MACON, Ga. — If you still need to buy gifts for your Valentine, there's a Black-owned family business where you can pick up a last-minute present.
A Touch of Glover is celebrating its 27th anniversary during Black History Month.
Vanessa Glover, the owner, says she pours her heart and soul into her work.
Some people may look out the window on a rainy day and think gloom, but the blossoms stay on Glover's mind.
"When it rains, it just means new life," she said.
The florist spends her morning snipping stems and turning ribbon strings into blooming bows.
"It's a production to get everything together," Glover said.
Called to share a piece of her heart with people in their times of need is Glover's purpose, she said.
"We deal with life situations here," Glover said. "With people who just experienced death in their family, or someone won an award, or had a baby..." the list goes on, she said.
The Dublin native graduated from Northeast High School in Macon.
Glover's bounced her business around Central Georgia since, including Macon, Warner Robins, Lizella, Gray, Jeffersonville and Bonaire, to name a few.
In 2017, Glover became the first certified floral designer in Central Georgia through the American Institute of Floral Designers.
"I am my ancestor's dream," Glover said. "They couldn't own these types of businesses, but I can. I get to leave a legacy not even to just my children, but someone looking up to me, saying, 'Wow, she did it, so I'm going to be able to do it too.'"
Glover recently rose to the occasion and left her corporate job to invest her energy into her business.
"I was there for 18 and a half years, and I was on the phone all day, every day, all day," Glover said. "But, it taught me so many different things, talk to different people about different things."
Glover's Macon storefront has been open since October.
She said it's become a family affair and has her mom, kids and grandkids help out around the flower shop regularly.
Glover said she's teaching the skills she's learned through her jobs and her signature craft to her seeds: children and grandchildren.
"They are very artistic in their own way," she said. "I want them to incorporate that into either this business or not ever having to worry about a job, but being able to go into their own business."
They're keeping the Glover legacy alive and leaving their mark because "this is home," the florist said.
A Touch of Glover is taking delivery orders for Valentine's Day until 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13.
Last-minute flowers and gifts will be available the day of, Glover added.
The Macon storefront is located at 2380 Ingleside Ave.
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