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New gift shop opens Sunday in Renovo

KEVIN RAUCH/THE EXPRESS Claudia Botsford stands inside Pushing Posies Gift Shoppe, a new undertaking that she and her husband Donnie have undertaken on 12th Street in Renovo. The couple will be holding the shoppe’s grand opening is tomorrow.

By KEVIN RAUCH

krauch@lockhaven.com

RENOVO — When Claudia Botsford was a young girl growing up in the Jersey Shore area, her dad would often ask if she’d like to join him at work for the day.

“Going to push posies today, want to come?” he would ask.

Many occasions found a young Claudia joining her dad on the route, forging strong bonds with both her father and her love of flowers.

Decades later Claudia and her husband Donnie found themselves in her husband’s hometown of Renovo, moving into his family’s old house on 12th Street as they both are nearing retirement.

One Sunday afternoon the Botsfords were heading to the Bucktail Medical Center to visit a family member, wanting to bring some flowers as a gift. Donnie left, only to return 45 minutes later, empty handed. It was then that they realized there was no place in town to get fresh flowers.

Once again, it was time for Claudia to “push the posies.”

“I’ve always enjoyed creating fresh flower arrangements and I honestly feel that the people in the area should have the option, so we decided to open up a flower shop” she explains.

“Pushing Posies Gift Shoppe LLC” was soon in the works, right out of the Botsford’ s back yard on 12th Street. The shop will be holding its grand opening Sunday Sept.16, from 1 to 4 p.m. with light refreshments and door prizes.

Claudia’s love of flowers is of course at the forefront of their venture. Fresh flowers, bouquets, center piece arrangements, flowered mugs, indoor plants and artificial flowers will of course be the stores focal point. Still, Botsford said that offering a unique experience to the community is also a large factor of Pushing Posies.

Local artisans, with an emphasis on local will be able to offer their wares at the new shop. Claudia has already tapped the talents of Dawn Tripp’s crocheting, Deb Saltsman’s wreath making and Tom Kerstetter’s pottery to be on display and for sale. Other Renovo area artisans are more than welcome to stop by and consider selling their artwork.

“We want to give visitors a chance to buy local souvenirs, I believe that if people have something from Renovo, even better if it has the word Renovo on it, that they will keep their memories of their time spent here longer. Maybe it will even keep those memories so fresh in their minds that they stop back” she offered.

The Botsfords found this weekend’s Flaming Foliage kick-off at the Sons of Italy the perfect time for a grand opening, as they too hope to provide a service to the local people as well as visitors. It’s been a long awaited weekend for the couple.

“I’m so excited, I’ve definitely had a case of the nervous jitters,” Claudia laughed. “We have loved the move back to Renovo … hunting, fishing, motorcycle rides around the damn, and hopefully we can add a little bit to the area,” she explained.

Pushing Daisies Gift Shoppe will be opened seven days a week, Monday through Friday from 1 to 5:30 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

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