A Family Company

Back in the 1920's Lillian Crowl was the first to start the long line of floral companies in the Webster family. 'Aunt Lil' started "Crowl Fern Co." and built it from the bottom up. She would travel alone via rail to New York City and Washington D.C. from her small town of Millington, Massachusetts to book orders and meet her clients. Crowl Fern Co. was the official city florist for NYC's street Christmas decorations, supplying wreaths around the streetlights, and festooning over the streets. During the Great Depression she supported many people - hiring them to venture out in the early mornings into the forest to pick the best ferns. She would then ship the fresh ferns via railway express to their destination.

Lil's brother's young grandson, Roger Webster, worked for her as a teenager and then went on to start a fresh flower company, Flowers By Webster, in Westfield, Ma. The original company is still in operation, under new owners are selling fresh flowers and arrangements for weddings and holidays.

Their son Michael,  worked for 30 years in China, developing floral products. Do you remember Poineer Wildflowers? Today, his company, Naturals by Webster is a leader in the field of creating silk,dried and wildflower wreaths.