinaw City and south as far as Florida state. Hastay’s Geranium Trees are showcased on Mackinac Island.

Hastay’s donates flowers and plants to the VFW Home, to landscape the housing units; as well as raising poinsettias for the band boosters. Hastay’s donate to many other non-profit organizations as well; the food bank, and hospice are only a few.

Hastay’s grows their products off-seasons, to be ready for the customers when the normal outside growing seasons begin. Everyone can benefit from the products Hastay’s offers over the seasons. It is good to know, if Hastay’s has a big demand on a specific flower, plant, bush or tree, when the items are used up there will be no more until the next growing season. Hastay’s Greenhouse and Flower Shop is open year around, you can be confident to get some of the best arrangements and other services with Roger Hastay and Shirley Van Dorp at Hastay’s Greenhouse located at 430 N East St, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827.