Posted by Rick Canale on Tue, May 14, 2013
May is the height of school activities and celebrations. We celebrate graduations, achievements, academic awards and our high schoolers often attend their first prom.
So many youngsters are so busy with school, sports, theatre and friends that preparing for their prom is like taking another course. You have to order prom tickets, get a dress or tuxedo, ensure a safe ride and of course plan for an after prom party. One of the last minute items often overlooked are flowers.
Exotic Flowers design studio in Roslindale and all of our Boston floral designers have been making prom corsages and boutonnieres for a combined work knowledge of over 100 years. Our local Boston flower designers have made the traidtional to the unusual.
Most popular these days are rose boutonnieres for the gentleman and rose wrist corsages for the ladies. Whether your prom is at Catholic Memorial, West Roxbury High School or Latin Academy, the staff at Exotic Flowers wants to be a special part of your prom.
Quick tips for quick ordering:
- order early
- know the dress color
- corsages in the Boston area for schools like Boston Latin, Milton High School, Roxbury Latin and other Boston schools are pretty much $25
- rose boutonnieres are $8
- roses, roses, don't get fancy. roses photograph well, are trendy and offer no unwelcome surprises.
Posted by Rick Canale on Thu, May 02, 2013
At Exotic Flowers in Boston and Lombardi Florist in Roslindale, we often say ' every day is Mother's Day.' This statement may seem trite, but it is on point. Every day is Mother's Day. Mother's Day may be celebrated on the second Sunday of May, but Mother's Day should be celebrated every day.
What better to show your mom, grandmother or anyone you call 'mom' how much you appreciate them than fresh flowers from Exotic Flowers, Boston's Premier Florist.
Mother's Day at Exotic Flowers in Boston begins weeks in advance. The vases for Mother's day floral arrangements arrived weeks ago. The packaging and direct mail pieces were designed months ago. The outdoor garden plants were seeded locally in Boston's inner city in January. Every day from May 1st through May 12th, cut flowers will be arriving from Ecuador, Maine, New Jersey, Costa Rica, Columbia, California and Holland. We are floral importers. Every one of the fresh cut flowers in our Boston floral design studio has been hand selected and tested to exceed the needs of all our New England flower buyers and recipients.
This year (2013) entrust your Mother's Day flowers to your local Boston florist. We have been a family owned and operated florist for over 75 years. Do not leave your Mother's Day order to chance. She is too important. Flowers should not be left at a doorstop in a cardboard box. Her flowers should arrive artfully arranged and hand delivered.
Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Apr 29, 2013
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.
- 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 Exotic Flowers 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 Tue, Apr 23, 2013
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 Sat, Apr 20, 2013
by Suzie Canale
After the terrifying acts that have occurred in Boston over the last week, being a Bostonian, I felt the need to cope along with the rest of my city, a place that I love dearly. Since a writer writes, here is my reflection of these events. Although completing all verses rather quickly, I was at a loss of words for a title. My 8 year old son simply turned to me and said, "Name it Run, Run, Run."
RUN, RUN, RUN
The sun was shining and the air was warm,
As the runners took their place at the start,
Lacing their sneakers and stretching their legs,
While the thrill of the race pounds each heart.
Off they went, crowds of hundreds and hundreds,
All set out on the exciting run,
Joining together in the infamous race,
Patriot’s Day Marathon Monday had begun.
The fans were aroused as they cheered each one on,
While the athletes passed by in quick haste,
Although they competed to win the gold first,
Themes of brotherhood were seen interlaced.
No one expected such a tragic end,
When a shock had impeded the scene,
Tainting the moments of purity and love,
A dark evil, which had been unforeseen.
As the community was left in a tearful mourn,
The prayers echoed throughout the night,
The city’s brave angels worked as fast as they could,
Helping wounded through the gruesome site.
At first, all were stunned as to how to move on,
Feeling threat and unspeakable fear,
But lo and behold like the American soul,
Courage, strength, hope and faith did appear.
In a flash of a second, the heroes arrived,
Guards, police and response volunteers,
Saving the lives of the city they loved,
While they held us and wiped away tears.
A rush of concern came from around the world,
Sending courage to get us all through,
Even the Yankees stood strong in support,
To New York, Bean Town loves you, too.
So we will stand all together and unite all as one,
As our fight for our freedom is sought,
We’ll remember the lives of those tragically lost,
Eight-year-old Martin will not be forgot.
It may take some time, but we know it’s the truth,
We see no other way to go on,
Boston will rally again for the day,
When we run next year’s marathon.
By
Suzie Canale
4/19/13
Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Apr 15, 2013
Patriot's Day in Boston is filled with an abundance of activities for all Bostonians and New Englanders. From revolutionary battle reenactments to the 11am Red Sox game to the Boston Marathon, this day is a major holiday in Massachusetts. In 2013, Patriot's Day happens also to fall on April 15th. While April 15 is synonymous with Tax Day, this year it is also Jackie Robinson Day. 
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy tells us that 42 is the answer to everything in the universe. Perhaps. But today I just want to share the 42 things we love most about being a florist in Boston in honor of the great Jackie Robinson.
- The Swan Boats
- The Boston Marathon
- Heartbreak Hill
- The Celtics
- The Museum of Fine Arts
- Fenway Park
- The Zakim Bridge
- Arnold Arboretum
- Franklin Park Zoo
- Santarpio's Pizza
- New Kids on the Block
- Paul Revere's House
- The North End
- Bunker Hill Monument
- The Freedom Trail
- Athens of America
- Hospitals in Boston
- Roxbury Latin School
- Sam Adams
- USS Constitution
- The Bruins
- Pizzeria Regina
- Mike's Pastry
- The Public Gardens
- Baked Beans
- Union Oyster House
- The Holocaust Memorial
- Castle Island
- Gardner Museum
- Boston Pops
- JFK Library
- Newbury Street
- The ICA
- Beantown
- Red Sox
- Hubway
- New Edition
- Faneuil Hall
- Walking City
- we 'Pahk ah cahs'
- Forest Hills Cemetery
- Bostonians
of course no tribute to Jackie Robinson we could be complete without recommending the new movie 42.
Posted by Rick Canale on Fri, Apr 12, 2013
in 1937 Baseball Hall of Famer Bill Veeck planted the ivy at Wrigley Field. The idea was to create a park in the city where people felt welcome.
I think I have been a baseball fan since I was born. The game was always on tv or the radio throughout my childhood and remains that way today. My earliest major league memory comes from the 1975 World Series when Fred Lynn crashed into the wall at Fenway Park. I was four years old.
Having grown up in the flower business, I have always been in awe how flowers and plants make such a difference in people's lives. Whether sending orchids in Boston, receiving roses in Roxbury or planting hydrangeas in Hyde Park, it is amazing how much happier flowers make us all feel.
The Colorado Rockies' Coors Field has one of the most majestic treescapes as its showcase in centerfield.
Recently I read an article in greenProfit magazine, John Friel provides his insight on the importance of plants and people and our quality of life.
With some quotes from Dr. Charlie Hall and co-author Madeline W. Dixon, Friel writes " Plants mean business: 'Aesthetically-pleasing landscaping welcomes customers (and) enhances their perception of the quality of products and services. Consumers... pay higher prices, travel further and shop longer in a store that they perceive to be a quality establishment,'." This theory is most evident at the ballpark. In 1937 Bill Veeck, led by Philip Wrigley planted the ivy and trees at Wrigley Field. In 1912, author Glenn Stout tells us that the Red Sox had installed planters filled with flora and fauna to welcome fans to the new ball park in Boston. Unfortunately, the Red Sox have lost their way a bit and the park often appears cold and commercial and less welcoming one hundred years later.
in 2008, the Washington Nationals built their new ballpark and installed cherry blossom trees in and around the park.
Friel goes on to write, "Plants love tourists: 'Parks and botanical gardens (are) effective tourist attractions... food, transportation, lodging, etc. represent additional revenue for local businesses (and) a city's economy. This revenue gets filtered back into the economy and adds to financial prosperity.' "
Who would have thought that flowers actually make money? So many people look at flowers as a luxury. "Landscaping yields, on average, a 109% return on every dollar spent." It is no mystery that new style ball parks have been created to welcome fans. Places like Camden Yards in Baltimore and PNC Park in Pittsburgh have been created to welcome fans. While concrete and steel stadiums like Veterans Stadium and Riverfront Stadium have been torn down.
photo credit Flowers and Fancies, Baltimore, MD.The Orioles, Red Sox, Reds, Twins and Yankees have all been known to celebrate their opening days and World Series with flowers. Of course, some teams see the importance more than others. The Yankees have been know to have hundreds of floral arrangements throughout their stadium during the World Series. My pal Eddie Wingrat of Flowers & Fancies in Baltimore has been creating the opening day flowers at Camden Yards for more than twenty years. See the spectacular arrangements he created in the above photo for 2013.
Posted by Rick Canale on Tue, Apr 09, 2013
Through Exotic Flowers of Boston and www.exoticflowers.com partnership with the Society of American Florists and www.aboutflowers.com; we are honored to share this post in its entirety from www.aboutflowers.com
| Flower Holidays, Occasions & Parties - Administrative Professionals Week Flowers |
|
 A simple "Thank You" can go a long way to motivate employees and build loyalty. Administrative Professionals Week (APW) offers an ideal opportunity to show appreciation - and formally reinforce the value of an employee's contributions. The Society of American Florists offers this simple guide to help smart managers put the benefits of proper office etiquette to work during APW and year-round.
- Use APW to find out what motivates your staff. Conduct a formal or informal survey asking support staffers what kinds of incentives they value most. This will show your commitment and give you hints on what forms of appreciation they would enjoy during APW.
- Be open and direct. If you're not sure whether the members of your support staff want to be recognized during APW, just ask them.
- Include everyone on your team. Make APW a time to thank all of your support staff - from secretaries to assistants to junior managers - for their contributions.
- Make "thank yous" personal. Whether you're buying a gift or making lunch reservations, think about the individual. For example, if you're ordering flowers, ask your florist to create an arrangement that fits the recipient's personality. Is that person traditional? Outdoorsy? Dramatic?
- Be specific. Tell the members of your support staff exactly what they did that you appreciate.
- Treat APW like a New Year's resolution. Resolve to practice better office etiquette year-round to build your team's confidence and cohesion. Whether it's celebrated with a gift, flowers, or a group luncheon, APW is an opportunity to formally acknowledge the members of your support staff for their contributions throughout the year and wipe the slate clean of any forgotten thank yous.
|
- -
Be sure to order early as Professional Secretary's Day is one of the busiest floral delivery days in Boston.
Do not worry too much about using the term secretary. If the Secretary of Defense does not a have a problem with it, your admin. should not either.
Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Apr 01, 2013
At Exotic Flowers in Boston, we get ramped up for Opening Day. Celebrate
Opening Day with our tradition of watching, Who's on First ?
Drop by Exotic Flowers on Opening Day and get a free pack of baseball cards when you mention that you read it on this blog.
Posted by Rick Canale on Thu, Mar 28, 2013
Growing up Jewish always brought a host of questions this time of year. Did we really have to do the whole “matzah thing” again for an eight-day stretch? What was the deal with eating fish on Fridays? And that most perplexing of all mysteries – what do colored eggs, jelly beans, and rabbits have to do with commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
The sacrifices of the unleavened Passover diet were difficult enough for a bread-obsessed, food-focused kid, but watching my friends make what seemed to be drastically reduced abstentions with Lent and gorging on spiral ham, Peeps, and Cadbury eggs at Easter made this time of year even harder to swallow.
The passage of time and the onset of maturity have given me a more accepting take on the practices connected with these Spring festivals, but I’m still left with unanswered questions regarding my Christian brothers’ and sisters’ Easter observances. An attempt divine some answers via an Easter-themed google search may have given me more than I bargained for in the “things that make you go huh?” department. It should come as no surprise that the internet is filled with an abundance of informational sites that pop up when you type in “What is Easter?”, so grab a big proverbial grain of salt for my findings, and let’s dig in!
1) Did you know that depending on whom you believe, the name Easter stems from the pagan goddess Ashtaroth, goddess of Spring and Fertility, or the Egyptian fertility goddess Astarte, or the Anglo-Saxon fertility goddess Ostara. or…the commonality of all of these goddesses and their names leads me to my next point, which is…
2) Were you aware that the Christian holiday of Easter evolved from pagan celebrations honoring their fertility goddesses upon the arrival of Spring? There are even descriptions of families celebrating their savior’s resurrection by decorating their homes with flowers and bunnies, painting and hiding eggs, observing 40 days of abstention ending in a worship service at dawn and a ham dinner with all the fixings. Only these weren’t early Christians, they were Babylonian families celebrating the resurrection of their god Tammuz, who was led back to life by their fertility goddess Ishtar. Sounds a bit like Easter, only the events just described took place over 2,000 years before the birth of Jesus!
2) Did you know that the celebration of Easter wasn’t commonplace in America until nearly 100 years after the country was founded? The Puritans who arrived on our shores seeking freedom to observe religion in the manner they saw fit were leery of the pagan festivals connected with the arrival of Spring. These misgivings about the “chiristian nature” of certain holidays included Christmas as well. The appearance of Easter as a celebration of the mystery of faith (the death, resurrection and ascension to heaven of Jesus) became more commonplace shortly after the Civil War.
3) Lastly, the connection of rabbits and eggs to the holiday is somewhat murky, but both served as symbols of fertility and life dating back to some of the earliest pagan practices, and seemed to accompany the transformation of pagan spring festivals into what is more commonly known as Easter.
None of this, of course, is shared with any intention other than to illuminate some lesser known aspects of a celebration that is a mainstay in our lives. As is often the case, the celebrations and traditions that have been a part of many of our lives for as long as we or our parents and grandparents can remember are not necessarily what we might have expected. The research (if you can refer to a google search as such!) leaves us with the impression that no matter what the explanation, these times of year are likely descended from universal and time honored celebrations of man, hope, life, faith, and family brought on by the burst of life that arrives with Spring each year.
Most importantly, keep in mind that Spring and the arrival of the holidays like Easter and Passover create a wonderful time to gather with friends and family, be grateful for our many blessings, and send lots of beautiful arrangements from the folks at Exotic Flowers as a token of that gratitude! Happy holidays, and Happy Spring!
Jonathan Bornstein
on Twitter @Zucrow
Want to read about some of the best sandwiches in the world ?
Read my blog.