Flower stall flourishes

Success smells sweet … Sisters Rhoda and Nabeelah Africa and Shakeer Brown showcase a few of their beautiful flowers.

Few would guess that the Africa Flowers stall, which attracts countless visitors to their spot in Willows, Bloemfontein, was started by two sisters from Cape Town with a couple of buckets under a tree.
The Weekly found Rhoda and Nabeelah Africa bustling around their vibrant stall on a busy weekday afternoon.

“We started our business here in Bloemfontein in the 80s at Sanlam Plaza, but we later moved to this area. When we started we had about two buckets of flowers under a tree and we have since expanded. Our love for flowers is in our veins, we grew up with flowers, and it is our passion. Our forefathers used to love flowers. We have settled here in Bloemfontein but our roots from Cape Town are still part of who we are,” explained Rhoda Africa.

The colourful open-air stall is a popular destination for flower buyers. Customers will do well to come early to get the pick of the crop as the florists’ beautifully crafted bouquets seem to fly out of their buckets as soon as they are placed in them.
The flower stall attracts customers who buy flowers for their spouses, students going on dates, as well as brides picking up bouquets for their wedding. The sisters said they are impressed by how the locals honour family members who passed away with elaborate floral arrangements.

“The peak hour on a normal day is usually between 4 and 5 pm, when everybody ends their day. We also get customers who are hosting parties and birthdays or when someone is in hospital or visiting their girlfriend’s parents for the first time. The majority of our customers are black people,” Nabeelah added.

Nabeelah could not really say which gender buys flowers the most.
The sisters also offered a few tips on how to take care of flowers, should you receive a bunch.

“Keep flowers away from heat. Make sure that your vase is filled with ice cold water and do not forget to cut the stems at an angle daily as it is essential to keeping them fresh for longer.”

Martha Sehloho, who occasionally buys flowers at the sisters stall, says she uses them to decorate her house and bring life to her living space.

“I always find the right flower for whatever mood I am in, the flowers are always fresh and it is always exciting when I pick up a bunch of flowers here. My boyfriend also surprises me once in a while when I least expect it with a fresh bunch of flowers. I love flowers. They are always a beautiful gift to give to someone.”