Posted by Rick Canale on Wed, May 16, 2012
Having been a Boston florist for more than seventy five years, Exotic Flowers has seen our share of mistakes and mishaps. We have made some errors along the way and have witnessed some of the best ecuadorian roses wilt without explanation. As a top florist in Boston, we have a responsibility to our clients. If things go wrong, we make them right. When people buy flowers, they are often sending their emotions.
At Exotic Flowers in Boston, we send thousands of our orders around the world. We have a great list of florists who we send flowers to for our clients. These florists practice the same customer service skills as Exotic Flowers and send similar outstanding flowers arrangements as well. These florists like Exotic Flowers are in high demand and sell out fast. Sometimes like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day we use other flower shops to get your last minute orders out. Sometimes these shops mess up.
For example, we recently used a flower shop in Lithonia, Georgia. We were assured by the owner Victoria that our delivery was in good hands. Guess what ? Victoria messed up and lost the order and the delivery did not get made. Everyone makes mistakes, but owning up to them is key to making things right. Victoria was truly sorry, but had no clue how to make things right. Victoria should have offered a new arrangement at no charge. Alas she did not. At Exotic Flowers, we stepped up; refunded the customer, paid for the price of replacement and sent the sender a box of Godiva of chocolates. It was not in the name of saving the customer, but in the name of doing the right thing.
The sender even kindly sent this note us: "Thank you for your courtesy. My mother was really pleased to receive her flowers. They are beautiful.
You are very much appreciated. And you have our continued support.
Regards
Elizabeth"
Sometimes our staff may be rushed and under stress and may be referred to as The Surly Florists in Boston. Everything we do at Exotic Flowers is about doing what is right. We are a member of the community.
Posted by Rick Canale on Thu, May 10, 2012
This Mother's Day the FTD Mercury Man has hit the streets to share the joy of receiving flowers and to remind Bostonians that nothing beats the power of receiving fresh flowers from your local Boston florist.
We have heard some interesting feedback regarding the Mercury Man's costumer and choice of being unshaven. Here are some of the comments from clients.
"If Mercury was a god then why doesn't he shave ?"
" Why a padded muscle suit ? "
" Kind of creepy having a guy in a giant banana hammock giving out flowers in the park."
Check out the commercial and let us know your thoughts.
Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, May 07, 2012
Mother's Day is loaded with traditions. Many children, spouses and friends enjoy lavishing their moms with flowers, greeting cards and breakfast in bed. Mother's Day sees a huge surge in phone calls as well as greeting cards being sent. At Exotic Flowers in Boston, Mother's Day is our busiest week of the year. Second only to Valentine's Day as our busiest day, Mother's Day in Boston has our phones ringing off the hook.
Along with flower deliveries, we get many request for the tradition of wearing a carnation on Mother's Day. Tradition dictates that you wear or carry a white carnation if your mother is deceased and if your mother is alive then you wear a red or colorful carnation. Many churches in the Boston area will give out red and white carnations to their congregations on this day. Other Boston churches will also honor all living mothers with a corsage to wear on that day. Of course no one wore a better red carnation than Frank Sinatra and Marlon Brando in Guys 'n Dolls. 
Another popular Boston tradition for Mother's Day has been Lilac Sunday at Arnold Arboretum. This fragrant purple event brings in visitors from all over New England. Weather permitting, this is a must see event and if you're visiting the Arboretum, why not stop at Exotic Flowers flagship florist and garden center at 609 American Legion Highway in Roslindale ?
Even Major League Baseball shows its respect for Mother's Day with its pink bats, cleats, wrist bands and base jewels. 
They have been using these bats since 2006 and then they auction them off with proceeds benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Organization.
So whether you send flowers, make dinner, go to a ball game make sure to take care of every mom in your life. It's the least you can do. Thank her.
Posted by Rick Canale on Fri, May 04, 2012
Mother's Day in Boston is our biggest holiday week of the year. Flowers for your mom, mother of your children or someone who is like a mom are the best choice. Need some ideas for card messages ? As a member of the Society of American Florists, we are here to assist with some top card messages for Mother's Day.
"Thanks for always helping me remember what's important in life... and today, it's you!"- "If there were a day for everything you have given to me as a mother, it would be Mother's Day every day."
- " There's never been a minute I wasn't glad you were my Mom. "
" Thank you for the gift of life! "- " Thanks for giving me the best things in life: your time, your care, and your love. Happy Mother's Day !"
- " I got all my good qualities from you. Isn't it lucky you had more than enough for both of us ?"
Posted by Rick Canale on Wed, May 02, 2012
May in New England brings our garden’s first treats,
With blooms bursting straight through the chilled earth,
Exciting our green thumbs for plantings to come,
Mother Nature’s Spring hint of rebirth.
As the lilacs arrive in their great dripping splendor,
The bulbed tulips stand high in salute,
Hyacinth erupts with the sweetest of scents,
While the daffodils join in hot pursuit.
If the weather holds up and the air is just right,
We might see stems of bleeding hearts,
Mixed in with the lily of valley’s white bells,
A scene fit for the Museum of Fine Arts.
But if low and behold, all our gardens bloom bare,
And we find ourselves heavily in need,
A visit to Sonny and Maries flower shop,
Will solve all Mother’s Day requests indeed!
- Suzie Canale
Suzie is not only the resident author at Exotic Flowers in Boston, but she is also now our poet in residence. You can learn more about Suzie on her website at
www.beantowntales.net
Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Apr 30, 2012
Okay so you have ordered your flowers for Mother's Day, she gets them from Exotic Flowers and loves them. Now it's Mother's Day and she really should not have to cook, do you order in ? Call a caterer ? Most of us make the call on dinner, lunch or brunch. Mother's Day is the busiest restaurant day of the year in Boston. Check out our top five choices for Mother's Day. By the way, if you are caught between flowers and food; the Koran tells us that flowers are food for the soul.
- McCormick & Schmicks in Faneuil Hall Marketplace; great seafood in the heart of the city. This is a great choice for lunch or early dinner, that way you can stroll through Quincy Market and take in some sights. Oh, if you love the job Exotic Flowers did on the pansy planters there, make sure you tell the GM Howie.
- Mooo Restaurant at the ultra chic XV Beacon hotel on Beacon Hill. If you are looking to lavish mom with personalized service and high end dining, ask for the GM Alexa and tell her that your florist sent you.
Dining Al fresco on Mother's Day or having a large event ? You cannot beat the atmosphere, energy, food and once again beautiful planters at Towne Stove & Spirits on Boylston Street in Boston. Ask for TerriLynn Haak, she is among the best in the business.
* Getting take out ? I am in. I will be selling flowers from early hours on. Why not ring up my friend Chris at Seven Star Street Bistro in Roslindale. His Chinese is not only delicious, but healthy as well.
* 
* Looking to stay away from the crowds and traffic of the Back Bay and Downtown Boston ? Why not ring up Delfino Restaurant in Roslindale ? Master Chef Stephen Judge has been creating the best Italian food for more than ten years. His menu specials are out of this world and perhaps the only area restaurant who can fuse both Northern and Southern Italian along with steaks and seafood. This restaurant is a cannot miss.
Or you can make an effort and cook at home. But with restaurants like these, why bother ? She deserves the best.
Posted by Rick Canale on Fri, Apr 27, 2012
Chapter 4: The Dress and Other Formal Attire...
"After all there is something about a wedding-gown prettier than in any other
gown in the world." ~Douglas William Jerrold
Thespians will agree that the wardrobe chosen for a production's players are as necessary to the success of the play as a well written script. It is said that clothing reveals an immediate glimpse inside their likes, dislikes and even their spirit. Wedding planners have proclaimed for centuries that the design of a ceremony and reception is synonymous with a Shakespearean performance including all of the needed accessories to pull together a well directed stage. The bridal party's attire is the pinnacle of the design, calling attention to every bead, gather, stitch and taper, representing the special characteristics unique to couple's relationship. Coordination, creativity and candid personality are all aspects of choosing a fabulous wedding wardrobe, which if combined correctly, ensures a magnificent show stopper!
The Wedding Dress~ The biggest joy for a bride who is planning her wedding is finding the dress that she will wear for the day which she anticipates will resemble a fairy tale. Amidst the chaos of the months leading up to the ceremony, she will know that it will all be worth it once she slips on her dream gown. This will be the dress that will follow her in picture frames and family albums for years to come, reminding her when she was in fact, the most beautiful woman in the room. Searching for that dress can be frustrating for some Boston brides and sometimes overwhelming in the beginning. Trunk shows are one place to start and are just the event to kick of the spirited task of planning a wedding. Appealing to brides who are looking for different styles other than the styles native to her city, trunk shows are also growing in popularity as a festive event enjoyed by the bride and her bridesmaids as a pre- bachelorette party. Another way to purchase a wedding gown is to visit the many specialty bridal shops in the Boston area including Vera Wang Boston, Anna Hernandez and Sabella Couture. For the bride who loves a great deal, David's Bridal offers affordable bridal wear and Filenes launches a one day event of discounted dresses festively named, "The Running of the Brides" where women flood the store (hopefully with at least two companions) to find formal gowns at unbeatable prices. From layered lace ball gowns to sleek strapless satin, every girl should feel like a princess on her wedding day.
The Bridesmaids~ A common challenge for brides is finding a stylish and complimentary dress style for her bridesmaids. In several cases, a strategic approach is best, since the vast majority of wedding parties come in all shapes, sizes, heights, skin tones and hair colors. Brides should be careful when committing to color schemes and design to ensure her friends are flattered by the fabric as well as properly form fitted in the cut and style. Some brides become disappointed when the season's fad does not replicate a duplicate image on her bridesmaids as seen in a wedding magazine. One rule to follow to evade this problem is to remember that the wider range of body types, the simpler the dress style should be in design. What if your best friend just had her first baby and hasn’t shed those pesky last pregnancy pounds? It’s probably not the wisest or kindest idea to force that purple spandex number on her that you’ve been eyeing in the boutique. Sticking to basic hem lines, elegant solid colors (black and navy blue cocktail dresses are both becoming and useful for future events), and forgetting the hip hugging waist bands are sure to keep your buddies in good spirits and more than happy to place the spotlight on you during your big day!
Groomsmen Attire~ The groomsmen are in luck when it comes to selecting their attire since couples have the option of going either formal, fun or both! This section of the bridal party can easily carry a humorous theme (for example, wearing ski boots instead of shoes at a winter wedding) or classically coordinate with the bridesmaids by wearing matching colors within their ties, boutonnières and socks. Either tuxedos or suits are perfectly acceptable choices as well as unique accessories (perhaps sunglasses for outside ordeals). Planners can also get creative choosing suit materials based on color palettes, season and even location! Linen, ecru suits are the perfect wardrobe match for beach bound weddings where as white tuxedos make quite a statement on cruise ships. In most cases, groomsmen are dying to get a giggle from the audience which can often set an enjoyable mood for your guests so allow a little freedom when brainstorming for ideas!
Suzie Canale
www.beantowntales.net
Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Apr 23, 2012
Whether you call it Secretary's Day, Administrative Assistant's Day or Administrative Professionals Day, Boston bosses are usually befuddled regarding what to order for the holiday. Naturally flowers are the best choice and even scientifically proven to increase production at work.
Boston bosses often find themselves at a loss for the card message for their admin.
here are some of the top card messages that the staff at Exotic Flowers in Boston has run across for the holiday.
"They say a combined effort can break down the wall of impossibility. Thanks for helping break down the walls !"
"Dedication is the fuel for progress and growth. Thank you for your dedication."
"Someone once said that ingenuity plus work equals miracles. Thank you for all the miracles you perform every day."
Secretaries is not just for admins. Do you have a house manager or personal assistant that make your day better ? From the nanny in Newton to the home health aid in Arlington... show them your appreciation with flowers.
Posted by Rick Canale on Tue, Apr 17, 2012
On Friday April, 20th 2012 - Fenway Park will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Hosting the New York Yankees at 305pm, the Red Sox have invited more than 200 former coaches and players to attend this celebrated game. I will be at the game and I am honored to have made the Red Sox guest list. Thank you Red Sox. Welch's Juices have even sponsored over 37,000 drinks so that
Fenway Park will host the largest toast ever in the Guinness Book of World Records.
I have some great memories of Fenway Park from hanging around the park collecting autographs and meeting players to collecting my change so that I would have enough to buy a ticket. I even remember once checking the pay phones inside the Sheraton Hotel in Boston in 1985, my friend and I were about 80 cents short. The ticket agent who was in the now defunct ticket station in Fenway Park let us pass. We sat in the mist and rain with about 8000 others fans as the Red Sox played the Mariners. I remember many of those games when it seemed you could count the fans in the park.
I was born in 1970 and I can remember the Red Sox always on the radio, television and being talked about at the earliest age. My earliest clear memory of the Red Sox came in the 1975 World Series when rookie centerfielder Fred Lynn crashed into the wall.
My first game was a doubleheader in 1978 against the White Sox. I immediately became a White Sox hater but my allegiance changed to them when Carlton Fisk changed his Sox in 1981.
Serving as the Official Red Sox Florist from 2007-2010 was quite an honor, but nothing like my memories from Fenway Park.
My coolest memory of Fenway Park came on
July 24, 1985. My friend and I were outside Fenway Park collecting autographs. Oakland Athletics outfielders Dwayne Murphy and Mike Davis arrived via taxi. They signed our autographs. We then asked Davis who was having a great year if he was going to hit his 17th homerun that night. He responded with 'I am going to hit number 17 and 18 Off the Can (Dennis Oil Can Boyd,).' We were thrilled with his response and pressed him for more information. He retreated and only promised one homerun. Lo and behold, he hit number 17 off Boyd in the 9th inning. What a memory.
I recall my sons' first games on September 26, 2007 and July 4, 2011 like they were yesterday. Fenway Park is all about memories. What are some of your favorites?
The Baseball Hall of Fame (yes, I am a member) is celebrating Fenway's 100th with its Fen-tennial. check out the video here.
Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Apr 16, 2012
As I keep going back and forth and with my colleagues today as why Massachusetts is celebrating a holiday, I felt inclined to explain a thing or two about Patriots' Day.
Patriots' Day is celebrated on the third Monday of every April in Massachusetts. The holiday commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord of the American Revolution. Reenactments take place every year at Lexington Green. Even re-enactors of Paul Revere and William Dawes will make their historic rides all the while chanting 'The British are Coming,'. The Boston Marathon is also run on Patriot's Day every year, but it is not the reason for the holiday.
Every year the Red Sox schedule a game at Fenway Park at 11am start so that the end of the game will coincide with the runners passing at nearby Kenmore Square. The Patriot's Day game is a great Fenway tradition and a ticket to this game is almost as coveted as one to Opening Day.
As a florist in Boston, our flower delivery drivers may run into some closed street and road blocks. But some proper planning and experienced staff enable Exotic Flowers in Boston to deliver througout Massachusetts on Patriot's Day.