Boutique storefront for Lily Floral Designs blossoms in Columbus Park
Co-owners Betsy Ford and Lily Williams. // Courtesy of Lily Floral Designs
There is a secret language found among flowers. Each bloom speaks to a different sentiment and expresses what words cannot. Betsy Ford and Lily Williams, co-owners of Lily Floral Designs, serve as interpreters for every occasion’s floral needs.
Lily Floral Designs recently opened its first storefront in Columbus Park, but the business partners have a long history with design, rooted in their part-time college jobs. Ford and Williams first met while working at another well-established florist in Kansas City.
Courtesy of Lily Floral Designs.
“Betsy hired me off the streets. I walked into a flower shop in town, and that’s where we became friends,” says Williams.
Their bond was noticeable as we spoke, working in sync as they prepared bouquets and organized orders. The seasonal arrangements are garnished with hues of gold and orange—each bouquet its own unique art form.
Williams says that she would occasionally work events with Ford, outside of her usual shop maintenance duties. Work that is less glamorous compared to what most people imagine while thinking about floral design.
The business began in Williams kitchen as a creative outlet while Ford had transitioned to working in the Charleston wedding industry. “I got a job in the corporate world and quickly realized I really missed flowers,” says Williams. She posted on Facebook asking if anybody needed a floral designer for their wedding, and her passion project quickly blossomed into a business endeavor. In the following months, she designed floral arrangements for 50 weddings in her apartment kitchen.
Fall Blooms. // Courtesy of Lily Floral Designs
Ford decided to leave behind the chaos of the Charleston floral design scene and return to Kansas City. Her love for the city, like a perennial flower, returned as she established her business partnership with Williams.
Williams says, “she [Ford] texted me and said, ‘Do you want to do this for real?’ and I said ‘Please help me I’m drowning.”
Courtesy of Lily Floral Designs
The partnership flourished in 2020 amidst event cancellations and the uncertainty of the pandemic year. Despite it all, the business continued to thrive as they operated out of an 800 square foot Brookside studio. Their booked schedule comes with long hours and periods of stress during event preparation.
“I never want to take for granted that we did make it happen,” says Ford. “I never want to complain about it—the sleepless nights are all worth it.”
After two years, the pair decided it was time to upsize. Their location in Columbus Park is nearly quadruple the size of their former location, operating as a shared space with other freelance artists and photographers. Natural light flows into the retail area, reflecting off of the teal-green painted walls— a welcoming environment that fits right into the loving neighborhood.
“It’s such a vibrant community of different backgrounds and stories,” Williams says. “People pop in all the time and tell us their long history of Columbus Park.”
The Pitch recently explored the history of the well-loved neighborhood, and the plans for future developments. Lily Floral Designs is moving into an area of well-established businesses alongside other new additions to the community.
Retail space at the Columbus Park shop // Courtesy of Lily Floral Designs
“Some people have been down here forever and they care about this neighborhood, which is exciting because we want to be a part of that,” says Williams.
Located between Cafe Cà Phê and Swoon Bakery, the shop fits right into the expanding block of women-owned businesses. The block is evolving into one of Kansas City’s most aromatic strips. Coffee, flowers, pastries—it may as well be its own candle scent.
This transition has allowed them to expand their delivery services while also building their retail space and event design. The shop has a collection of merchandise ranging from posters and greeting cards to elegant vases. With a wide portfolio for every occasion, they hope to make flowers more accessible to everyone and share the sentiment of each bouquet among a younger demographic.
Lily Floral Designs is open Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
You can find more information on their website and Instagram.
02
Flower with hidden link to Princess Diana predicted to feature at King Charles' coronation
King Charles' coronation is taking place on May 6, 2023 next year. Flower experts at Bloom & Wild have predicted that Lily of the Valley will be a forefront flower at the grand occasion. This flower has a strong royal link and featured in the wedding bouquet of Princess Diana.
Lily of the Valley grows across the UK and flowers in early spring.
According to experts at Bloom and Wild, "it symbolises love, motherhood and purity".
They added: "The flower was the Queen’s favourite, it featured in her coronation bouquet along with Kate Middleton’s bridal bouquet.
"The royal favourite is expected to come to the forefront for Charles’ coronation in 2023."
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Bloom & Wild flower expert and florist Caroline Grimble told Express.co.uk: “Whilst it’s not one that can be easily sold in commercial bouquets since its stem is only 20cm long, its motif will come through in art and fashion, and we might see more of it in one-off bridal bouquets in 2023."
The dainty flowers found on Lily of the Valley plants were held dear to the late monarch, having featured in Queen Elizabeth II's coronation bouquet back in 1953.
According to Blooming Haus, the striking green foliage and delicate petals also made an appearance in the Queen Mother’s wedding bouquet in 1921, Princess Diana’s in 1981, and Kate Middleton's bouquet in 2011.
In addition to being a staple flower for key royal events, the late Queen’s love for Lily of the Valley was also reflected in the 39-acre garden at Buckingham Palace, where they were found growing amongst the sprawling lawns.
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Back in 2019, the Royal Family confirmed the flowers were a favourite of Queen Elizabeth's, by tweeting that Her Majesty had "chosen Lily of the Valley" as her favourite flower.
They said: "Lily Of The Valley featured in Her Majesty's coronation bouquet and has held special association since."
Although beautiful, Lily of the Valley is poisonous - not to touch, but if ingested.
This is because it contains over 30 cardiac glycosides, which can speed the heart up to a dangerous pace.
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What's also interesting is that these flowers featured at Charles' first wedding to Princess Diana, which might be a fascinating look for the new King's coronation.
The Royal Family is said to be preparing a white bouquet for the Coronation, meaning that a trend towards all-white bouquets has started to come through in interiors and bridal bouquets.
It is also expected to hit the mainstream as a favourite bouquet next year.
Jo Reason, the Head of Brand & Range told Express.co.uk: “In 2022, white was our top-selling flower colour at Bloom & Wild, and we expect the demand for all-white bouquets to increase in the new year, in line with the interior and cultural trends.”
03
Demon Slayer's Blue Spider Lily Flower Explained
© Provided by ScreenRant
Here's Demon Slayer's mythical Blue Spider Lily flower explained. Demon Slayer follows hero Tanjiro, who joined the Demon Slayer Corps in hopes of finding a cure for his infected younger sister Nezuko. The anime has proven hugely popular since its 2019 debut, to the point that its movie spin-off became Japan's highest-grossing film of all time in 2020. Demon Slayer season 2 arrived in 2021 and further explored the backstory of its main villain Muzan Kibutsuji.
Muzan (AKA The Demon King) is the world's first demon and leader of the Twelve Kizuki, which consists of the most powerful demons, who live to serve their master. Demon Slayer season 1 left little doubt as to his abilities or ruthlessness, and he has no issue killing humans - who he views as lesser creatures to him anyway - and those fellow demons who disappoint him. Demon Slayer the manga has revealed more about him including the fact Muzan was once human himself and was struck with a terminal illness, seeking a doctor's help.
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Muzan isn't a demon for any supernatural reason, but from the medicine, this doctor used to treat his illness. The doctor used an extremely rare flower known as the Blue Spider Lily - which doesn't exist in reality - as a base ingredient in Demon Slayer Muzan's treatment. However, it didn't seem to be having any real effect, leading a distraught Kibutsuj to kill the doctor instead. He soon realized the medicine not only made him healthy and strong but immortal too. This was due to the Blue Spider Lily, but his treatment was incomplete, and he murdered the only man who knew where the flower could be found.
Demon Slayer's chief villain then spent a millennium searching for the mystical flower to little avail. In addition to the medication turning Muzan into the first demon, it also ensured neither he nor other demons could exist in the sunlight. Kibutsuj hoped that by finding the Blue Spider Lily he could reverse this and complete his transformation, becoming truly immortal.
This would obviously be a bad outcome for the human race, and Demon Slayer's - which is getting a season 3 - manga later revealed the reason the Demon King couldn't find the Blue Spider Lily is that it only blooms on rare occasions - and only during the day. Kibutsuj hasn't been able to get his hands on the mystical flower as of yet, and if he does, events on the show and manga are likely to take a very dark turn.
Next: Every Major Demon In Demon Slayer Season 1