Exotic Flowers in Boston

From Our Colleagues at The Society of American Florists:

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — December 2, 2020 — The poinsettia is the quintessential Christmas plant. However, many consumers (namely, pet owners and parents of young children) shy away from it because of the belief that it can endanger a loved one.

Set the record straight on this longstanding myth: The poinsettia is the most widely tested plant and has been proven to be non-toxic. Research trials at Ohio State University revealed that a pet or child would need to ingest more than 500 leaves to become seriously ill. (That said, poinsettias are a decoration and should be kept out of reach of children and animals prone to munching on foreign objects.) About SAF   The Society of American Florists is the only national trade association that represents all segments of the U.S. floral industry. SAF provides government advocacy, education and marketing advice; and connects industry members who want to learn, share ideas and grow; helps the industry recruit and retain talent; and provides guidance to the industry to prepare for and navigate the future. The association was chartered by an act of Congress in 1884. To learn more about SAF or to join, visit safnow.org.

Home for the holidays! An instant Christmas classic, this lush arrangement of red roses and fresh winter greens accompanies a festive Thomas Kinkade collectible with light-up windows (starter batteries included) and hand-painted details.

"Nature continues to take no notice of the imbecilities of mankind and despite even the bad weather the garden and the roses have never been so fine." - Louis Bromfield

Edith Wharton agreed. "Yes; the garden is the last moral life-preserver left, I pity those who haven't it." 

My wife Suzie's incredible backyard paradise.

Gardening like baking has experience a renaissance during the pandemic. In a disorderly world, your garden not only provides order but solace.

Grow your food, plant some herbs. Color in your world with vibrant blooms. Get dirty. Not all medicine comes in a pill.

Our Roslindale location at 609 American Legion Highway is open and welcoming clients and guests. Things are a little different from years past but everything we do is for our safety and yours.

We are still here every day but our hours have changed a bit. We are here Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. Saturday 830 am to 2 pm and a skeleton crew on Sunday from 9 am to 11 am. As always, sometimes we come earlier and leave later. If we're here, we can assist you. We still deliver six days per week.

A few things we are doing to ease your burdens. 

• Curbside pick up is available. Call ahead and we can bring it out or leave it outside the door.
• In-store service is available. Masks are required. We offer a free mask to anyone who needs one. Please make sure your nose and mouth are covered. A mask is not a chin strap.
• Two stand-alone hand sanitizer stations in the store and a workshop sink with hand soap. All are welcome and encouraged to use.
• All staff is also equipped with branded pocket hand sanitizers. Check out our new logo as a symbol of precious life from a new beginning.
• There are a few familiar items we will not have until Phase 4. Lollipops, pens, and portfolio books will return later.

We're in this together. Your kindness, patience, and support matter. Thank you.

Sometimes we hear people's darkest secrets. Sometimes they make us laugh. A recent phone call below:

EF: 'Good morning, Exotic Flowers'

JM: 'Hi, my husband sent me flowers but you sent the wrong item.'

EF: 'Let me look it up. His name?'

JM: (name blanked to protect the innocent);

EF: 'We do not have anyone by that name in our system. What is yours?'

JM: name given

EF: 'Yes, we have your order 18 red roses.'

JM: 'My husband did not order that'

EF: 'I helped him myself. He was clear about what he wanted'

JM: 'No, we did not order that'

EF: 'He was here this morning and showed me what he wanted'

At Exotic Flowers in Roslindale, the safety of our staff, vendors and clients is more important than any transaction.

We'd like to share our safety standards with you to know how we're working to keep everyone safe.

Processing / Design:
CLEANING / SANITIZING PROTOCOLS
Appropriate PPE will be worn by all employees based on their role and responsibilities and in adherence to state or local regulations and guidance.
Practice frequent handwashing.
Save your resources! Latex gloves are only effective if you are avoiding cross-contamination.
Routinely wipe down all workstation surfaces, multiple times each day with disinfectant wipes or spray.
Routinely wipe down tools and equipment multiple times each day with disinfectant wipes or spray. Don’t forget the cooler door!
No sharing of tools or equipment. This includes knives, shears, buckets, etc. If tools or equipment MUST be shared, they must be sanitized anytime transfer occurs between employees.
PHYSICAL DISTANCING PROTOCOL
Employees must keep a minimum of 6’ distance from other employees and customers.
Mark the floor with tape to promote safe distance.
SALES
CLEANING / SANITIZING PROTOCOLS
Appropriate PPE will be worn by all employees based on their role and responsibilities and in adherence to state or local regulations and guidance.
Practice frequent handwashing.
Save your resources! Latex gloves are only effective if you are avoiding cross-contamination.
Routinely wipe down all workstation surfaces, multiple times each day with disinfectant wipes or spray.
Routinely wipe down tools and equipment multiple times each day with disinfectant wipes or spray. This includes phones, tablets, and keyboards. Don’t forget the cooler door!
No sharing of tools or equipment. If tools or equipment MUST be shared, they must be sanitized anytime transfer occurs between employees.
PHYSICAL DISTANCING PROTOCOL
Employees must keep a minimum of 6’ distance from other employees and customers.
Mark the floor with tape to promote safe distance.
Precautions must be taken to ensure customers keep a minimum of 6’ distance from each other. This can include a designated pick-up area with a clear indication of flow-of-traffic.
DELIVERY
CLEANING / SANITIZING PROTOCOLS
Appropriate PPE will be worn by all employees based on their role and responsibilities and in adherence to state or local regulations and guidance.
Masks should be worn from the van to the recipient’s property / drop-off location.
Practice frequent handwashing.
Save your resources! Latex gloves are only effective if you are avoiding cross-contamination.
Routinely wipe down all workstation surfaces, multiple times each day with disinfectant wipes or spray. In addition to the store, your vehicle is also your workstation! Disinfect those steering wheels and door handles.
Routinely wipe down tools and equipment multiple times each day with disinfectant wipes or spray. This includes phones, tablets and keyboards.
Use hand sanitizer after each delivery to help prevent the spread of germs.
If a delivery vehicle needs to be transferred from one driver to another, it must be properly sanitized.
PHYSICAL DISTANCING PROTOCOL
Employees must keep a minimum of 6’ distance from other employees and customers.
All deliveries are no-contact deliveries. You may not enter a recipient’s home. If you are delivering to a place of business, follow their safety procedures.
Contact the recipient prior to delivery and let them know a delivery will be left at their door. The driver can wait in vehicle to ensure delivery was received.

'Looking at green foliage can enhance creativity, increase calmness, lessen irritability, and restore mental energy. Researchers found that indoor plants prevent fatigue during demanding work.' Men's Health Magazine

Text below from www.aboutflowers.com Workplace Productivity Study:

(MAY 1, 2020, BOSTON, MA) – This year, Mother’s Day looks different for many of us. It may not be possible in light of COVID-19 to visit with mom or other women who have influenced your life. Such separation induces stress and loneliness but, according to several research studies, flowers may be just the antidote moms and women in general need this season.

According to a survey by Wakefield Research, 68 percent of people feel stress on a weekly basis, and 32 percent are stressed every day—numbers that are now almost certainly higher in today’s COVID-19 environment. Women, in particular, are affected, as one in four report experiencing stress multiple times a day.

Research from the University of North Florida shows that something as simple as flowers can help. The findings show that people who lived with flowers in their homes for just a few days reported a significant decrease in their levels of stress and improvements in their moods. Additional research from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, shows that the presence of flowers around senior citizens decreased depression among 81%, refreshed recent memory among 72% and encouraged outreach to loved ones among 40 percent. And research from Harvard University found that people who live with flowers report fewer episodes of anxiety and depressed feelings.

“Flowers have evolved to activate positive emotional responses from people,” says Rutgers University researcher Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., director of the university’s Human Emotions Lab. “Each bloom has the potential to put a smile on our face and sway our opinion of a friend, colleague or loved one. That’s powerful.”

“When you receive flowers as a gift, you know that someone is thinking of you right now, this very minute,” said Rick Canale, owner of Exotic Flowers in Boston, MA. “Flowers spark joy, something that everyone needs right now—especially mothers.”

For Mother’s Day gift ideas, visit www.exoticflowers.com  or call (617)942-4803.

# # #

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world. We're launching #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of unity to take place on May 5, 2020, as a response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. - www.givingtuesday.org

We have joined the path set out by non-profit American Floral Endowment. They have announced the launch of a new online campaign promoting Giving Flowers on #GivingTuesdayNow. This new campaign aims to promote a day of flower giving. We’re here to help spread messages of the emotional benefits that flowers provide, such as reducing stress and improving emotional health while promoting flower buying.

• Thank you for support at this time. You are helping to keep this small business open.

We wish you much success during this most challenging time. We remain, #InThisTogether.

Say It With Flowers has been a catch phrase of the floral industry for decades. It makes sense. What better to express your emotions that to connect with flowers.

At Exotic Flowers, we are rolling out card stunning rose bouquets that also give you a hint at waht to say in case you are at a loss for words.

Rubies and Pearls Bouquet

This exciting bouquet of red and white roses in a dazzling silver cube is guaranteed to show you care. Simple, stylish. 

Card Message Recommendation: "I want to shower you with rubies and pearls." or "The jewelry store is closed but these gems are for you."

When looking for a truly unique reaction. Our sapphire blue roses are grown and dyed in Ecuador. This long-lasting rose is an ideal unique gift.

Card message recommendation: "I know you love sapphires and want you to have these."

Rainbow Roses

Each petal is individually dyed to create a kaleidoscope of color. These roses are imported from Ecuador and are not available often.

Card Message Recommendation: "You are the pot of gold at the end of my rainbow."

Walked out this morning, I don't believe what I saw
A hundred billion bottles washed up on the shore
Seems I'm not alone in being alone
A hundred billion castaways looking for a home

- The Police

There's no coincidence that a message in a bottle is a romantic metaphor immortalized by Van Halen and The Police.

Saying it with flowers is awesome but words matter too. Let us help write the card, they will keep that card long after the flowers are gone. Your card will become a living memory of the gorgeous flowers you sent.