Simply Sheila

Opens the Door to Great Floral Design in Taos

January 18, 2010

I saw the sign first. The tones of green and violet drew my eye. “What’s happening by the old grocery store? European Flower Shop? What???� I wondered, probably aloud. I kept driving, on my way to meet my honey for lunch. On the way back home, I pulled in the parking lot along Dona Luz. I skirted ice patches to cross the street to the new store, pausing for a moment to admire the sunlight dancing on the snowflakes and crystal trees glistening in the shop’s window.

I opened the door and knew I’d been transported into another of Taos’ incredible dimensions. Time stood still for a moment as I took a deep breath, as if inhaling the scent of home-baked cookies for the first time. A bubbly, white-haired pixie stepped out with a smile that was immediately disarming. “Hi, I’m Sheila. Welcome!� I realized I was smiling too, in awe of the beautiful little treasure-trove of flowers and Sheila Ross’ good energy. Sheila is not competing with the other flower shops in town—her work fits into a niche all its own. There are no Carnations, Alstromeria or Baby’s Breath in her coolers. Rather, here you can find Orchids, Ginger, Spray Roses, Stars of Bethlehem, Hyancinths, Safari, Freesia … the sweetest and most beautiful flowers to bring beauty to any environment or make any girl swoon.

I slowly worked through the first little room, which was resplendent in frosty winter decoration, and went into the back area. Gorgeous planted orchids and decorations were so plentiful that it took five minutes just to move two feet as I tried to take in each vignette. I turned toward the flower cooler and spied perfectly arranged vases on the top shelf, marked either $10 or $20. I moved in closer to inspect them. Sheila came up behind me and giggled, telling me that each vase could be bought for the marked price and then brought back subsequent weeks and re-filled with each week’s special selection of flowers for half the cost of the original vase! I thought about all my friends in their offices and a couple friends scheduled for long stays in the hospital—all of whom might enjoy some flowers—and realized that, at $5 or $10 a week, Sheila was on to something really extraordinary. It’s not so hard to justify splurging on a little beauty for your desk or room when it’s that affordable! I knew I’d found a little slice of floral heaven and couldn’t wait to take a bunch of beautiful and sweet smelling flowers home.

Sheila Ross’ story is not so different than anyone who has found themselves remade in Taos. She grew up in Albuquerque and her family had a cabin in Valle Escondido when she was growing up. Her mom and stepdad decided to retire at Plaza de Retiro in 2005 and Sheila came back to Taos this past April. Her stepdad, a retired Air Force Colonel, had been diagnosed with cancer, and Sheila decided to come offer some support. However, he was faring well in his chemo treatment—to him, fighting cancer is nothing compared to being shot down in WWII—so Sheila wasn’t needed around the clock. She had made herself a comfortable home but didn’t have much else to occupy herself with. So, what to do? In Casper, Wyoming, her long-time home before Taos, Sheila had operated a large European floral shop. It was only natural to share her eye and skills for unique floral design with Taos. As she drove past the little shop with the “For Rent� sign in the historic district just west of the plaza, she wondered if “that place� could be “her place.� In August, she relented and contacted the new owners about the lease terms. By October, she was opening boxes of fresh and silk florals and starting to dream her seasonal wonderland into being. By November, the doors were open and her new customers were discovering a beautiful store, which was joined quickly by several other new funky and cool stores in the now fully-rented shops on Dona Luz. The street is so alive and rich now that one cannot help but wish the lane would be magically transported a block east so the plaza could be as alive, lovely and imaginative.

Simply Sheila was alive and well in Taos just weeks after opening. Sheila’s engaging personality and great design skills ensure that this is just the beginning of what she’ll be offering to our little oasis. I personally can’t wait ’til the next visit, to see what she has in store for Valentine’s Day. I know I’ll leave with a handful of beautiful things to make my home look and smell like heaven.

Simply Sheila is located at 108 A Dona Luz, Guadalupe Plaza, 575-737-0773.