Exotic Flowers in Boston

Get outside and plant something.

Being outside with plants is good for your mind, body and soul.

Fresh air, exercise and an immeasurable feeling of being whole.

How often have you visited your local florist and been envious of the way they can whip up bouquets like there’s nothing to it?  So, you go home, snip a few blooms out of the garden and think you can make the identical replica no problem, right?  WRONG!  There is a skill associated with making hand held bouquets that requires an eye for color, taste and the ability to follow a process.  Yes, it’s true.  Anyone can learn if they have the patience and passion to work with flowers and you don’t need a horticultural degree to do it.  Let this guide lead you through the steps towards creating beautiful arrangements for your home and events without having them look disastrous.

If you have a garden, particularly a perennial garden, you have a strong advantage from those who don’t because the product is waiting for you in your backyard.   If you don’t possess a green thumb, visit local farms that usually sell bundles of single variety blooms.  No matter what the temptation, stay out of your neighbor’s yard because it’s likely they won’t be pleased you’ve helped yourself to their hard earned harvested blossoms.  

When you’ve selected your stems, try to make choices that will allow you to make pretty contrasts between textures and colors.  Unless you’re using all of the same kind, mix spiky heads with wide faced petals and leafy foliage with simple greenery.  Do not overload the combination with too many things that just don’t go together.  If you want to play it safe, try arranging same shaded flowers instead of getting creative before you’re ready.  Learn the basics first.

Now that you’ve gathered all your flowers, it’s time to put them all together!  The trick to this is you want to slowly add stems to the bunch and turn the bouquet while you’re doing this.  That way, each side will balance allowing fewer holes and clumping.  Do not make it any bigger than what your hand can fit and tie a ribbon around the middle to finish it off.  Place in a vase or give as a gift to someone you love.  They’ll adore the thought and your floral efforts.

Is it the flowers ?

Is it the dirt ?

Is it the hard work ?

It's all that.

when you are working outside and dirt weaves through your hands, your endorphins get going. Step outside and make your life better.

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Dear friends,
I love to read. I have two books I am reading at work, three books at home, an audio book in my car, a paperback in the glove box and I read at least three books to my son Lance every day.
Reading promotes tranquility and sharpens the mind. It transports you to wonderful places in history and your imagination. As a florist, my eyes widen when I read about the roles flowers play in history and fiction. Glenn Stout tells us in Fenway 1912, that pots of flowers greeted fans at the grand opening of Fenway Park in 1912. Vanessa Diffenbaugh's Language of Flowers tells a magical tale where the Easter Lily (Lilium Longiflorum) is a symbol of majesty.

Easter and Pass over are holdays filled with symbols and traditions. Flowers on the table are a tradition and these symbols leave us with memories to pass down from generation to generation.

with respect and gratitude,
Your florist, Rick Canale

From 1979 to 1987, I collected a lot of baseball cards. I ran to the corner store to see the first packs arrive or sat inside the store waiting for the stores to reload their inventory. Topps baseball cards always sold out and I could not never get enough of them. I devoured the statistics on the back. Did you know that Bill Buckner struck out only 26 times in 657 at bats in 1982? I did and still do. I still have many of these baseball cards and grab a handful almost daily and still read those stats. As long as my eyesight will allow, I always will.
Opening Day is here and I could not be happier. Baseball is on the television, the pc, the Pixel (never been an i-phone guy), the radio and in the air. It's likely that you are not as enamored with the game as myself, but baseball connects us.

Please celebrate Opening Day with me and open a pack of baseball cards. This is my Opening Day tradition and I am honored to share it with you.
see you at Fenway !
Rick

For Immediate Release:

On Sunday April 2nd, 2017 Exotic Flowers in Boston will donate 30% of the sales of its blue roses to support Autism Awareness. 

Exotic Flowers is a family owned and operated bsuienss located at 609 American Legion Highway, Roslindale, MA 02131

Autism Awarness Day/Month - April is Autism awareness month and April 2nd is Autism awareness day. We have not only supported this cause by donating Red Sox tickets to Sophia's Grotto's fundraiser, we will be donating 30% of all blue rose sales on Sunday April 2nd to show our support as well. Wearing blue on that day also shows your support as the world "Lights It Up Blue."

photo credit via CBS Boston

Opening Day April 3rd - we have set our window display for baseball. As polled by most Bostonians, spring begins on Opening Day. On Monday, we will be celebrating Opening Day with a series of social media posts as well as ballpark fare for staff lunch. You are encouraged to wear Red Sox gear to work that day. In partnership with the Jimmy Fund, for every Exotic Flowers staff member who wears Red Sox gear we will donate to $10 to the Jimmy Fund to support its Red Sox Rally Campaign.

 This is the first in a series of Exotic Flowers videos. We will publishing four videos per month to celebrate flowers and plants and the effects they have on our lives.

She Brought Flowers and He is Never Letting Go  reminds us that flowers are often bought for men as well as women.

At Exotic Flowers, we are huge baseball fans. In a recent poll, Bostonians considered Opening Day as the first day of spring. Take a peak inside our shop window display as we get ready for opening day.