Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Mar 25, 2013
Dear friends,
The spring is the most exciting time of year at Exotic Flowers. We ready ourselves for Easter, Secretary's Day, Mother's Day, Proms, Graduations, and the garden. Our greenhouses are bursting with outdoor plants and our sales staff and designers are ramping up for an intense eight weeks.
This week celebrates Easter and Passover. I am sure you have noticed that these holidays no longer carry their previous stature. It is time to change that. It is time to start your own traditions and create your own memories. Our childhoods were so special because we have so many special memories. Start your holiday tradition today and make sure flowers are a part of it. Perhaps you could even take in an Easter movie this weekend. Hop is sure to please.
"The change of seasons in the spring is associated with new life, so bright new spring blossoms are especially meaningful at Easter. According to Christian beliefs, Easter also symbolizes the rebirth of Christ; lilies sprung up from Jesus’ blood drops, which make Easter lilies especially significant traditional flowers for religious celebrations." - BigAppleFlorist Blog
This Easter, Exotic Flowers in both Roslindale will be open til 2pm and delivering. Exotic Flowers in Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston will be open from 11am-6pm. We will have hostess gifts, like Easter lilies, tulip plants, pansies, azaleas and abundance of fresh cut flowers.
Thank you for your loyalty. Thank you for your referrals. Thank you for spending your hard earned money at Exotic Flowers & Lombardi Florist.
Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Aug 20, 2012
Did you go to the Cape, Ogunquit, or Newport this summer ? Did you stay with a friend, a friend of a friend or a relative ? Did they open their doors to you ? Feed you ? Let you sleep there ? Use their bathroom ? Provide you with fresh lines and towels ? Did you have a world class host ?
How did you thank your host ? Did you bring wine ? Did you bring flowers ? Just because you made dinner and did the dishes, does not mean you really showed your appreciation. If you want to get asked back or even if you want to just do the right thing, make sure you send your hostess a fresh flower bouquet. What better way to say thank you than a dramatic and unexpected gift of flowers ?
So whether your vacation brought you to Nantucket or Newport, make sure that when you get back to Boston. Send thank you flowers to your hostess.
Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Nov 21, 2011
November, 2011
Dear friends,
I remember going to Mass at Sacred Heart in Roslindale every Sunday as a youth and during the service the priest would always remind us what to be thankful for. At Exotic Flowers in Boston, we are very thankful. We appreciate being such a special part of your lives. Your birthdays, weddings, proms, and funerals give our jobs as florists meaning. You give us a huge responsibility. You entrust us to convey your emotions. We will never take that job lightly.
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. My day starts with breakfast with my boys. I head into our flower shop in Roslindale at 730am. Yes we are open for walk in customers. What better hostess gift than flowers for the table ? We close about 2pm and I head with Suzie and the boys over to my mother in law Murphy's home in West Roxbury where I feast on turkey with all the trimmings. After digesting this feast, I move onto my parents home for a spread of homemade ravioli, meatballs, sausage, lasagna and bracciole. Family, food, wine and flowers.
Thanksgiving is about spending time with family, friends and tradition. If you cannot be there, please call or even better send flowers. Start your own tradition.
Thank you for loyalty. Thank you for your referrals. Thank you for spending your hard earned money at Exotic Flowers & Lombardi Florist.
Sincerely,
Rick Canale
Posted by Rick Canale on Tue, Nov 15, 2011
Thanksgiving feasts can be decadent, simple, festive and joyous. All Thanksgiving meals should feature food, flowers and wine.
From Boston to Byfield or Roxbury to Rockland... Exotic Flowers Thanksgiving flowers are a tradition for families and restaurants in Boston.
Most purists suggest white wine for Thanksgiving dinner, but I am a red wine drinker and I am sharing my top five red wines for Thanksgiving.
- Simi Reserve Cabernet - full bodied with rich dark fruit. Ideal wine for a smaller intimate Thanksgiving dinner.
- 337 Cabernet - the best bang for the buck on the list. A thoroughly enjoyable Cabernet can plenish the masses for only $10 per bottle.
- Hitching Post Pinot Noir - made famous by the movie Sideways; this Pinot is full bodied and is ideal if you are going with a vibrant King Salmon for your dinner.
- Kendall Jackson Summation - smoother than Cabernet and richer than Merlot with a nice Zinfandel bite; this varietal is an all star at under $15 per bottle. Fun wine and highly recommended for a dinner party.
- Pinot Noit Carneros Sean Minor - not only affordable but exceptional and a great social media campaign at www.twitter.com/seanminor
Five top notch red wines for Thanksgiving.
Of course don't forget the flowers. Flowers, food, wine, friends, family. Start your own tradition.
Rick Canale
www.twitter.com/RickCanale
Posted by Rick Canale on Fri, Apr 15, 2011
On Monday April 18th, 2011 the historic Boston Marathon will envelop a 26.2 mile trail throughout Massachusetts. From, Hopkinton to Boston, thousands of runners will be cheered by thousands of fans along the course. The course will shut down towns and roads for almost the entire day.
Monday also marks the beginning of Passover at sundown. In the book of Exodus from the Bible: we learn that God helped the children of Israel escape slavery in Egypt by inflicting plagues upon the Egyptians before Pharaoh would release his Israelite slaves; the tenth and worst of the plagues was the slaughter of the first-born. The Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord passed over these homes, hence the term "passover,".
It is traditional for Jewish families to gather on the first night of Passover for a special dinner called a seder. The table is often set with the finest china and silverware and adorned with beautiful flowers to reflect the importance of the meal.
If you’re going to someone's home for seder, bring flowers. We often bring wine, but start your own tradition by arriving with fresh flowers or a beautiful orchid plant.
Exotic Flowers delivers many table centerpieces as well as flowering plants to Jewish homes on Monday. Most of our flower deliveries will go to towns like Sharon and Newton. The Boston Marathon will cut right through Newton and Brookline deterring many of our vehicles. Do not fret, most of our Passover deliveries are already scheduled for Sunday. We will be open and delivering flowers throughout Newton, Boston and Brookline on Sunday.
Posted by Rick Canale on Sat, Mar 05, 2011
In Boston, St Patrick's Day is really the first day of spring. Like the green shake from McDonalds, Exotic Flowers brings in our green carnations; a St Paddy's Day staple. We will have them in both our stores, as well as shamrock plants, lapel flowers and the ideal hostess gift.
When it’s time to celebrate the luck of the Irish, a lovely bouquet is a welcome gesture; and this one is the perfect choice for St. Patrick’s Day. With its pretty mix of white and green blooms – delivered in a unique green satin drum.
As refreshing as a Montauk breeze, this fabulously fresh bouquet of white and green flowers in a satiny green cylinder vase makes a very cool gift. Sweetly subtle, yet also exciting, it is a visual delight.
The classic arrangement includes white alstroemeria, green carnations, green roses, a white lily and white stock accented with seeded eucalyptus, variegated pittosporum and rhombus.
Oh, what a lucky day it will be for whoever is lucky enough to have this vase full of joyful and jubilant blossoms delivered to them. Perfect for St Patrick's Day, this pretty arrangement is a pot of gold !
Dazzling green roses, carnations and button spray chrysanthemums, yellow asiatic lilies and along with fresh greens fill a rectangular glass vase.
Posted by Rick Canale on Wed, Feb 02, 2011
Surprisingly, lots of Bostonians use flowers and plants to celebrate one of the biggest party days of the year. Super Bowl Sunday is known for big tv's, guacamole, buffalo wings and beer. But at Exotic Flowers, we ramp up for Super Bowl Sunday too. From black and yellow balloons (or green and yellow) to spectacular floral arrangements created for your hosts.
Arrangements can also be created with miniature football helmets, football action figures as well helium filled football balloons. Keep in mind, we also have a liquor license in Boston and can get your favorite fan a case of Sam Adams in time for kick-off. Gift baskets featuring snacks, drinks and football gifts are also a great gift to send to any Super Bowl Party.
Our staff at Exotic Flowers in Boston does not suggest you gamble, but keep in mind what better way to wager the game than bet a dozen roses versus one of our gift baskets on the outcome of the game.
Or if you make yourself an unwelcome guest, be sure to call us on Monday and we can deliver the perfect apology flowers to your hostess.
Our Prediction: Packers 24 Steelers 13
Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Nov 15, 2010
While In Europe, guests often bring flowers when visiting someone's home for dinner or an event. Guests in the United States, on the other hand often bring a bottle of wine.
Why the difference ? Well of course the cultural habits of both societies has evolved over hundreds of years. In Europe, wine is a staple in most homes and does not carry the intrinsic value we perceive in the United States. In the United States, quality flowers and bouquets are not as readily available. Local flower shops often practice banker's hours and are not always ready or asking for the sale.
Flower shops in the United States have seen a steady decline in the past ten years. Perhaps if these defunct neighborhood flower shops had extended their hours to meet the needs of flower buying customers; they might still be open today.
Both Exotic Flowers in Roslindale and Boston are open seven days. Our Faneuil Hall - Quincy Market flower market is even open til 9pm on six days and open until 7pm on Sunday. As Boston's Premier Florst, the staff at Exotic Flowers tries to be where our shoppers are. We are not only open seven days, but our clients can order online at www.exoticflowers.com 24 hours per day and we will even be in your pocket in December. Starting December, Exotic Flowers will be offering an application (floralApp) for both the iPhone and the Android.
Wine of course has many health benefits, but one bottle of wine is only good for 4-5 glasses. One beautiful cornucopia of flowers is good for 5-7 days and enlightens over 20 dinner guests.
"Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul." - The Koran
This Thanksgiving, lift the spirits of your friends and family. Both Exotic Flowers in Boston and Roslindale will be open until 2pm for all your hostess gift needs.
Of course, if you are stuck on getting wine. Exotic Flowers in Roslindale does have a liquor license and sells wine. We will be featuring our holiday wine picks, just in time for Thanksgiving.
Remember, we are the local Boston florist who yearns to serve all your needs.