Black-Eyed Susan's Florist is very pleased to announce the celebration of another milestone anniversary. "We are going into our 20th year of business!" says owner Susan Lockner, "I can't believe how quickly the time has gone by!"

Black-eyed Susan's Florist keeps evolving. The shop started out in a strip mall and had to move only 1/4 mile in 2002 to their present ("and permanent") location: Route 9 at Seneca Blvd., in Lakeside Square on the border of Barnegat and Waretown. "We have always had the best of both worlds and Black-Eyed Susan's Florist has supported more than both those communities for these past 19 years", says Lockner. There are tons of certificates and thank you notes placed for all to read, thanking Black-Eyed Susan's (BES) for donations to Ocean County organization like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Providence House Domestic Violence Services; veteran's organizations such as the American Legion and VFW Post; the Barnegat, Waretown and Manahawkin school systems, the churches in our area including St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Barnegat Bay Assembly of God, Barnegat Methodist Church and Bayside Chapel; Pheasant Run, Four Seasons at Mirage, Heritage Bay, Heritage Point and Greenbriar/Oceanaire home owners associations and hundreds of fund raisers over the years. DowntownBarnegat.com remembers Black-Eyed Susan's generosity and support for Barnegat's Town Clock project back in 2003. Also on the walls are also thank you notes from brides and little communicants from people who received everyday flowers who took time out of their busy days to send a note.

"We are extremely grateful to be able to work, shop and raise our families in this area," says shop's manager, Carol Speller, "Susan has never hesitated to give back where ever she can! All of us who work at BES are very proud to know her and work for the company."

Ms. Lockner explains their deep connection to Barnegat and the community by saying "We're part of the roots of Barnegat. We opened before Barnegat Blvd. was extended from West Bay Ave...and the new Barnegat interchange on the Parkway was even a thought...and well before Barnegat HS, Horbelt & Donahue schools were built. In fact we sure felt like we are 'getting up there' when Barnegat HS had their 1st graduation this year! It doesn't seem that long ago we were delivering new baby arrangements to the parents of those graduates when they were born!"

Things surely have changed over these past 20 years, but according to Lockner, one thing has stayed constant ...the people who live here in Ocean County... "We couldn't ask for better neighbors, friends and customers. It's an indescribable feeling to be part of the roots of an area...we sincerely thank everyone in Barnegat for allowing us that priviledge."

Stop in or call the shop and speak to any of the BES girls: Susan, Carol, Carol R., Josie or Marilyn...or say hi to Karen or Mary when you see them delivering. Black-Eyed Susan's Florist personally and professionally delivers roses, flower arrangements for holiday and all occasions, fruit and gourmet baskets, balloons, cards and gifts from Toms River to Tuckerton and Long Beach Island daily. Or you may send flowers to anywhere in the world by simply making a phone call to the shop at 609-698-3100.

Black-Eyed Susan's Florist is located 1/4 mile north of the A&P in Barnegat on Route 9 at Seneca Blvd., in Lakeside Square, Barnegat, NJ 08005 (on the Waretown border). Phone: 609-698-3100. Visit their website at www.blackeyedsusansflorist.net