Smith’s Flower Shop, a Midland Tradition
The sun shines into Smith’s Flower and Gifts while the shop stays busy in Midland, Mich. on Nov. 19, 2021
Smith’s Flowers and Gifts has been a staple in Midland, Michigan since 1947 and is now currently under the operations of third and fourth generations. Erika Davidson (32), is Mark Smith’s step-daughter, who will eventually run the shop. She has been around the shop since the age of 12. Davidson talks with me about the joy of her job “You get to be in people's lives from their births, through all these milestones, people send flowers for birthdays, they get togethers, so we are at the heart of many tables. We’re just like tiny little accents on the most important moments in life and it’s an honor to serve people at those times.”
Ericka Davidson and Dylan Burhans answers phones on the morning of Nov. 11, 2021 at Smith’s Flower Shop in MIdland, Mich. on Nov. 19, 2021.
Erika Davidson works on making an unicorn flower arrangement for a patron at Smith’s Flower and Gifts, in Midland, Mich. on Nov. 19, 2021.
Smith’s Flower and Gifts offer the simple gesture of comfort and beauty with every arrangement, so much so that famous architect Alden B. Dow built the shop a custom building in 1955. “When Herbert Dow died, there was a plane crash and the Smith’s ended up getting a ton of family work from that and building a relationship with the Dow family,” Davidson tells me as she works “Alden then built this store with the Smith family.”
Mark Smith, owner of Smith’s Flower and Gifts, works on a casket blanket, for a viewing happening the afternoon at Smith’s Flower and Gifts, Midland, Mich. on Dec. 9, 2021.
Smith’s shop dog, Indi, lays on her bed and keeps watch as everyone works at Smith’s Flower Shop and Gifts in Midland, Mich. on Dec. 9, 2021.
Cherie Smith, Davidson’s mom, tells me as works on an arrangement how rewarding it is to be there for people during their times of grief. “The people that come in to get arrangements for funerals just lost a loved one. I had a lady the other day just break down while she was talking with me, and to be able to give that space and comfort is so important and it’s personally rewarding that I can offer that.”
Marc Letts loads the shops’s delivery van with the arrangements to be delivered to Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Directors in Midland, Mich. on Dec. 9, 2021.
Dylan Burhans, Cherie Smith, and Erik Davidson work on orders as they talk and get to know Maria Khan, who has only been working at the shop for a couple of days at Smith’s Flower and Gifts, in Midland, Mich. on Dec. 9, 2021.
Smith’s flower shop is located on Ashman street near the South Saginaw street intersection, know as “the circle” to Midlanders, in Midland Mich. on Dec. 9, 2021