Real Local Florist™ in San Francisco

Hoogasian Flowers is a Real Local Florist™ in San Francisco. 

Harold Hoogasian wants to be sure everyone knows it!

Rungis Flower Market

We had an opportunity to visit Paris recently and our hosts, Nancy and Paul Godbout of New Hampshire, suggested we visit the Rungis National Market... specifically the flower and plant section. The market is a square mile of wholesale vendors of every type(meat, fish, poultry, vegetables, fruit, and, of course, flowers and plants.

What an experience!

The barn shown above is but one of several and there are at least three or four aisles as shown above. Each with a great variety of products.

The above shot is typical of the depth and breadth of supply at each of the vendors.

The supply of holiday goods was astounding and this is just a sample.

Paul Godbout pictured in one supply vendor's warehouse... which was three stories!

Holiday Ribbons available in patterns and colors for every taste.

An incredible experience that is off the beaten track if you ever visit Paris:
Marché d'Intérêt National de Rungis

Life is Like A Box of... Veggies!

I was walking around the flower market looking for some flowers for an order and my bud, Vikki at Florist at Large walks up to me with a box of veggies! She said she picked them all herself and they were looking for a home. I guess my part time vegan vibe was working overtime. She laid them on me and told me the big green ones were Armenian Cucumbers. I am totally into heirloom tomatoes and beets, but have never had Armenian Cucumbers. We used to sell seeds at our flower shop at The Cannery at Fisherman's Wharf back in the '70's and sold the seeds. Tonight I find out what they taste like! I go looking for flowers and end up with homegrown vegetables. Just goes to show that life is like a box of... veggies! You never know what you are going to get!

260 Fifth Street - Good Bye!

A demolition in its final stages at 260 Fifth Street in San Francisco is hardly notable save for the fact that this building was, for many years, the home of Bill Graham Presents. Bill Graham changed the face of concert promotion and was instrumental in the careers of many rock icons including Santana and the Grateful Dead. Cheers, Bill!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! Today we had a pleasant visit with Linda and Ray Picard and Linda's Mom, Charlotte Hoogasian who was visiting from Massachusetts. Although we aren't sure if we are related, we figure that we're all family! They came all the way from Santa Cruz, California just to meet us and see Hoogasian Flowers! Good thing we keep our promise to be Open Every Day of The Year!  Nikki and I were thrilled to share parts of our family history with them.

Hoogasian Flowers supported a reception and discussion at Mercy High School (San Francisco). The participants were Sister Helen Prejean (author of “Dead Man Walking”) and Academy Award Winning Actress Susan Sarandon.

It was especially thrilling for Harold Hoogasian to be there and have Ms. Sarandon wear a gardenia from Hoogasian Flowers. Mercy High Principal Dottie McCrea took the attached photo on Harold's phone. The moment before the shot, Harold addressed Ms. Sarandon as “Janet” (her character in Rocky Horror Picture Show). Her response was “positive”… that’s not a frown forming on her face, honest! More Photos from the event!

Harold Hoogasian Previews Macy's Flower Show

Harold Hoogasian previewed the Macy's Flower Show on Friday. The Preview was hosted by Macy's and San Francisco Travel (the new name for the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau... Harold is a board member!). The flowers were, of course, fabulous. The catering by Taste Catering was tremendous. More Pictures are available on our website. http://www.hoogasian.com/MacysFlowerShow.html