Rancho Mirage Florist Turns Heads Of Celebrity Moms

John Ballow is a busy man these days as Mother’s Day approaches.

“When I was 30, I was on it!” he said, inside his floral business. “As I’ve gotten older, it’s like ‘Oh, my God, it’s 4:30 in the morning!'”

Ballow moved to the desert more than 30 years ago and eventually became the florist to several well-known mothers, such as former First Lady Betty Ford and Leonore Annenberg.

Ballow said Annenberg changed his life.

“Whenever she had some kind of big event, she called me,” he said.

It weren’t just women who received flowers on Mother’s Day, he said. Liberace’s best friend sent him a floral arrangement every year. She called him “Mr. Mom” because he took care of seven dogs.

If you’re sending your mom flowers, Ballow suggested that you order early and make sure it’s something your mother likes.

Unless you’re Elizabeth Taylor.

Taylor sent her mother Sara green hydrangeas and lavender roses. The late film star’s eyes were violet.

“When [Elizabeth] sent you something, she sent you something she would like. It wasn’t really about you,” he said. “It may not have fit your home, but she was paying.”

Ballow’s success almost didn’t happen. He initially wanted to became an artist, but a teacher gave him advice.

“Maybe the way you’re going to paint the world is in flowers, and in that process, you’ll make a lot of people happy,” he recalled.

Ballow believes florists in the desert won’t rip you off. They’ll provide you with the best flowers all the time.

He said flowers are “for the moment.” Whether they last a couple of days, or just 24 hours, mothers should appreciate them.

“If they get to you and they look fresh and beautiful, enjoy them and be happy in your heart that someone thought about you to send them,” he said.

Mother’s Day is on Sunday.