Flowers are usually perceived as delicate creatures and flower shops as a romantic endeavor. Few people know the hard work involved in this business. One of them is , the proud owner of "Flower Power", in Cairo. "It's not an easy industry at all," explains Taher, "the deadlines, clients, import procedures are all basic aspects of our day-to-day work." Taher has always had a horticultural streak running through her, "My father had a farm, I guess that's when I first fell in love with plants." It wasn't until the late 1970s, however, that Taher got her first taste of the flower business. "My brother and his wife opened the first Flower Power shop and asked me to help." Taher would go for a couple of hours everyday while her children were at school. "It became a part of me. I'd look forward to the time I go to the shop. It energized me." By the beginning of the 1980s, her brother decided that the shop was more of a hassle to him and told Taher that she could either have it or he'd close it down. "I couldn't let it go," she remembers fondly. "Oh, the mistakes I made when I was first in business," she laughs. That's why she united with her current business partner who also happens to be her best friend, "she has a great business sense." Flower Power became known first for its uniqueness by word of mouth. "We'd take on some weddings and so people started telling each other about our shop." Now, the once little shop provides flower arrangements, that change weekly, to luxury hotels from Cairo to Sharm El-Sheikh. Taher would sometimes pay a visit to one of these hotels at 4 a.m. to make sure that the various flower displays are "simply perfect". "There are guests who stay at these hotels solely for the flower arrangements." Entering the offices of Flower Power, one notices almost immediately that the place is filled with women. So does Taher only work with women? "No," she laughs, "it's just a coincidence. I promise. We have men working with us too." She refuses to label the flower business as a woman's profession. "I know many men who are successful at the trade." Working with flowers is an uplifting experience and Taher is gracefully optimistic. She believes that Egypt is bound for progress with all the young talents she sees in her line of work. There is not anyone more familiar with the healing power of a flower than Taher who summarizes the flower power in a simple sentence, "have you ever given someone flowers and he didn't smile? I doubt it."
