Blooming in Dallas

Find super-chic arrangements, handbags, and jewelry at Cymbidium.

Sometimes a new store opens, and people can't stop talking about it. Such is the case with Dallas's Cymbidium located in Mockingbird Station.

This utterly hip flower shop, named after the orchid that the owners' grandmother always wore on Sunday, feels like a modern art gallery. It boasts a glass mezzanine and shiny white floors. Sheer white fabrics drape the walls, and clear acrylic tables hold the merchandise. This clean, modern space provides the ultimate backdrop for explosions of colorful blooms.

"We link fashion and flowers," says Robyn Wise, who owns Cymbidium (sim-BID-eeum) with her sister, Rachael. "We try to set the trends."

With a store theme that evolves every few weeks, Robyn and Rachael keep things fresh in what they call "an experience, not just flowers." Displays reflect the season and holidays but always maintain the store's style. In celebration of the Fourth of July, you might find summer succulent plants and a patriotic color scheme with a twist. Last Christmas, the trees were painted black, and the place was decked in different shades of green, from forest to shocking lime.

Don't expect to come across common floral designs either. Anticipate the sight of Vanda orchids and Cherry Brandy roses tightly packed in a clear vase, wired roses climbing 3 feet tall, and, of course, cymbidium orchids immersed in water. You can even order a flower arrangement packed in a cellophane bag filled with water.

In addition to the signature arrangements in distinctive packaging for which the store is famous, you'll also find colorful glass plates and bowls, jewelry, fashionable handbags, and bath products. They've even launched a new line of candles with five scents that carry the Cymbidium name.

-JENNIFER MCKENZIE FRAZIER

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jul 2006
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