Upscale florist uses her instincts for unique arrangements

One look inside The Ivy House & Garden Florist, 9340 W. Sahara Ave., and the artful placement of items hints at the design talents of owner Carla Clemens.

There is the antique wood table with its candles and potpourri. There is artwork for sale, decorative wall sconces, intriguing treasure boxes and, everywhere you look, Gund teddy bears.

And then there are the classy, gold-handled French doors. They send a signal that beyond them is a garden, but in reality they lead to the cooler.

It's the display cooler, which is the selling point of the shop. Clemens loads it up each day with new arrangements, fresh blossoms and artistic vases. Patrons can view the new arrangements, placed on tiered steps, through a large glass pane.

No matter what Clemens puts on display, clients seem to be inspired by her work and ask for something similar to go in their homes.

"I like to do unique things with flowers, not cookie-cutter stuff," she said. "People come in and see what's in the cooler and ask for the same flowers, but maybe in a completely different design to better suit their house. I'm more than happy to do it for them."

Of all the types of flowers she sells, orchids, Calla lilies, Charlotte roses and hydrangeas are top sellers.

When a customer has a special request, Clemens calls up local flower wholesalers to see which one has that kind in stock, then treks over to pick out the blossoms herself.

That's what she did when a client wanted a bouquet to give Celine Dion. That arrangement had orchids, hydrangeas and two dozen roses in red and pink. It was a large, extraordinary bouquet, so special Clemens took a digital picture of it for her portfolio.

Another extravagant order called for 40 roses in various colors to celebrate a 40th birthday. She also has worked on weddings held at Canyon Gate Country Club, Anthem Country Club and out at Red Rock. For each, she hand-picks the blossoms that are used.

Clemens took over the store, located in Village Square shopping center, in August, and customers are noticing a difference in the 1,186-square-foot shop.

"I first came here for an arrangement for my entry," said Audrey Lipton, who retired to Red Rock after owning a chic clothing store in Aspen, Colo. "I buy fresh flowers all the time and now that she (Clemens) is here, I'll be in to buy from her."

Clemens makes no claim to being a floral "artiste" or having special training. But she's always had an affinity for flowers and admits to stealthy snipping of her neighbor's blooms as a child. When she was 16, she worked in a family friend's floral shop. She stayed in the business about two years.

Then the Western High School graduate went on to earn a degree in social work and spent five years with Child Protective Services. By then she was married and starting a family.

Clemens stopped working to focus on her children, now ages 4, 8 and 13, and free-lanced as a floral designer.

"This is always something I liked to do," she said, as she brought up various arrangements on her digital camera.

When the shop came up for sale, she took the plunge and bought it. Now she has about 10 special orders a day, besides what walk-in traffic brings.

Along with flowers, Clemens sells distinctive household items like Votivo aromatic candles, the teddy bears and designer pillows.

For Mother's Day, May 11, she plans to offer a strawberry and daisy arrangement, as well as lavender rings and rosemary hearts.


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