AMERICUS — Jane McCurley stands behind an island desk at Dill’s Florist on East Forsyth Street. She removes a yellow rose, and other flowers, holds them up and scans them. Carefully, she shapes the flowers, snipping at their green stems before once again holding them up for inspection. McCurley then produces a clear piece of plastic, decorated with a yellow design along with a two strands of gold and white ribbon. Carefully she folds the plastic and flowers together, getting that “just right” desirable shape, before joining the two with the ribbon. She holds up the flowers once more for inspection and smiles as she hands her creation over to the customer.

It is with a true love for her craft and a keen eye that has kept McCurley as a floral designer for the past 15 years at Dill’s Florist. The job is her true passion, and it shows through the bouquet designs and window displays that she puts together.

“I started working here part-time on Valentine’s Day,” said McCurley, “and I have been here ever since.” With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, McCurley said she is preparing the best she can. “Valentines is our busiest day of the year,” said McCurley. “Christmas and Mothers’ Day you have a couple of days to get ready, but with Valentine’s it all falls on one day.”

McCurley was born and raised in Atlanta, and lived there until 1972, when she and her husband packed up and moved to Americus. “I didn’t work when my kids were growing up, but whenever they got into junior high I decided that I can go back to work,” said McCurley. “When we moved here I worked with my husband for 10 years as a bookkeeper. Eventually he sold the business and I got back into being a floral designer.”

McCurley said that one of her favorite parts of the job is the atmosphere. “We have a really good working relationship here; everybody is family here. Plus I am surrounded by beautiful things every day, and have a chance to do artistically whatever I want to make and do.”

Even though the flower designer world could be looked on as a stress-free job, McCurley says that sometimes it can become hectic. “Sometimes people think that working with flowers is a nice, peaceful thing, and it can be, but we have deadlines every day so you have to be able to get it done, and make it look different.”

When McCurley is not busy designing floral arrangements and window displays, she is designing meals for family and friends. “I do enjoy cooking,” McCurley said with a smile. “I like fixing for parties, and cooking for a crowd.”

McCurley said that in the summertime she loves to go to the lake and enjoy all the things that it has to offer.