Karen Ruhl can do just about anything with flowers, that is.
Ruhl's flower boutique, Special Occasion Florals, located in the Hepburn Plaza, can help enhance any occasion or decorative motif with a unique flower arrangement or gift.
"We can do just about anything you want us to do," Ruhl said.
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ASHLEY WISLOCK/Sun-Gazette
Karen Ruhl looks over one of the display areas of Special Occasion Florals in the Hepburn Plaza.
The shop opened February 11, after Ruhl decided to expand the business, which she had run out of her home for the past six years.
"It was time to get out of the basement and turn it into a real business," she said.
The shop offers a wide variety of services, including arrangements for banquets, parties, funerals and home and office decoration; full wedding floral services; holiday decoration for home and office; and fresh designs sold out of the store.
Arrangements can be done using fresh, silk and dried flowers.
Ruhl said every piece the shop sells is a unique, one-of-a-kind creation.
"We pride ourselves on making every piece original and unique," she said.
Both Ruhl and her associate, Michelle Ronneberg, have degrees from Pennsylvania College of Techonology in floral design, which Ruhl said gives them a solid background for the business.
The key to creating the perfect arrangement, said Ruhl, is making sure the piece matches the room or vase it is meant for.
"We try to match colors and styles," she said.
And in today's floral market, special-ordering flowers is easy, according to Ruhl.
"We can get flowers from all over the world in a matter of 24 hours," she said.
Ruhl said these specially-ordered flowers come into the shop as fresh and new as anything picked right from the garden.
"Flower services now are so good," she said. "When they come in it's like they're fresh off the plant, it's amazing."
However, Ruhl said roses are still "the gold standard" when it comes to floral bouquets, and she likes to try to get such in-demand flowers and supplies from local retailers.
"I try to buy things local," she said.
Ruhl said that supporting the local economy is "very important" and helps develop a sense of connection in the community.
In addition to flowers of all kinds, Special Occasion Florals sells one-of-a-kind gifts made by a local artist.
The "Laura Lee Boutique" collection features "very pretty fine gifts," according to Ruhl, which will compliment any floral arrangement or act as a stand-alone gift.
The collection features fine china, dolls, sticheries and more, and is on display in the Special Occasion Florals store.
According to Ruhl, this unique gift collection matches the mission of the shop, providing beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces for their customers.
"The things found in our gift shop can't be found anywhere else," she said.
Other gifts and keepsakes are available in the shop as well.
Ruhl said the best way to get an idea of what kind of gift or what type of floral arrangement to get is to come to the store and browse the available selection.
"(Customers) should come see what we have," she said. "We can talk about (arrangements), and we don't charge anything up front."
The store is open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Walk-in customers are welcome.
