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Exotic Flowers in Boston

Sonny Canale Celebrates 64th Year As Owner Operator of Exotic Flowers

Posted by Rick Canale on Mon, Jul 12, 2021

sonny_1957-resized-600

On Monday, July 12th: Arnold 'Sonny' Canale will have been the owner and operator of Lombardi Florist for 64 years. An amazing testament to the talent, work ethic, and care for clients. As we tell clients every day, Sonny must be doing something right.

On July 12th, 1957 - Arnold 'Sonny' Canale purchased Lombardi Florist & Nurserymen at 599 American Legion Highway in Roslindale. Sonny had worked there for years as a designer, grower, salesman, delivery driver, and floor sweeper.

Sonny's mantra since that day has been 'never hire anyone who cannot sweep the floor.' That work ethic has remained in place at Exotic Flowers for 64 years.

Sonny remains at the top of the Exotic Flowers hierarchy. He works seven days on the property. So clients can rest easy knowing that the boss tends to every detail. 

In 64 years - he's sold more than five million roses, one million carnations, more than one million deliveries, grown thousands of poinsettias and outdoor plants, and has designed a million floral arrangements. He has operated five locations, supported dozens of charities, and employed hundreds. Three Best of Boston awards, a World Series florist, a PGA Championship florist, FTD Top 1000, Top 500, Top 250, Top 100, and Top 10. Teleflora Top 50. Floral Management Marketer of the Year, RedBook Circle of Excellence. The numbers are not only staggering but humbling.

Stop by the shop on July 12 and say hi. 

609 American Legion Hwy, Roslindale, MA 02131

617-942-4803

 

Tags: Roslindale Florist, Lombardi Florist, Sonny Canale

Lombardi Florist Has Been in Roslindale for a Long Time

Posted by Rick Canale on Tue, Apr 14, 2020

Lombardi Florist in Roslindale

We have been a family owned and operated business since my mother's parents immigrated from Ponza, Italy in the early 1900's. We have remained in the same location as Russo's Florist at 609 American Legion Highway in Roslindale. My grandfather began by planting pansies to sell to those going to the local cemeteries. 

What you may not know was Lombardi, the Florist was across the street at 599 American Legion Highway on the opposite corner. My father worked for Syl Lombardi as a kid and bought Lombardi's in 1957. In 1959, he married my mother Marie and merged the two florists into one location at 609 American Legion. Lombardi was and remains one of the busiest florists in Boston. He kept the Lombardi name and 63 years later, my parents still work at the shop every day. (ed. note; Olympia Flowers was the busiest florist at the time and remains in the same family today,).

Recently, a client, friend and former employee was given the above receipt. It shows a list of transactions from 1953. A brides bouquet for $15, a maid of honor for $6, a corsage for $5 (clients still ask for that price today!) and a center piece for $3.

While the prices may amaze all of us, what might amaze you more is clients still come in asking for bouquets for $15-$20. So when we're quick to say 'it's not 1953,' we're not kidding.

One of the greenhouses mentioned on that receipt is still standing and in operation. Right now it is filled with geraniums and ready to bring beauty into your homes. 

Family owned, operated and still going.

Rick Canale, Your 3rd generation Boston Florist

Tags: Roslindale Florist, Lombardi Florist, Sonny Canale

Sonny Canale is Celebrating 60 Years as President of Exotic Flowers

Posted by Rick Canale on Wed, Jul 05, 2017

On Wednesday, July 12th: Arnold 'Sonny' Canale will have been the owner and operator of Lombardi Florist for 60 years. An amazing testament to talent, work ethic and care for clients. As we tell clients every day, he must be doing something right.

sonny_1957-resized-600.jpg

In 60 years - he's sold more than five million roses, one million carnations, more than one million deliveries, grown thousands of poinsettias and outdoor plants and has designed a million floral arrangements. He has operated five locations, supported dozens of charities and employed hundreds. Three Best of Boston awards, a World Series florist, a PGA Championship florist, FTD Top 1000, Top 500, Top 250, Top 100 and Top 10. Telelfora Top 50. Floral Management Marketer of the Year, RedBook Circle of Excellence. The numbers are not only staggering but humbling.

Stop by the shop on July 12 and say hi. We'll have treats and surprises.

609 American Legion Hwy, Roslindale, MA 02131

617-247-2000 

 

Tags: Boston Florist, Exotic Flowers, Lombardi Florist, Sonny Canale

Don't Waste Your Money on a Poinsettia from Home Depot

Posted by Rick Canale on Sat, Nov 26, 2016

Local Boston Greenhouse
Did you know that Exotic Flowers of Boston grows hundreds of our own poinsettias at the Lombardi Florist greenhouses in Roslindale. For years, we have witnessed the glut of Canadian grown poinsettias in Massachusetts. These Canadian poinsettias flood the marketplace in November with low price tags and even lower quality. Caveat emptor.
If you cannot make it to an experienced grower or nursery like Exotic Flowers or Lombardi Florist, here are some purchasing tips so that your poinsettias lives beyond Christmas.
poinsettia boston resized 600
Flowers: Poinsettias are leafy plants with dark green leaves. Many people believe these leaves are the flowers. They are incorrect. The real flowers are the tiny mostly yellow berrylike cyathia in the center of the leaf bract. The cyathia should be fully developed but unopened and displaying no pollen.
Colored Bracts: look for poinsettias with thoroughly colored bracts. You want a poinsettia that does not appear bruised or blemished. Droopy is bad. Avoid plants with 'burned' or dried out edges.
Leaves: Look for a poinsettia with plentiful dark green foliage all the way down to the stems. Avoid poinsettias with yellow or brown edged leaves.
Soil: Check for waterlogged soil. This could be a sign of root rot.
Pests and Diseases: If you see any type of pests or mold, avoid that plant.
white poinsettia boston resized 600
The United States recognizes Poinsettia Day every December 12th, which is also the day Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett died. Dr. Poinsett is was an American diplomat who introduced the poinsettia to the United States from its native Mexico. There is now even a College Football Bowl Game in San Diego every December to honor and promote the poinsettia, The Poinsettia Bowl.

Tags: Lombardi Florist, Boston Greenhouse, Poinsettia, Plant Care

Fifty Nine is Fine

Posted by Rick Canale on Tue, Jul 12, 2016

On Tuesday, July 12th: Arnold 'Sonny' Canale will have been the owner and operator of Lombardi Florist for 59 years. An amazing testament to talent, work ethic and care for clients. As we tell clients every day, he must be doing something right.

sonny_1957-resized-600.jpg

In 59 years - he's sold more than five million roses, one million carnations, more than one million deliveries, grown thousands of poinsettias and outdoor plants and has designed a million floral arrangements. He has operated five locations, supported dozens of charities and employed hundreds. Three Best of Boston awards, a World Series florist, a PGA Championship florist, FTD Top 1000, Top 500, Top 250, Top 100 and Top 10. Telelfora Top 50. Floral Management Marketer of the Year, RedBook Circle of Excellence. The numbers are not only staggering but humbling.

 

Tags: Boston Florist, Exotic Flowers, Lombardi Florist, Sonny Canale

Have You Ever Seen Exotic Flowers in Boston in Action ?

Posted by Rick Canale on Tue, Oct 04, 2011

Fall Flowers in BostonIf you have been to Exotic Flowers in Boston on Mother's Day or Valentine's Day, you have seen the action, the crowds and only half the fun. Exotic Flowers occupies a corner lot at American Legion Highway and Canterbury Street in Roslindale. Our flower shop has been in this location for over seventy five years. 

When a client arrives and says that he has never been to our flower shop before, we are thrilled. A sales rep will immediately ask if you would like to see more of the under belly of Exotic Flowers in Boston. At the front of the store, a client will often find a wall of teddy bears along with a collection of artificial flowers designed for the cemeteries which surround our flower shop. Exotic Flowers is near St Michael's cemetery, Forest Hills cemetery, Mount Calvary, New Calvary, Mount Hope and Oak Lawn cemeteries. The front of the store also features Godiva Chocolates, greeting cards, balloons, dish gardens, bonsai trees, orchids and house plants. 

Boston FloristAs you travel deeper into our store, you will see a bank of cubicles where telephone sales are completed. We like action and enjoy the buzz and energy that ringing telephones create in a store. Sorry, there is no tranquility here. We are more akin to a busy restaurant. Behind our telecommunications sales outpost is our open floral design area. Clients are welcome to watch Boston's Premier Florists in action; kind of like an open kitchen. On the opposite side of floral design is a ten door floral display cooler loaded with more than forty floral arrangements, dozens of seasonal bouquets and more than 10,000 roses.

As you drop even deeper into the store, a fruit and gourmet room is in the rear. In this room Exotic Flowers creates hundreds of fruit, gourmet and junk food baskets that we deliver to Boston, Cambridge and the entire 617 and 781 area codes.

Take a left at our fruit/gourmet room and you head into an authentic glass topped greenhouse. This greenhouse also operates as a walk in refrigerator during Valentine's Day. After walking out the back door, you will see our growing greenhouse. During the fall, Exotic Flowers grows poinsettias. During the summer, we grow hardy mums. During the winter, the experienced growers at Exotic Flowers design mixed annual hanging baskets which beautify the streets, porches, gardens and backyards of Boston. 

Dorchester FlowersAs you make a loop around the rear of the greenhouses, you will land in the middle of our garden center. In December, you will be surrounded by evergreen wreaths, kissing balls and Christmas trees. During the spring and summer, more than three hundred hanging baskets are overhead. You will also notice two houses in the property. People do live in both houses. What could be better than living in a gated garden paradise ?

so next time to you stop at Exotic Flowers, ask us for a tour. You are a guest and we are at your disposal.

Tags: Mattapan Florist, Roslindale Florist, Lombardi Florist

The Next Chapter Begins at Exotic Flowers in Boston

Posted by Rick Canale on Thu, Jun 02, 2011

Exotic Flowers Improper Bostonian

For the past few months, Exotic Flowers has been buzzing about its next chapter. On June 1st, 2011 the next chapter at Exotic Flowers became reality. The next chapter at Exotic Flowers is all about the evolution of Boston's Premier Florist.

Exotic Flowers in Boston can trace its history back over seventy years to its flagship store and design studio on American Legion Highway in Roslindale. American Legion Highway stretches from Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester to Hyde Park Avenue in Hyde Park and the highway traverses Mattapan and Roslindale along its path. Exotic Flowers began at 609 American Legion Highway and remains at this location today.

In the early 20th century, Marie Russo Canale's parents immigrated from Ponza Italy and opened their flower shop A.Russo and sons on the very location we remain today. At that time, Lombardi Florist was a big player on the Boston flower scene and was only steps away at 599 American Legion Highway.

About 1944, Arnold 'Sonny' Canale's parents dropped him off at Lombardi Florist to find work. He remained there for years as an apprentice floral designer, grower, and nurseryman. In 1957, Sonny bought Lombardi Florist and in 1959 married Marie Russo and merged the two floral enterprises.

Exotic Flowers print ads

In 1993, Lombardi Florist adopted the name Exotic Flowers as its primary signature. Of course we still operate under both names, and our long time clients still know us as Lombardi Florist. In 1994, a satellite location opened in Boston's South End and remained at 2 Dartmouth Street for seven year. During this time, Exotic Flowers was a primary player on the national flower scene going head to head with large volume flower brokers like FTD, 1800flowers, NationalFlora and America's Florist.

Exotic Flowers has always remained true to its roots by having operational greenhouses on the property in Boston as well as a year round garden center which sells outdoor plants, pumpkins, and Christmas trees. In 1995, in order to to stretch our reach, Exotic Flowers opened a full service florist and garden center on route 3A in Cohasset. The Cohasset flower shop remained there for over ten years.

In 2001, Exotic Flowers opened at the greenhouse at Faneuil Hall Marketplace. A three thousand square foot visual masterpiece in the heart of Boston, Exotic Flowers beautified the historic site for ten years. Exotic Fresh Flowers Ad

Exotic Flowers remains committed to beautifying Boston, its residents' and employees' lives. Our flower deliveries enrich hundreds of Bostonians lives daily.

As we embark on the next chapter; Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Direct Mail, QR Codes, face time will all be prevalent our every day operations. We already have a QR code, a floralApp, delivery confirmations, worldwide service and World Champion appeal. We look forward to serving for the next 75 years. Thank you, the next chapter is going to be great.

Tags: Next Chapter, Lombardi Florist, Sonny Canale

"Feed Me Seymour" - Venus Fly Traps invade Boston Florist

Posted by Rick Canale on Sat, Sep 04, 2010

September, 2010 - Boston, MA

Exotic Flowers, the greenhouse at Faneuil Hall Marketplace, has been invaded by carnivorous plants. Venus Fly Traps and Pitcher Plants have arrived from the swamps of Florida. They are hungry and are looking for their own Seymour to adopt them and more importantly, feed them.

This movie clip comes from the motion picture "Little Shop of Horrors," starring Rick Moranis. Audrey II is played by the deceased Four Tops singer Levi Stubbs.

This movie also paints a small picture of what flower shops were like many years ago. Lombardi Florist in Roslindale had many fixtures and decor quite similar to the ones in this film.

If you're in Faneuil Hall Marketplace, check out our carnivorous plants. Or if you're in Roslindale, stop by Exotic Flowers and ask about our 75 year history at the same location. We have some great stories to share.

Tags: Little Shop of Horrors, Venus Fly Traps, Lombardi Florist

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