It all started with a dream...doesn't every good story start out this way? After spending more than 25 years in corporate PR, Kara Acri decided it was time to switch gears and focus more on what brings her joy every day -- making people smile with her gorgeous floral bouquets. Inspired by her love of the Grateful Dead and the carnival-like atmosphere of "Shakedown Street," Kara set to work on desi
gning a modern flower-buying experience that is both whimsical and fun. Hearkening back to her own memories of shopping for assorted oddities and sundries out of the back of old pick-up trucks and VW vans at flea markets, festivals and numerous Dead shows, Kara suddenly realized how she could make her flower shop a reality. We think it's more like finding that little bit of gumption to follow your heart. And so, over the span of a few short months in early 2020, Scarlet Begonia's Flower Truck just kind of "popped up." Spurred on by the love and encouragement of her family and friends, Kara sold the farm (not really), bought an old "Brigade Blue" 1959 4-speed Chevrolet 3100 Apache pick-up truck (yes, really), and dove head first into the deep end of the watering can (well, sort of). And just like that, we became Northern Kentucky's first pop-up flower truck. Scarlet's local popularity blossomed quickly and in September 2021, we added a second truck -- a 1948 patina rust Chevrolet 3100 rat rod we fondly call "Maggie" -- to our fleet. In designing her arrangements, Kara makes a point of supporting other home-grown and women-owned businesses, and sources many of her flowers and greenery from local growers in and around the Northern Kentucky and Greater-Cincinnati area. Look for Scarlet Begonia's Flower Truck to "pop up" whenever Kara feels like it...mainly in collaboration with local businesses, and at various festivals and special events around the Tri-State area throughout the spring, summer and fall seasons. Her Chesapeake Bay Retrievers -- Cooper, River and Ovi -- might even be along for the ride in the front seat from time-to-time. We promise you'll never find the same bouquet twice, and you'll always have a groovy experience -- whether you're picking out your own flowers, or selecting one of Kara's unique arrangements. Just look for the cool old blue truck, and the green-eyed girl in the tie-dye t-shirt and overalls.
