Parker recalled yesterday that when the flower shop opened, he and his father delivered a rose to every home in Longmeadow - about 4,000 roses in all, he said.
The company has since cemented its position as one of the "go-to" shops for fresh flowers and gifts in the area, Parker said.
To celebrate its anniversary, the shop will offer demonstrations by vendors, giveaways and product samplings through Dec. 24.
After the prom and graduation, Parker went off to college but continued to come home at holidays to help out at the flower shop.
In 1961, while he was still in college, he purchased the shop from his father using "sweat equity" and after graduating in 1962, came home to work at it for good, he said.
That store, at 473 Longmeadow St., was where Parker, three part-time employees and his late mother, Margaret T. Parker, built the company.
By 1985 Longmeadow Flowers had seven shops, in Springfield, Westfield, West Springfield, East Longmeadow and Longmeadow, he said.
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