NORWICH – Pires Flower Basket celebrates its 50th anniversary and kicks off the holiday season with the opening of its eighth annual Winter Wonderland display this week.

Originally located on what is now known as the Country Club Road, County Road 44, Pires was acquired in 1987 by current owner Rick Williams, who’s been in the floral business for 25 years.

Since then, the local florist shop has seen steady growth, primarily due to the fact that he “gets bored easily,” laughed Williams.

Now sporting 10 greenhouses – there were none when he first took over – Williams said the approximately 9,000 square feet he’s added to the business over the years have made Pires the largest greenhouse in Chenango County.