Exotic Flowers in Boston

Rosh Hashanah begins on Wednesday, September 20th 2017, which marks the celebration of the Jewish New Year and the first of the High Holidays.  For two days, families will gather together for the festivities, dining on sweet meals, listening to the sounding of the shofar and enjoying one’s company to ring in the fresh start of a new year.  Favorite dishes may consist of challah bread, apple cake, honey and kugel, which will dress banquet tables as well as beautiful candles being lit in honor of the world’s birthday.  Among the customary rituals associated with this holiday, hosts are also planning their floral centerpieces to assist with the decor, adding another level of color and inspiration to their event.  Boston florists are preparing for this occasion by updating their inventories to appease requests for those observing Rosh Hashanah and are excited to create bouquets uniquely designed just for you!

For families who follow a customary view about what types of flowers are proper to present during Rosh Hashanah, white tinted blooms are usually the best choice.  The reason lies within the custom to wear white clothing, signifying the first of the ten days of repentance.  Linens are also typically coordinated in shades of white so keeping the theme throughout will emulate a crisp and fresh presentation as well as honor traditional frameworks.  Excellent selections include:

1. White Lilies
2. White Hydrangea
3. White Calla Lilies
4. White Phalaenopsis
5. White Roses

If you are looking for a more contemporary feel in your home, don’t be afraid to splash in some color if you feel too much white will be bland for your display.  Since apples are a large motif for this holiday, you can mirror stunning vases in reflection of this fruit’s crimson or green coloring.  It is the fall after all and these shades are exactly reminiscent of life blooming all around us.  Smart options include:

1. Red Roses
2. Peach Amaryllis
3. Orange Gerbera Daisies
4. Green Dendrobium Orchids
5. Red Amaranthus

The kiddos are back in school after a long and entertaining summer, leaving parents the time to get back to their own business and regular schedules.  For some of us, this means doing a little fall cleaning, putting things back into storage or redecorating our homes with a fresh seasonal makeover.  Bittersweet wreaths, pumpkins and hay bales are popular symbols of autumn that you may see frequently along with large pots of mums dressing up neighbor’s doorsteps.  If your home appears to be vacant of these celebratory items, you may want to think about adding a bit of fall motif such as a fresh vase of beautiful flowers.  Just because summer is over doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy stunning bloomers found at our local florist!

Typically, the colors you’ll see this season tend to revolve around warm and gem tinted tones.  Gold, orange, crimson, bright green, yellow and sometime fuchsia are the most requested varieties by designers.  This of course, doesn’t mean that you have to stick to the manual.  Feel free to venture out on your own and make selections based on your personal tastes but if you want to effectively mirror the season, this is a great place to begin.  You might also notice the use of natural props such as birch tree, sticks, moss, flowering branches, rose hips and bark intertwined with September/October arrangements.  This tactic not only genuinely reflects the time of the year appropriately but it will also (quite often) save you money in the end since these items tend to cost less and will take up space as opposed to a vase stuffed with only flowers.  A talented designer will know this strategy and be able to make a perfect balance between the two, resulting in dazzling autumn centerpieces.

photo credit via McQueen's Flowers in London

Now as I said before, there are no rules which types of flowers you can or cannot use to make these bouquets but there are a few staples that most professionals agree work best.  For instance, green/red hydrangea, Asiatic lilies, roses, mokara orchids, dahlias, aster and gerbera daisies are dependable picks along with Bells of Ireland, mimosa and celosia.  You’ll love the crisp feel to the presentation as well as adore the harvest appeal of fall flowers in New England.  

It’s true… I was a florist for over twenty years in the Boston Wholesale Floral Industry- a job the where the word “difficult” might be an understatement for adequately describing the profession.  Rain or shine, sleet or snow, the crew gathered together in the middle of the night to unload tractor trailer trucks packed with thirty to forty pound boxes which we would have to haul off, open and distribute before the sun actually had risen.  It was grueling exercise, the kind of workout that would leave you aching for days in your back, legs and arms with little to no rest that would allow healing.  Nevertheless, there was something inside of me driving the covers off when the 3:30 am alarm clock rang, the sound of a relentless drill sergeant commanding the start of a new day in the Boston Flower Exchange.  Looking back, I could have left and got a job in an office like most twenty something’s do but instead I made the choice to stay.  Regardless of the empty threats to leave the business in search of “easier” means of work, I continued to show up exactly on the hour required by employees (well, most of the time anyways…) and do my share of lugging, carrying and schlepping while being left with a strange sense of fulfillment at the end of the day.  There could only be one explanation for this feeling that also came along with pain, exhaustion and bruises… I really loved being a florist.

Unbeknown too many people out there, being a floristis actually one of the hardest professions to survive within, and that includes both in terms of physical and financial wellness.  There are long, grueling hours, limited opportunities for pay increases and the toll of heavy weight lifting on the body after years and years of exposure.  Truly, you have to be one tough cookie to make it in the flower biz and as you can imagine- it’s not for everyone.  

You might be wondering, “If it’s so bad, why do it then?”  It’s an honest question with an honest answer-you’re a florist because you were born to become one.  Seriously, it’s the truth.  There are several personality traits that can lead a person into this profession which will determine if it’s the right fit for you.  If you’ve always had an interest in this field, you might want to go over the top 13 traits of a true florist.  Your destiny may be calling you…

The Top 13 Traits of a True Florist

1. You’re Hardworking No Matter What
2. You LOVE Anything That Grows
3. Not Having A Garden Is Sacrilegious
4. Working Saturdays Is No Big Deal
5. You’re Inherently Creative
6. You Like To Gamble
7. Weather Conditions Don’t Affect You
8. You See Yourself As An Artist
9. Your Work Means More To You Than A Paycheck
10. You Continue to Enjoy Learning Long After You’ve Finished School
11. You Like People But You Like Time Alone, Too
12. You Prefer To Move Than To Be Sitting Down All Day
13. You Use Your Hands More Than Any Other Part Of Your Body

Fall is here but there are still some remnants of our summer gardening efforts thriving in our flowerbeds.  Although many of our favorites have gone to sleep for the season, you might be lucky to find a few late bloomers poking their heads out of the ground.  Many people give up taking care of their gardens when September rolls around, foregoing the watering, feeding any other important tasks but I assure you this is a mistake.  There are abundant amounts of species that enjoy the crisper weather and will stay healthy for you all the way up until the first frost.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could steal the last remaining warmer days on your deck gazing at a garden, which is blooming well into October?  Trust me- It can be done!  All it takes is a little pre-planning when planting particular varieties and you could also have a plethora of flowers right at your fingertips!  Especially if you are a clipper like me who loves to snip a few stems for indoor arrangements- you might want to check the below list.  

Picking types of blooms that will do well for you during the last end of summer to the beginning of fall are usually on the heartier side, which are resilient against a nip but also perfect for transportation from soil to water.  

Excellent options include:

1. Hydrangea
2. Coleus
3. Sunflowers
4. Nasturtiums
5. Mums
6. Asters
7. Sedum
8. Scented Geraniums
9. Millet
10. Catmint

Not only will these look gorgeous in your homes, but the price is affordable and you’ll actually be doing your garden a favor.  Trimming back species extends the longevity of a plant as well as stimulate new shoots of growth.  Simple yet elegant, this style will compliment any décor as well as remind you of how wonderful a gift of a garden truly is…

So you’re heading back to college (YAHOOO!) and planning on the décor, which will make your dorm bedroom not only comfortable but also welcoming for friends who will soon be dropping by.  If you’ve already hit Target, there’s probably a trendy comforter with throw pillows and a string of white, holiday lights packed away along with other cool accessories you know will look great up on your walls.  It’s a fact that teens across the country compete to create the “chicest” living area, hoping to become the official hangout on the floor.  Looking back at my college days, I remember how hard we all tried to add our own flair of unique personality to our personal areas, which transformed an ordinary room into something especially made for us.  For artists, there were paintings, for musicians there were guitars-everyone had their story to tell and we did it through the objects we chose to display.   

photo credit via aboutflowers.com

For me, you’ve probably guessed that I had to have lots of things growing around me, whether they were plants or arrangements-it was a necessity I craved.  Since I worked on the weekends for my parents who owned a wholesale flower company in the city, it wasn’t hard to make this happen.  Not only did I drive back to school with a little extra cash to pad my wallet, I also brought back bunches of my favorite varieties that I would arrange in large vases and place around my room.  As you can imagine, my dorm room definitely stood out from the rest and quickly became the site for Sunday movie watching and Saturday night pre-gaming.  Through flowers, I had made a special placethat friends felt welcomed and soothed through the use of color, texture and aromas.

I get it… I get it…  Not everyone has a flower shop available to grab a few freebies and due to the fact that the majority of college kids out there are broke-you’ll need to think outside of the box.  Never fear, there are some really cool and inexpensive ways to infuse flowers into your dorm life and you don’t have to be a designer to pull it off.  Try these DIY tips to make your college living space a special retreat!

1. Place a cactus inside a mason jar.  You don’t need to water it often and they cost around $10 bucks to buy.
2. Succulents are only about $5 and are also low maintenance for that busy student to maintain.  
3. Peace lilies are cheap and give a room a pretty plant “feel” as well as bamboo that infiltrate a “trendy” appeal.

I’m a mom of two boys and also a big lover of plants and flowers so the question is, “How do I combine them both?”  It’s a stereotype that boys don’t belong around the frilly stuff and should instead be committed solely to the “manly” rough and tumbling activities associated with the outdoors.  Flower designing may as well be stricken right off the list as something the male species should be attracted to and to put it simply… That’s just isn’t right.  Although admittedly, times are getting better in terms of it being socially acceptable to wipe clean the lines drawn for “girl hobbies” vs. “boy hobbies”, I still find this particular stereotype a frustrating issue to bend.  Even though girls have been thankfully increasing the ratios as athletes found within hockey, football and baseball- the male species seems to be having a more difficult time adapting to activities, which have previously been seen as “chic stuff”.  As you can imagine, flower arranging is right up on the top of the tier and I for one feel this is a shame.  Is there a way to attract more boys to the floral world?  I believe there is. 

One way of encouraging a healthy connection to plants and flowers is to partake in hikes where wildflowers are prevalent, visiting preservation areas where plant life is abundant and reading about horticulture together.  By exposing boys to the beauty of flowers, we can stimulate growth that reaches far beyond what we could ever imagine.  Did you know that males who possess a connection to both plants and flowers have a greater likelihood to become compassionate, giving and understanding?   Did you also know that boys who have an early education about horticulture possess stronger skills within creative thinking, planning and organization?  Really, it’s true!  Others believe that it may also advance early development of coping skills as well as fuel a longer and happier life in general.  Now these should be reasons enough alone why we should be fostering this important connection to flowers!  So how should we go about it?  Try these simple ways to support a lasting relationship, which might stimulate positive outcomes throughout a boy’s entire life.

1. Nature Walks
2. Family Gardens
3. Simple Flower Arranging
4. Cooking with Flowers
5. Artwork Mirroring Flowers

I know… I know…. It’s beyond depressing to think about the summer ending once again but for all of you who enjoy a new season, it’s right around the corner.  Autumn is surely arriving soon when the trees will turn different colors and the air will infuse a crispy freshness, which makes everything seem to smell better than it ever did before.  For those of you who enjoy this change, you’re probably welcoming the transition that will become the theme for seasonal decorating, particularly if you’re living in the New England region.  If you call this your home, there are definite benefits to the four-segmented panels of our calendar since each brings its own unique inspiration that can be brought beautifully inside your homes.

photo credit via aboutflowers.com

If we’re talking about fall, then we have a plethora of material to work with, as you well know because this time of year is mirrored by rich hues and warm scents that give the sensation of coziness.  Jewel tones are EVERYWHERE so you want to start here and focus on tints of gold, burgundy and emerald.  Take the maples for instance where leaves transform into orange, red and yellow – these stunners mix perfectly with sunflowers of all varieties or incredible still when left entirely alone in a clear, glass vase.  Other autumn gifts, which can be easily implemented, are pinecones, twigs and acorns that have fallen from trees.  These can be made into wreaths or ornaments surrounding the bases of centerpieces that give an ordinary bouquet a festive touch.  During this time, foliage is at its best so you’ll want to keep this as the focus when planning floral pieces and other arrangements.  Dahlias, mums, sage, aster, statice and dark hydrangea are also sure-fire winners with this motif.  

“Make Up or Break Up” – we’ve all been there before, probably on both sides of the fence at least once or twice where we find ourselves struggling to either fix the broken aspects of a relationship or decide to cut the cord.  It might not be the most pleasant period of a romance but it is one, which gifts us with useful experience to bring into the future even when it can be painful.  While some partnerships are just not capable of repairing irrevocable damage, there are others that are in fact salvageable, particularly when showing the depth of which you care.

Boston florists understand this fact all too well and are quite accustomed to assisting the broken hearted in their efforts to win back the object of their affection by offering a token- a floral token.  For centuries, eons and light years across history, both men and women have been using the gesture of gifting flowers to smooth the bumpy course of love and heal the damaged facets of their relationships.  As you can imagine, there’s never a “sure thing” outcome.  After all, each partnership is different and requires its own unique medicine when it comes to mending fences but flowers are always a great place to start.

So how big or small of an effort should you make?  Well, that depends on your partner’s taste and just how serious of a problem you’re facing.  In most situations, if it’s a guy who’s purchasing the flowers, he’ll typically opt for a generous bundle of fresh blooms hoping to make an impressive impact.  When you’re talking about women doing the apologizing, the opposite is usually true where she’ll decide upon a smaller bouquet or even a single stem.  Why is this true?  I have no idea but industry experts report the statistics in their experience and apparently this holds water.  Does it mean you’re limited to this framework?  Absolutely not but if you’re not sure on how to go about buying flowers for your pickled partner, this is a solid piece of advice.  Another aspect you’ll want to keep in mind is favorite scents, colors and varieties your partner may have.  Also, get creative and think back to better times when things were more romantic and offer flowers that have some sort of importance in your relationship’s history.  A walk through a daisy field, roses from a Valentine’s Day first date or a vase of sweet pea celebrating a past anniversary are usually effective winners and could be your best bet.

Good luck and don’t worry if the flowers don’t do the trick.  Chances are, it just wasn’t meant to be…

We are well into August now and I hate to tell you- but our flowerbeds are coming to an end for another year.  It’s sad, I know to see such a beautiful miracle of colorful blooms meet their demise when it seems like we’ve only just started to enjoy the warmer weather.  I personally get a little down when the new season shows signs of ascending down upon us and grow weary of the days ahead where my green thumb’s work will be buried underneath mounds of snow.  Yes, yes there’s always next year to look forward to but still- if you’re like me, the whole presumption can feel a bit depressing…

It is for this unavoidable truth that I make sure to bask in the last weeks of summer gardening with feverish tenacity in the hopes that these memories might just carry me through yet another stormy New England winter.  Even though we can see the tall stalks of hollyhocks begin to bend and the heads of gigantic sunflowers withering their heads, we can still take it upon ourselves to do some last minute snipping, caring and tending for our beautiful flowers.  The generation of gorgeous blooms is a talent that shouldn’t be taken lightly so why should our determination to preserve these triumphants not be weighed as equally?  Just by completing a few final floral tasks, we cannot only savor the sweet success of the gardens we’ve created but also encourage next year’s harvest to be one that flourishes healthily.  Take a moment to see if you’ve made sure your garden remains in good hands for the colder temperatures and don’t forget to snap a couple of final pictures to last you until next April!

1. Clean out all debris surrounding the plants to make spring-cleaning a little easier next April.  You’ll thank me later…
2. If you have pine needles nearby, sprinkle some at the base of the plants.  If we have a frigid winter, your flowers will thank you for the extra blanket.
3. Remove shoot perennials that have sprung from the master source to avoid unwanted spreading that might choke other root systems.
4. Make a vase of cut flowers that are still blooming.  You might as well make a bouquet for yourself!

If you’ve never driven across country, you should definitely put it on your bucket list because it’s the opportunity of a lifetime!  We are so lucky to live in a country where we are home to hundreds of different types of regions where each and every environment can be different from the next.   Many people in other parts of the world have to get on a plane or cross the border into the next country to experience the richness that we already possess in our climate and ecological systems.  The variations are vast and expansive which makes the U.S. the perfect spot to spend vacation time studying the eclectic nature of our landscape.  The best way to do this is by planning a car trip where you can visit a multitude of different places at your own pace.  Stunning variations of trees, lakes, oceans and plant life are all at our fingertips-especially when we’re talking about flowers that graze our earth in splendor!

photo credit via MattSalad.com

If this idea is right up your alley, you’ll want to make sure you have a few things to bring with you which will make recording and referencing a whole lot easier.  All of the items are relatively inexpensive, a wise  invest before you leave:

1. 1 blank notebook that can be used for a journal and sketches.

1. Charcoal pencil for drawing and eraser. (Yes, pencils are fine too but charcoal will capture the specimen’s better.)

1. One or two preferred reference guides to help you decipher unfamiliar species of plants and flowers.  If you’re into a more “tech” approach, download “PlantSnap” or “Ipflanzen” from the App store.

1. Plastic baggies are a great thing to bring if you’re planning on taking a flower or plant home.  Just make sure the specimen is not poisonous or you’ll be taking along with you an unpleasant memento.

Now that you’re all stocked up, it’s smart to know a few of the species abundant in certain regions of the country to help you navigate properly.  For instance, Massachusetts’ most popular native flowers are carpetweed and violets while California hosts a wide spread population of poppies.  Here’s a few states to get you going on your way, which can help you plot your floral adventure!

1. Nevada- Verbena 4.  Alabama- Agrimony
2. West Virginia- Yarrow 5.  North Carolina- American Hornbean

3.   Texas-Blue Bonnet 6.  Vermont- Broad Leaf Arrowhead