I was born in Payette, Idaho on January 17th, 1940, in “Mrs. Blachad’s Nursing Home”, a place for expectant mothers. I am the son of Irene Thornton Carpenter and Robert “Bob” Carpenter, who were married on May 1, 1937. Dad said the day I was born “It was colder than hell and a foot of snow was on the ground.”
My first year on earth was in Fruitland where Dad was the foreman at the Reedy Fruit Ranch, where he earned a dollar a day. The following year, 1942, marked my introduction to flowers when Mom and Dad moved the family to Payette to work at Genoway’s Payette Greenhouse, owned by my mom’s sister Mildred and her husband Sam (“Uncle Sam”). It was wartime, and I spent a lot of time there.
In 1951-52, we headed to Emmett so Dad could take a job at the Idaho State Agriculture Department, and I finished the eighth grade at the “Brick” school on the Emmett bench. I began my freshmen year at Emmett High in 1953, only to be diagnosed with polio by December. What followed was 3-4 months at the Elks Rehabilitation Hospital in Boise, and I eventually returned to school and began to work part-time for the Clements Brothers’ Shamrock Market on Emmett Bench, graduating in 1958.
I then headed to Boise Junior College, and in the fall of 1959, thanks to my mom’s other sister, Aunt Dody Edwards, Blanche Richards of Johnson Floral offered me a job. My first day was October 1st, and on the 4th I headed to my first florist convention and was officially “hooked” for life!
In the 1960’s Boise was growing and so was Johnson Floral. It was early December that I met my wife-to-be, Karola Hardiek, who entered the store along with some ladies to order flowers to be sent to Germany. She said nary a word, yet after they left I told my workmates “Did you see that girl in the red fuzzy coat and French Twist hairdo? I’m going to marry her!”.
In 1963 I attended the Idaho State Florist Convention in Sun Valley as I was honored to be asked to be a designer in the panel. It started me on the path of being invited to be a guest designer at state conventions and wholesale shows in the Western states as well as Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado and Flower Canada!
In 1964 Karola and I married and in 1965 we bought a home in Boise’s North End. In 1969, we adopted our daughter Marika and I was also elected president of Idaho State Florists. This was followed by adopting our daughter Majka, doing more design shows, and being named Idaho Director for the Northwest Florists Association in the 1970’s. I recall 1976 was especially busy as I was asked to be General Chairman of the Spirit of ’76 Northwest Florist Convention in Sun Valley.
In the late 1980’s my accountant and good friend Carl Veigel told me “Carpenter, you are a great florist, but a piss poor businessman!” I couldn’t argue, and thus began my association with Edward’s Greenhouse!
All through my career my clients have become friends, and dear friends! I have been blessed by many happenings, from governor inaugurals to weddings near and far, special births, and, sadly of course, deaths too.
I know the many weddings here in Boise as well as in McCall, Sun Valley, San Diego, Bainbridge Island and Chicago will always be remembered by someone, which makes me smile.
Karola and I worked together for many of those years…and I always said I was the boss at work, and she was the boss at home. We were blessed to have employees who have become like family, and when one hears the word “family” you know there is a story.
It really has been a storybook life with lots and lots of laughs and many tears. My family, extended family and dear friends have been a “rock” throughout my life. I recall a fellow florist recently passing away and I made the comment “I’m the oldest dog in the park.” It’s been a beautiful park, and the walk has been so memorable.
I am survived by Marika and her daughter Reese lily, Majka and her husband Jimmy Workland (heroes), sister Judy Taylor and husband Keith, nieces and nephews, special cousins and their dear ones, and of course my many workmates over the years. No words can express my love adequately enough!
I’m going to join Karola, who left us on June 19, of 2022. We would have been married 58 years last October. I thank you all for your love and support throughout my life. You know me and know me well, and I love you all so much!
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, September 17, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Edwards Greenhouse. Condolences may be left for the family at www.bowmanfuneral.com