US (IN): Still 'growing strong' after 120 years
It’s no wonder, since the family has been in the flower business spanning three centuries and, now, five generations.
But it wasn’t always that way.
They started out as tobacco farmers in Vevay, said Jim Cossairt, a fourth-generation member of the family, who runs the local greenhouse and flower business, Cossairt Florist LLC.
After moving from Vevay in far southeastern Indiana to Shelbyville in the 1890s, his great-grandparents stayed in the farming business, at least initially.
“I think they started out doing vegetables,” Jim said.
Then his great-grandmother began selling geraniums, and they were so popular eventually the family switched to flowers and never looked back.
However, flowers are seasonal so in the 1890s the Cossairts built a greenhouse to grow them year-round. The greenhouse is still located in the same place, at 139 W. Boggstown Road.
Eventually the flower business grew to the point they needed an extra location.
Read more at The Shelbyville News (John Walker)