Hidden on Ladnier Road in Gautier, sits a gift shop, bakery and florist with unique gift ideas for everyone in the family, bakery cases full of homemade goods, and a florist to fit any of your flower needs. The Flower Patch has existed in Gautier in some fashion since the 1970s.
It began as a florist, and then expanded into gifts and the bakery along the way. Owner and self-described jack of all trades, Melinda Read, says that they have gifts from all over the world and that their goal is to have gift items that you can’t find just anywhere. “When you give a gift, you don’t want to see it everywhere, so we try to carry unique things,” she said. Specifically, one of the unique things The Flower Patch can do is save flowers from a special occasion, such as a prom, wedding, funeral, etc., and turn them into jewelry. Read said that people used to press flowers or hang them to save them, but her shop can turn them into necklaces, bracelets, rings, key chains, rosaries, and men’s tie tags. They have stuff for people of all interests and all ages. They carry collegiate items for local colleges as well as SEC favorites – Ole Miss, Mississippi State, LSU, Alabama, etc. They carry Precious Moments and other collectibles as well as merchandise for lovers of Gone with the Wind, Marilyn Monroe and so on. They also have a full line of Tyler Candles.
Within The Flower Patch, Sweet Tooth Bakery has traditional, daily baked goods, including pastries and brownies, as well as made-to-order items such as wedding cakes, birthday cakes, and so on. They also have cinnamon rolls every Friday morning that tend to sell out very quickly. Pans of these can also be ordered on other days. The bakery also has fresh king cakes for the Mardi Gras season – made to your size specifications and filling preferences. Event cakes are available in any size, and Read said that all pre-ordered items are made fresh. “I like to make what you want when you need it so it’s fresh for your party,” she said. The Flower Patch originally started as a florist, and that is still a large part of what they do.
They provide flowers for funerals and caskets, weddings and Valentine’s Day, and so on. When it comes to the many weddings they provide flowers for, Read said times have changed and some people now prefer to do their own thing, but they are available to help “as little or as much” as a client needs. Read said that Gautier is a great location for their shop because they’re located in the center of Jackson County and are easily accessible to all the surrounding cities. She said they have many loyal customers but they are always looking for new business – and Read is confident you can find what you need in her shop without having to look in other places. “I don’t think there’s any other store that offers all the gifts, the floral, the bakery, the candy, the gourmet baskets that we do, and we’re personable,” she said. “We treat you the way you want to be treated, and whatever price range you want to spend, we work with you. You don’t know what you’re missing until you come in.”
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, Read reminds everyone to go ahead and get their orders in and not wait until the last minute because items, including flowers, can sell out quickly.
The Flower Patch and Sweet Tooth Bakery are open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. Visit their website for an example of available items.