Get to Know the Owner, Mr. Alkana

Roger - February 2022

My Mission

I am on a mission to change the way people think about flowers. In today’s world, there are so many complexities, and we are facing inflation. I want to change people’s view that it is important to take it easy and enjoy life with flowers. I aimed to make it so that every person at my website can find that perfect bouquet of flowers at a cost that won’t break the bank.  

My Vision

To help people realize that sharing and having flowers is vital and is one of the key ingredients for being happy, joyful and fulfilled with life. 

My Life Testimonial

My journey with flowers and business began in the early 70’s, growing up in a family deeply rooted in the floral industry. My parents and grandparents on my father’s side were florists, and it was no surprise that I developed the same passion for flowers that they had. My father took over his first flower shop from his parents, and later, he and my mother opened a second store in Palos Verdes, California. While we eventually sold the second shop due to the challenges of managing it from a distance, my love for flowers never faded. 

As life unfolded, I pursued a second passion—technology. In 1981, I enrolled at DeVry Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, to study computer science, earning a bachelor’s degree in the field with a minor in business. DeVry offered an excellent education, equipping me with valuable skills that would shape my future, though I soon realized my heart remained in the floral world. After graduation, I returned to California, where my parents and I sought another opportunity in the flower business, ultimately opening a shop in Thousand Oaks. Unfortunately, I faced mental health challenges that made managing the store difficult, but I never gave up on my dreams even though at the time we sold this business.

Today, I live with mental illness, but I manage it with medication, and it no longer controls my life. I’ve learned that no matter the circumstances, perseverance is key. As inflation and world events challenge us all, I remain committed to offering the best floral arrangements at the lowest possible prices—doing my part to create beauty in a world that can sometimes feel upside down. 

I also took the opportunity to combine my love of technology and creativity by designing a website.  I poured my heart into it, and I invite you to visit and see the love that went into every detail. It’s more than just a website—it’s a testament to my journey, my passion for flowers, and my dedication to creating something beautiful for others to see. When you have a chance, I invite you to see the website.  The website address is FlowersbyMotherNature.com.

Through it all, I’ve been incredibly blessed with a loving family and a strong spiritual foundation. As a born-again Christian with Sephardic Jewish roots, I find strength and joy in my faith, and I dedicate this website to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It brings me much joy to say that I am a Mormon by religion.  I know that through faith, perseverance, and love, anything is possible. 

I also learned through the years, that one can over extend doing a good thing.  For example, our bodies need nourishment in order to survive, but too much food can make you fat and sick.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but too much of anything except worshiping our Lord and Savior is generally not a good thing to do.  Another example, is too much work in the office is not good.  If you spent too much time in the office, you neglect other aspects of your life.  For example taking the time off to be with your family.  Unfortunately, for me my blood brother is an example of this.  Not only it’s not good for him he has inadvertently affected his love ones.

 I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my story and my work with you. No matter where you are in life, I encourage you to keep going. Like Judge Judy says, “If you didn’t make it in your 20s, try again in your 30s…40s…50s, and so forth.” Life is a journey, and there’s always another chance to try, create, and succeed. 

I hope you enjoy my website, and the love that I’ve put into it. 

P.S. – It is very expensive to startup a floral store not to mention all the work that has to be done before and after acquiring it.  It’s not enough for me to have the desire and talent needed.  One needs a good amount of capital, in which I do not have.  For those reasons, I don’t see myself entering into this beautiful field again.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not giving up on my dreams.  My dreams are just on hold for the time being.  As it stands now, Flowers by Mother Nature is a fictitious business.  The business does not exist.

This website just shows a small taste of my talents and my abilities.  Through the grace of G-d, I feel confident that my dreams has a good chance to become reality again.  My faith is to the Lord and I believe the Lord has taken care of me pretty well so far.  As of this writing, I am 62 years old and feel highly blessed.  I am still pretty young so whatever the Lord has in store for me, I’m sure it was meant to be.  I believe in no coincidences.

To end this journal and life testimony, I end with a quote from Hillary Clinton.  “We are all in this together.  And together we can accomplish great things”.  I say all these things in the name of Jesus Christ.

Forever Amen.