TYLER, Texas — Mums the word this homecoming season.
Diane Reis made it her business to help area high schoolers carry on a Texas tradition born in the early 1900's.
As a first generation American, there’s more to this craft for her than flowers. This is her family’s business that bloomed into so much more.
"I grew up in a family that came to this country with $1,000 in their pocket and one trunk and started life from scratch," Reis said. "That was in 1965. From there it's like, when you work in a family business, it just becomes a part of who you are.”
Reis has two orders going right now. Since she isn’t taking any more orders this season, she passed the bouquet on to her friend Leslie Crawford.
They don’t view each other as competition instead they're partners.
"In my area of business and creative businesses anyways, I really believe that a rising tide lifts all boats," Reis said.
"This is my first year to have a business," Crawford said. "I'm having a blast.”
For her first year, she’s off to a strong start with 25 preorders.
For anyone looking into this for maybe the first time, Reis and Crawford said this process takes patience.
"It takes a good couple of hours," Reis noted. "It's a lot of ribbon, a lot of material, a lot of handwork and it's not fast work."