Exotic Flowers in Boston

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10^th so Bostonians are making their plans to honor their favorite person in their lives-mom!  Restaurants, flower shops and candy stores will all be bustling, stocking up on inventory that will make perfect presents for loved ones.  Of course, the holiday guests of honor adore a delicious brunch with family, beautiful bouquets of spring blossoms and boxes of decadent chocolates decorated with a bow but what if we tried something different this year?  Keep in mind Bean Town mom’s do considerable heavy lifting when it comes to contributing to their households, raising children and well, everything else in between.  Maybe this year, we should gift our superwomen with a gesture reminding them of how we appreciate all of their hard work!  Boston natives are in luck because it just so happens this city is home to some of the best spas in the northeast!  Whether you’re looking for a manicure, facial, pedicure or package deal, you can bet that Boston beauty locales are preparing their salons for spectacular treatments and services.  If you don’t know where to start your search, meander through this elite list of spas we have situated in town!

G20 Spa and Salon

278 Newbury Street

Boston

617-262-2220

The G20 Spa and Salon on Newbury Street is one of Boston’s highest regarded facilities because of their impeccable reputation and cutting edge beautifying technology.  Besides that, it’s just a really cool place to visit!  Offering rooftop lounging deck, brine inhalation therapies, waterfall rooms and even a skylight hot tub, there’s something for everyone and lots to do for the entire day.  Along with other traditional services such as nail and hair care stylists; this Boston spa tops the chart as also being one of the forerunners in “green” spa living.

Bella Santé

38 Newbury Street

Boston

617-424-9930

Bella Sante should be another priority website to visit when considering a spa package for Mother’s Day!  Located in the Back Bay, this salon offers the basics plus a multi variety menu for packages including “Hand and Foot” massages, “Head to Toe Body Ritual” pampering and a “Be Radiant” treatment bundle.  If dad wants to get in on the action, Bella Santé will change any of these services into a “couples” experience adding romance to any mommy’s special day!

Chuan Body and Soul

250 Franklin Street

Boston

617 451 1900

If you’re looking for something contemporary, check out Chuan Body and Soul, which provides new age treatments promoting relation and inner meditative healing.  This upscale facility bases their services on ancient Chinese medicine, utilizing both natural and spiritual therapies throughout their spa menus.  If you want to try something fun, add the Tao of Detox to your gift certificates that prepares patrons with algae body wraps and acupressure massages. 

As temperatures begin to rise here in Boston, gardeners are wondering what the next trends for group plantings will be this summer?  Window boxes, raised beds and patio pots are all part of your home’s landscaping design so be sure you are ready to plan an attractive design that properly accentuates your property.  Although these creations should show individuality to your tastes, experts have devised a framework to ensure your summer flower’s best performance efforts.  For instance, color, texture and size all effect the final presentation of the plants whether they are being hung from an arbor or rooted within a larger garden plot.  Other factors that are crucial to measure are the specimen’s longevity throughout the season and ability to acclimate in different weather patterns that we know makes New England gardening sometimes a challenge.  As I start to sift through seed catalogues and local nursery websites, I will try to keep these few suggestions in mind in order to build my successful raised garden beds this June. 

Its not always easy choosing the right flowers suitable to the areas those are available to you. Some varieties prefer moist soil while others desire a drier plot, which makes it crucial for you to read the care instructions before buying anything.  Don’t let desire get in the way of your selection process because no matter how much you love a perennial or annual, if you don’t have the proper environment for it to grow, the selection will fail to thrive.  In some circumstances you can manipulate the soil such as making wood or plastic draining containers where you can fill it with the proper material that will enable a wider variety of options for you.  In this case, its smart to get the opinion of a home improvement specialist or florist to help you decide on the material you’ll need for construction. 

Deciding your color palette is really important to pre-planning gardens because it will aid to avoiding an uncomfortable clash once the plants have been plotted.  You don’t want all of that hard work to go to waste on a messy arrangement that will be unattractive in your yard.  One way to develop a blueprint is to get out your paints and start trying out different shades and their combinations with others.  This will allow a large spectrum of diversity and you’ll be able to match most outcomes with the products your greenhouses will have available.  Years ago I met a floral designer who swore that adding white into a brightly mixed assortment of color only worked to separate the flow of the other flowers.  His advice was to keep whites in their own plot to ensure a visually stimulating and appealing presentation.  Other pros encourage a mass array of dark and light blossoms because it illuminates a spectacular burst of flowers, which is exactly what Mother Nature has offered to all of us!

 Suzie Canale

Westwood, MA

Doctors say to get outdoors if you want to be healthy and you know what, they’re right!  Studies show that an increase amount of time spent walking in the woods, combing sandy beaches or playing on the lawn with your kids can actually help eradicate illnesses, stress and ailments.  Believing this to be true, I set up an experiment to see if this actually would help my lack of flexibility and backaches that I had been experiencing.  To my surprise, there was no doubt that taking an extra fifteen minutes a day to participate in my favorite outdoor activity actually did wonders for these common problems felt by many.  What was that activity you ask?  Well, gardening of course!  Through a period of six weeks, I not only noticed a clear change but also developed a few tips for others who might be going through the same predicament.  Without strenuous positions or exhausting tasks, flexibility in muscles and depletion in upper and lower framework afflictions can be attained by following a few easy suggestions when enjoying a planting session of your favorite begonias. 

Before bending down to reach for your flat of plants, take a deep breadth from the diaphragm and release the air slowly from your lungs.  It’s sounds strange but professionals reveal that in general, people do not breath enough throughout their day, which can actually cause heightened anxiety and stress.  Think of it as your warm up exercise and you’ll notice right away the decrease in tension within your body.  Once you’ve done this your ready to fully emerge yourself in the “health” of gardening.

                                           photo credit: globalgardensgifts.com

Next you’ll want to get going with your potting and digging so remember when kneeling to do this very slowly as to avoid pulling or tearing of the joints.  When bending for multiple plants, bow at the knees instead of a full frontal curve of the back to the ground.  This will ease your way into the motion and give you toning as you repeat this movement throughout your session.

If you aren’t into kneeling by your flowerbeds and you’re not afraid of grass stains, sit your bottom right down on the ground and extend your legs in front of you.  While you are preparing the soil, take a second to stretch your arms as far down across your legs as you feel comfortable doing.  After you get the hang of this, try folding one leg behind you while still keeping the other leg straight.  You will feel a bit of tightening that means that the quad is stretching.  Other positions that are helpful for flexibility include laying your hands behind your back and forming an arch or lifting your arms straight above your head for a complete lengthening of shoulders, biceps and triceps.

                                photo via aberdeenflorist.com

Get out there and sample these ways to heighten flexibility and decrease back pain without ever having to leave your backyard.  You won’t believe the difference a good gardening day can do for your flowers and your body.

If you are lucky to have an assistant to help you within your career, than you understand how important it is to say “thank you” for everything that they do.  That opportunity will be coming soon as Administrative Assistant’s Day is closing in on April 22^nd.   There is a wide array of gifting options available to Boston’s finest working professionals such as gift cards, lunch at their favorite restaurant or even tickets to sporting events.  These are all great ideas but flowers still hit the number one choice as the preferred gesture for office employees.  Why do you ask?  It’s because flowers do not discriminate between age, sex or location demographic.  Flowers are universally appreciated and recognized as a symbol of positive energy from one source to another.  Forget trying to decipher your administrative assistant’s likes or dislikes.  Simply call your local florist and order a springtime bouquet that mirrors your appreciation for all of their work efforts.  Here are the most requested floral pieces by Boston professionals for this special and well-deserved holiday.

For the Go Getter

The “Go-Getter” is a special employee that knows no boundaries when it comes to getting the job done.  Personality wise, they have no limits when completing a task and although they might break a few rules getting there, all in all, this person is an asset to your workplace and should be rewarded as such.  Flowers for this employee should be wild and unfettered in architecture holding a delicate but contemporary feel.  Stems that weave in and out like the poppy or sweet pea make excellent compliments for this type of man or woman.  Stay away from complicated designs incorporating many blooms.  Stick to one or two varieties to properly mirror this professional’s style and attitude.

For the Problem Fixer

This is a worker that you want to make sure you exceed regular floral expectations because we all know, they certainly do!  Where would you be without their quick wit and exceptional problem solving skills that arise in every type of business and organization?  Reward this person with a vase saturated with glorious color reflecting a well-organized puzzle.   Think hyacinth mixed with tulips and roses or gerbera daisies fixated with anemones and ranunculus.  Whatever you select, make sure that it exudes this workers skills because boy you certainly need them!

For the Team Player

This employee is willing to show up early and stay late.  They’re willing to hand over the recognition for project ideas as well as cover another colleague’s mistakes.  This guy or gal is the threadwork that keeps your team running so you’re going to want to reflect that by presenting a bouquet equally as important as they are.  Tall stems of delphinium, sunflowers and Bells of Ireland are great choices as well as garden roses, forsythias and cymbidium orchids.  You’re going to want to stick with clean lines in vases that are clear so as not to take away from the dynamics of the creation.  This person’s a gem so be sure their flowers are as impressive as they are!

Suzie Canale

Westwood, MA 

I’m looking at the thermostat hanging on the deck and can’t believe my eyes…  It’s almost fifty degrees out in Boson and the sun is shining!  The change in weather is calling me to begin organizing my garden tools in the shed and plan my list for what I’ll need at the garden center.  Rakes, trowels, mulch and other odds and ends will have to be bought but this year due to all of the snow, I’m going to need to replace a few things in the yard.  One fixture that will be at the top of my spring chores is rebuilding the several raised beds that unfortunately couldn’t take the severe winter that just passed.  Pre-made box gardens can be extremely expensive and can range in cost anywhere from fifty to several hundred dollars.  For me, it’s just not worth the expense so I prefer to pick up a hammer and nail and create them myself. 

Without becoming anxious about the task, I’ll make sure that I design an accurate blueprint of what supplies will be needed and a clear list of steps for construction so I’m not wasting precious time that I could be spending elsewhere.   If you’re like me, you might be in the same predicament but don’t worry.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve never been a do-it-yourself kind of a person because there is an easy and affordable method that I’ve found.  See if this works for you, too and soon you’ll be planting and weeding before you know it!

                    photo credit: awaytogarden.com

Visit a trusted home improvement store in your area and grab a cart to make selection and transportation of the materials simpler.  To make one raised bed, find the lumber department and browse the different varieties of wood that are in stock.  Depending on your green thumb’s tenacity, pick a length that will suit your needs.  My previous boxes measured at eight feet long, which provided ample space for a large variety of flowers and vegetables.  The height of the lumber reached six inches that might seem too short but worked well once the soil was added.  The width of the wood was cut much shorter than the length, which was half in size at four feet.  The rectangular shape was perfect and enabled me to make a pretty pattern with three other boxes erected in a square allowing me to set up a table and chair in the center.  Now I bet your asking what type of wood should you buy?  Well, there are a lot of options including cedar, oak, pine and reclaimed wood.  Keep in mind that the price will fluctuate with the variety you choose so be sure to ask a salesperson what the total will be before you bring them to the register. 

Once you’ve bought your wood, take the pieces home and arrange them in the size and shape that you would like the beds to be in.  Then take a four-inch nail and attach the corners of the sides in a ninety-degree angle.  You will need two nails per corner, one for the top and one for the bottom.  Once they have been constructed, place in the location that you want them to be displayed.   After they have been filled with soil, you wont be able to move them so choose wisely.  The last step is to fill them with an earth friendly soil mix and begin planting!

Suzie Canale

Westwood, MA 

Things are starting to warm up out there and its that time again to find yummy vegetable and fruit dishes!  For some, it’s because bikini season is right around the corner but for me, I love the freshness and bright color that is seen in springtime meal options.  The yellows, greens and reds are just a few shades that are appearing more and more as the temperature rises.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner and desserts are all being created with a new rainbow flare that promises healthy and happy glow in Boston foodies.  One section of the menu is also heating up with promise- and that’s the salads!  There are now other options available to us “greens” lovers that step outside the winter boundaries of garden and Caesar salads.  Restaurants all around the city are showcasing their newest creations that envelop interesting and tasty ingredients that vamp up the classic salad plate.  Whether you’re someone who enjoys simplicity or someone who enjoys eating dangerously, here are a couple of favorites that grazed my palette with scrumptious perfection!

                         photo credit: tutzone.org

For the Fruit Lover

Salads infused with berries are growing to be one of the most requested dishes by patrons.  You might think the combination is strange but trust me when I say that strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and even blackberries drive a sensational sweetness when combined with spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers and shaved carrots.  The best matches for dressings are wide in variation but I prefer balsamic vinegar with this type of salad because it intertwines the sweetness with a pinch of tart. 

Tree fruit also makes wonderful additions to salads, making them both tastier and healthier.  Clever chefs have incorporated apples, peaches and plums to romaine lettuce based salads, causing an incremented draw to these out-of-the-box options. 

                                              photo credit: epicurious.com

For the Vegetable Lover

I’m definitely situated in this department because I’ve been known to throw in a handful of chopped broccoli and cauliflower to my dinner salads.  The benefit from doing this is to charge up your vitamin intake while still keeping the meal low on calories.  If you want to get fancy, sample an Asparagus Farro Salad that has ingredients including spinach, cranberries, walnuts and Parmesan cheese.  Or how about throwing in some Lima, wax, green, red or black beans to infuse some extra protein?  Recipes I’ve tasted that were stupendous were Super Duper Bean Salad and Easy Pea Salad created by allrecipes.com that have simple instructions on how to make your own.  Tear off a piece of pita bread and constructed a salad sandwich to really get decadent with salad dining!

Suzie Canale

Westwood, MA

Boston flower lovers adore filling anything that will hold water and a few stems of blossoms.  Typically, we think of larger pieces when designing floral arrangements believing that bigger is always better.  For me, it’s the smaller details that catch my eye and inspire new creations in and around my home.  One of my favorite flower displays is my springtime bud vase collection that I’ve gathered from hand me downs, family heirlooms, yard sales and wherever else I might spot a unique vessel.  The array of color and material are eclectic to say the least, which is the most beautiful characteristic that they possess.  Different sizes and different shapes when filled with the right flowers can sometimes make a bigger impact that an enormous centerpiece.  The trick is to select the right stems for the right budvase and place them in the right section of the room utilizing the interior décor and lighting.   Since Boston is finally beginning to show signs of spring, you’ll have no trouble finding stunning sprigs of life that will compliment this look.  Here are a few suggestions for designing smaller floral displays that I hope will help get you into the creative mood!

                                                photo credit: Flower Factor

Clean Your Vase Ware

Making sure that the budvases are thoroughly clean is one of the most important aspects of successfully displaying a smaller arrangement.  Smudges, dirt and grime can distract the eye line and create a messy and tattered look.  Giving the glassware a nice soaking in the sink or a good run through the dishwasher is imperative before arranging the flowers.  Use a gentle soap such as Dove and stay away from any cleaner that is strong and stringent.  If you have a piece that has an opening that’s too small to scrub with a sponge or even your finger, grab a Q-Tip because it works wonders. 

Pansies or Posies

Once everything is sparkling clean, the big decision lies within choosing the right flowers for the right budvase.  Luckily, we have some excellent options available to us now including lily of the valley, grape hyacinth and crocus.  Depending on the width of the mouth, only place a few sprigs within each to avoid overcrowding and breakage.  Boston florists can also be helpful because items such as gerbera daisies, roses and other imported varieties might also be delightful additions. 

                                             photo credit: Flower Factor

Colorful Matching

The shading of the vase may seem to control what flower fits inside but don’t be afraid to design out of the box.  White does not always have to go with white and blue does not always have to go with blue.  Try to flip your color control and break away from traditional matching techniques.  The more we bend the rules when designing tiny bouquets, the more attractive it will become and the stronger the reaction to the piece.  Go out on a limb and pair red with green or purple with orange.  Place these beautiful specimens in a well-lit window and watch them wow anyone who passes by!

Suzie Canale

Westwood, MA 

Are your pockets bulging from your recent IRS tax returns?  Is it burning a whole through your wallets?  Are you wondering what to do with this windfall of cash? Unfortunately, that trip to the Keys or shopping spree to the mall might have to hold off until next year…

For homeowners, many of us suffered a pretty hefty handling of damage from this winter’s blizzards and need to do a ton of clean up and repairs to get things back to where they used to be.  Gardens and landscaping particularly took a hard hit destroying sheds, pool coverings and recent shrubbery plantings.

                                               photo credit: marthastewart.com

 It’s not as depressing as it sounds, I promise.  Purchasing supplies that will rebuild your surrounding property will not only increase its value but also provide a visually appealing oasis for you and your family to enjoy during the summer months. 

But where should you start?

The first thing you should do is to take a walk around your house and write down everything that looks like it needs to be replaced.  Include broken fences, rotted raised flowerbed wood, tree destruction, shrub decay and lawn tile breakage.  Once you’ve got everything listed, go through and mark the estimated cost for repair.  Choose one issue that is on the more expensive side and one that is less expensive.  That’s where you want to begin buying materials to fix these impairments.  If there is something that you know you just can’t wait to see new again, go ahead and put it as the top priority.  After all, it is your money!  

                                 photo credit: williams-sonoma.com

Patio and lawn furniture is unfortunately one of the most commonly replaced summer products for New England homeowners.  Although they are supposed to be stored once the snowfall arrives, we sometimes get bogged down with other winter chores and preparations and simply forget to.  That’s why its so important to find places in your area that sell second hand tables and chairs for the outdoors so that you don’t have to spend a ton of your tax return replacing the originals.  If you don’t have any of these treasure troves located close by, seek out confinement or reparation stores that might carry these items at a bargain price.  You’ll love the retro feel and be pleasantly surprised as to the money you’ll save!

  photo credit:Flower Factor

Unfortunately, we’re all going to be replanting many of our favorite perennials this year due to the severity of the ice that Bostonians experienced but that doesn’t mean we have to blow our wad entirely!  There are plenty of deals for these blossoming beauties; you just have to find them.  Try visiting garden club sales where you can usually pick up stunning clippings from other people’s gardens at a low cost.  Lamb’s ear and lady’s mantle in particular are fabulous specimens to be on the lookout for.  Don’t forget to drop by local farm stands too because often, they carry samplings from their own harvests and sell them at cheaper prices than larger greenhouses.

Suzie Canale

Westwood, MA 

Suzie will be spending the spring at our Westwood home rehabilitating her garden.

April is the best month for spring when things are becoming greener and blooms are beginning to poke their heads up from a long winter’s sleep.  Of course New England’s know rain season helps with this too as things defrost and adjust to temperatures (hopefully) rising into the mid 60’s.  As we become inspired about the changes occurring outside, Boston florists are utilizing the environmental transitions towards offering customers a new selection.  By focusing on color changes, textures and new varieties available during April, floral professionals are wowing their clientele with a fresh and bold array of bouquets.  Here are the top choices that I’ve found being advertised-I can’t wait to try them all out! 

                                 photo credit: Flower Factor

Pastels are still really beautiful for this month although they are sometimes seen as traditional.  Soft shades of lavenders, blush pinks and creams all create a stunning impact when combined in vases.  Their easy blend brings a sweet aura to homes and does well to emulate the stunning characteristics the month of April brings.  Suggested varieties include grape hyacinths, tulips, lily of the valley and crocuses.  Since in general, they are petite in size, arrange these flowers in bud vases or miniature china pieces.  Also, hunt in your attic for unusual antiques that might work just as well for displaying flowers.  The delicate patterns and eclectic vase material will compliment these spring favorites by providing interesting holders display as well as utilize some of your favorite treasures that you already posses in your home.  Don’t forget to check the trees in your area for seasonal blossoms like magnolia and cherry that are also excellent options for softer textures and tones. 

                                                   photo credit: Flower Factor

If pastels seem all washed up to you, try going in the other direction and vamp up the bold in your blossoms!  Our backyards are starting to burst with offerings of forsythia, fritalaria, hellebores and crocus so do yourself a favor and go scout things out.  Braches are stunning when cut and put in a clear cylinder holding warm water or bubble bowls of deep colored ground coverings such as daffodils will also keep onlookers in awe.  If you are hoping to pick something up from your florist, ask for peonies that are just starting to be imported from France and Holland or California garden roses, which also grow in majestic jewel tones.  Bearded iris, gerbera daisies and freesia are also excellent options that are becoming more and more popular for April arrangements! 

 Suzie Canale

Westwood, MA