Growing-up in cities like Seattle and New York, I was very accustomed to the fresh flowers with which my mom always stocked our home(s).  To my nine-year old eyes we lived in a colorful jungle consisting of towering stems of white and pink gladiolas and red ginger in the living room, cut-crystal vases full of light blue and indigo irises in the sitting room, roses of every hue playing off the Persian rug in the foyer, and phalaenopsis orchid plants everywhere else.  It’s no wonder – what with the ready wealth of florists and floral wholesalers everywhere you turn in those cities.

But in Las Vegas, where (outside of an actual floral shop) the “best” places to buy cut flowers are Fresh & Easy and Costco, the pickings have always been a little slim.  Granted, it’s the desert; but in this day and age, that’s really no longer an excuse.

Well, leave it to the ever-industrious Michael McGraw and his BFF Bonnie Fogel to start a pop-up floral trade.  Seeing the success of the new Downtown3rd Farmer’s Market, McGraw and Fogel decided to set-up a stall, and cleverly call themselves “Petal Pushers” – a double entendre with a sartorial nod toward the calf-length pants popular in the ‘50s, as well as ‘70s street slang for drug dealers (à la the classic Curtis Mayfield jam, “Pusherman” from the soundtrack to Superfly).

And while they hooked me with their moniker, I was sold on the quality of their product.  There were tubs full of Brazilian Berries and Ginger and Liatris and multiple varietals of Proteas (not to mention the more standard floral fare, such as Carnations, Snapdragons, Tulips, and Roses – but in such non-standard color options as peach and lilac and mustard).

I was a little bummed to find-out about this via Facebook on Saturday morning, the day after the Downtown3rd Farmer’s Market, but upon calling McGraw, was told to get my plump rump over to Tivoli Village, tout de suite, as that new upscale outdoor mall was hosting their own Saturday Farmer’s Market, and the Petal Pushers were hawking their floral wares, there.

So, I hopped in the shower, threw-on a (fairly) fresh shirt, and zipped over to Tivoli Village.  There, I was instructed to valet outside of Vasari, walk toward the girl singing “Maria” by Blondie, and take a left at the posse of hula-hooping 5-year old girls.  There, exiting the Land Rover showroom, I ran into Sean McClenahan (aka Mr. McGraw’s mister), Gloria Fine, and Lynn Weidner with vibrant bouquets wrapped in butcher paper tied with twine.  I was there.

The selection was vast and the prices were not to be beat.  Suffice it to say that whatever petals these two are pushing are worth buying.  Their wares are so fresh and vibrant that I might be motivated to haul my ass outta bed at the crack of noon and head down to the Downtown3rd Farmer’s Market, next Friday.

Petal Pushers
The Farmer’s Markets at Downtown3rd and Tivoli Village
Friday and Saturday mornings, respectively

Get into it!