Come for the Flowers, Leave with Lunch: 20 Years of Crazy Daisies
Twenty Years in the Heart of Syracuse
From rows of beautiful flowers, fun cocktails, and a delicious menu, Crazy Daisies Flowers and The Garden Café has it all.
For the last 20 years, family-owned Crazy Daisies has been a staple in Syracuse, New York.
Jennifer and Glenn Cox, the founders, say running this greenhouse is not just a job, but family memories, relationships, and just simply a part of their everyday lives.
“Crazy Daisies has grown alongside our family. Twenty years later, it’s so much more than a business; it’s truly part of who we are,” Head Chef Gwendolyn Cox said.
As soon as you walk into the café, you are greeted by the family, and it truly feels community centered.
“This community is the reason we’re still here. Their support has carried us through 20 years,” Jennifer said.
From Greenhouse to Garden Café
What started as a greenhouse eventually expanded to the garden center, then the Garden Café. The family felt it was time to share their love of eating, drinking, shopping, and living locally in New York.
“Crazy Daisies has always evolved with our customers. We’ve followed new ideas and opportunities while staying true to our roots,” Greenhouse Manager Henry Cox said.
A Seat at the Table
As a digital intern for the Central New York Women's Network I had the opportunity to visit Crazy Daisies Flowers and the Garden Cafe. Let me tell you, I will be going back.
Before I sat down, I wandered the greenhouse rows of flowers. Two decades in, Crazy Daisies still feels less like a business than an invitation. You come for flowers and leave with lunch or come for lunch and leave with a hanging basket you hadn't planned on.
It's the kind of place where you slow down without meaning to, and by the time I made it to a table, I'd nearly forgotten I came to eat.
They did not miss. The food was fresh and made with love.
The charcuterie board had a variety of vegetables, cheeses, crackers, and meats, with local honey. Perfect to share with the table.
To drink, I ordered raspberry tea. Bright, not too sweet, and exactly right for the refreshing drink I needed after walking through the flowers.
I even got to try the Chicken Salad Sandwich, which is patisserie stretch bread, house-roasted chicken, red onion, celery, dijonnaise dressing, with chips and a pickle.
It was delicious and perfect for a midday lunch. You could taste the fresh quality of all the ingredients.
Partway through the meal, I talked to several family members who stopped by to ask how everything was, not the scripted version of that question, but the kind you get at a friend's kitchen table. That, more than anything on the plate, explained the 20 years to me.
If Crazy Daisies isn’t already on your list of local favorites, it’s worth a visit. You’ll quickly see why it’s been a Syracuse staple for the past 20 years.
Crazy Daisies Flowers and The Garden Café is located at 4693 Kasson Rd in Syracuse, N.Y.
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