A typically slow time of year has been anything but for florists in Kennett Square, as the latest chapter in the medical odyssey of Kentucky Derby champion Barbaro plays out.

There has been little rest for employees, as orders for flowers, carrots, apples and peppermints are sent to the horse at the University of Pennsylvania’s nearby New Bolton Center.

“This is a slower time of the year for us. Wedding season is tapering off, and we have parties here and there, but then suddenly, wow,” said Brian Barber, owner of Barber’s Florist & Gifts. To order carrots, he said, “is an interesting thing. The first couple of times, we ran to the grocery stores, but then we decided to go ahead and buy a case of carrots.”

Barber said he had received from 12 to 15 orders per day when Barbaro was taken to the New Bolton veterinary center after he broke his right hind leg at the Preakness Stakes in May. Orders have nearly doubled as news of Barbaro’s worsening condition emerged this week.

Gail Luciani, a Penn spokeswoman, said Barbaro was allowed to eat some of the food that was delivered to him, and that leftovers were shared with other animals at George D. Widener Hospital.

“Barbaro is very grateful, loves the carrots, mints and sugar,” Luciani said. “We certainly appreciate everything people are doing and that Barbaro is in everyone’s wishes.”

Alie Berstler, owner of Kennett Florist, said she was delivering $25 fruit gift baskets and $180 floral arrangements. In addition to deliveries for Barbaro, she said, customers have had flowers and chocolates sent to his doctors and to Roy and Gretchen Jackson, his owners.

She said she had 10 employees working, half of what she has during the winter holidays but still more than the seven she typically has over the summer.

“In the last couple of days, we have been very busy,” she said, adding that after 20 Barbaro-related deliveries, she still had 14 more to go yesterday. “We are getting a lot of orders for horse baskets, which consist of humongous-size carrots, Bartlett pears, ginger snaps, and sugar cubes and peppermints for him.”

source: www.philly.com