Call us or come on down to speak to our professional floral designers, Master Gardeners or one of our friendly and knowledgeable sales associates.

Lafayette Florist, Gift Shop and Garden Center Offers Floral and Gardening Advice.

Meet Our Key Experts:

Brian J. Wheat - AAF, PFCI Brian has been with Lafayette Florist since 1984. Chief Executive Officer Director & Past President of Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Past President of the Garden Centers of Colorado Past Director of the Colorado Greenhouse Growers Association Rotarian, Coal Creek Rotary Club, Past President, Paul Harris Fellow CSU Master Gardener certified 1984 National Green Industry Speaker Certified Member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) Member of Colorado Nurseryman’s Association Member of Garden Centers of Colorado Member of Society of American Florists Member of Professional Floriculture Communicators International

Click on the images below to enlarge!   All pictures from SAF Convention   

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Oct. 5, 2009 — Brian Wheat, chief executive officer of Lafayette Florist, Gift Shop & Greenhouses, Inc., a third-generation family business in Lafayette, Colo., has been named to the prestigious ranks of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) of the Society of American Florists (SAF). This year’s honorees were officially inducted at SAF Phoenix 2009, the association's 125th Annual Convention.

A retailer with 26-years of industry experience, Wheat is a member of the Colorado Retail Florists Association, Colorado Nurseryman’s Association, Colorado Greenhouse Growers Association, and Garden Centers of Colorado. His industry articles have been featured in Floral Management magazine. Wheat also produces a weekly cartoon “The Flower Guy,” that appears online and in the local newspaper.

Called upon often as a local garden expert, Wheat sponsors a garden radio talk show and has enjoyed guest hosting on occasion. He also serves as a resource for regional newspapers and speaks nationally. Wheat shares his passion for the industry by opening his operations to floriculture students at Colorado State University, promoting Colorado-grown greenhouse products, and by advocating for industry issues on a local, state and national level.

Wheat is a past president and current board member of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, Coal Creek Rotary Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He developed the award-winning Xeric Rotary Garden in Louisville, Colorado, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Rotary.

Among his many honors, Wheat was named the Wholesale Florists & Florists Suppliers Association (WF&FSA) Retail Florist of the Year in 2003, Airman of the Year, Sam Walton Business Leader, Rotarian of the Year, a Rotary Paul Harris fellow, Good Samaritan Award, Chamber Champion, the VFW Community Award and the VFW Civic/Patriot Award.

Wheat served as a sergeant in the United States Air Force, and is a graduate of the Colorado State University Master Gardener Program.

Founded in 1965, the AAF seeks to encourage, measure and recognize professionals — retailers, wholesalers, growers, educators, scientists, designers and allied business people — who have committed their time and energy to the floral industry and their local communities.

Lori A Wheat - AAF Lori has been with Lafayette Florist since 1991. Director of Merchandise & Marketing Board of Directors, Society of American Florists Certified member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) Advisory Board, Lafayette Community Events Bachelor of Science, Colorado State University

Sandi Yoshihara-Sniff, AAF, AIFD, CPF Sandi has been with Lafayette Florist since 1987. General Manager, Florist Graduate of Colorado State University Past president and founding member of the Floral Association of the Rockies (FAR) Past board member of the Wholesale Florists of Colorado Executive Board Member, Regional Teleflora board Floral Designer for President George W. Bush Inauguration Certified member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) South Central Board member Certified member of the American Academy of Floriculture (AAF) Certified Professional Florist (CPF)

CSU Master Gardeners

• In-store Master Gardeners and gardening experts are available daily
• From May through July, Lafayette Florist hosts traveling CSU Master Gardeners on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10am - 4pm

CLICK ON THE PICTURES BELOW TO ENLARGE!

STAFF PROFILE LEFT TO RIGHT

Craig,  Grower | Gladys, Florist Manager since 1989 | Shawn, Office Manager