Exotic Flowers in Boston

Flower arranging can be a sensational way to add to your holiday decorating.  Bringing cheer, happiness and beauty to any home, a stunning plethora of blooms gives incredible accent to traditional festive pieces such as ornaments, wreathes and candles. Decadent in color, texture and exquisite scent, the right vase of flowers will enhance your seasonal settings without outdoing the more traditional essentials of table settings and of course, the turkey.  From dainty bud vases to massive urns and vessels, there is no denying the charm a bouquet of fresh flowers can bring to a home during this special time of year so don’t be afraid to get creative when searching.  Some of the most dazzling centerpieces are found within the least likely treasures hidden within our home.  Try these ideas to make the perfect floral epergne for your holiday enjoyment.

The best place to start your search is in your basement or attic.  You never know what kind of funky trinkets you may be able to morph into a vase.  Items such as pottery and glass servings make excellent choices since they show off the colors of the stems as well as eradicate an antique, “no fuss” appeal.  Patterned china is also a lovely option as well as ceramic, planting pots, mismatched coffee cups and even lanterns.  Don’t be afraid to really think outside of the box and try other possibilities such as small glass match holder containers, children’s teacups and maybe even old pantry sugar and flour jars.  All of these reflect the feeling of “home”, which is ideally what we look for in this type of “family” theme.   If you cant seem to find any of these in your own house, flea markets and yard sales are wonderful places to hunt for unique valuables where you can not only get a great deal but have the satisfaction of recreating something used into something new.

If this concept of making your own vase sounds enticing, you may want to keep in mind a few tips to ensure a successful centerpiece arrangement.  The most important factor is if the object holds water.  Before actually placing flowers within a holder, run water into it over the sink to be positive that it is drip free.  Other things to keep in mind are dyes that may be painted in inside or outside of the jar causing water to turn an undesired color and deciding beforehand if the material the vase is made up of will keep its form instead of disintegrating or decomposing (I’ve seen people try to use paper for vases-doesn’t work I assure you).  Whatever means you go about utilizing your own holiday vase, be certain that it is reflective of your individuality and taste because there is nothing more important than making your holiday special for you and your loved ones. 

Suzie Canale

Westwood, MA

all flower photos in this post courtesy of Flower Factor and AboutFlowes.com

 Suzie Canale lives in Westwood, Mass her hobbies include, fitness, decor, reading and cooking. 

What’s Thanksgiving in New England without serving up delicious, scrumptious, mouth watering pie?  It’s the dish we look forward to from the moment we step up to the holiday table, allured by sweet scents wafting from the kitchen oven.  Bostonians are particularly lucky because many of the best pies hold ingredients, which are native to our farms and local orchards during this season.  Using native produce within our cooking makes foods even more spectacular, so it’s important to remember to buy or pick within the Boston region whenever possible.  Looking for the perfect pie to bring to the table this Thanksgiving but aren’t sure where to start?  No problem, here are a few of my best New England pie suggestions to get you rolling the baking pin in no time!

                                                                                                       photo credit: Wikimedia

Apple Pie, it’s a classic and there is no denying that it is one of the favorites during the Thanksgiving season, and why shouldn’t it be?  Apples of all kinds are plucked from the regional orchards of Massachusetts, holding the crispest, sweetest (and if you prefer) the tartest fruit just perfect for autumn recipes.  According to and article featured in Bon Appétit written by Chris Morocco, the three top suggested apples to create the filling for this pie are Pink Lady, Granny Smith and Honey Crisp, which all have varying degrees of sweetness and tartness.   Bakers are hinted to taste a sample of each before deciding which variety to use since the selection that is made will drastically affect the taste of the pie once it is completed.  Simple recipes can be found on the websites of Betty Crocker, Pillsbury and the Food Network.  

                                                                  photo credit: TasteOfHome.com

Rhubarb Pie

I’ll admit it; this is hands down my favorite treat of the Thanksgiving season.  Traditional to many New England tables, Rhubarb pie is an interesting concoction, tasting bitter and sweet all at the same time.  With every spoonful, the unusual root never fails to delight eaters with a decadent assortment of flavor while being accompanied by only a few simple ingredients of sugar, flour, butter and salt.  Many bakers are frightened by the seemingly complexity of Rhubarb pie, but I assure you, there’s nothing to it.  According to a recipe found on allrecipes.com, here are the easy steps to making this incredible dessert!

Ingredients: 4 cups of chopped rhubarb, 1 1/3 cups of sugar, 6 table spoons of flour, 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 pre made pastry crust. 

Directions: Preheat Oven to 450 degrees.  Combine sugar and flour and use ¼ of the mixture to sprinkle the bottom of the crust.  Place rhubarb directly over and add remaining flour and sugar over the top.  Slice butter into tablespoons and use as the next layer.  Cover the top with a pre-made crust and bake for fifteen minutes then lower oven temperature to 350 degrees.  Finish baking for forty to forty - five minutes and serve warm.  Trust me, your guests will love it!

                                                                photo credit: Meals.com

Pumpkin Pie

Let’s face it.  You can’t really say your having a New England Thanksgiving without enjoying a pumpkin pie!  This dessert is by far the most popular dish to serve during this holiday and there is a good reason why… Boston is known for their precious patches that reap some of the world’s fines pumpkins.  Working in combination with our warm summers that change into chillier temperatures once the fall rolls around, this creates the perfect environment to raise beautiful, plump and most importantly, tasty fruit that bakers just cant wait to get their hands on!  Pumpkin pie is also popular for its creamy consistency that always pares well with Thanksgiving’s top star, the turkey.  Again, make sure when you begin preparing this dessert to choose a simple recipe where the true pumpkin flavor won’t become over burdened by fancy additives that are just not needed.  Select a really great vanilla bean ice cream to top slices with (Haagen Dazs, it’s the best) and you are all set!

At our home in Westwood, my mom always make certain that we have a delicious selection of traditional pies for dessert. 

Suzie Canale

Westwood, MA 

 Suzie will be celebrating Thanksgiving with her two sons, husband, mom and aunt at her home in Westwood. Masschusetts.

Veterans Day is a holiday marked to honor all of those who have served our country in the military forces.  Often confused with Memorial Day, which remembers all those who have died while in the service, November 11^th is the federal holiday that marks the end of The Great War otherwise known as World War I.   Although the document that officially ended the battle, The Treaty of Versailles, wasn’t signed in France until seven months later on June 28, 1919, soldiers ceased their fighting on the 11^th day of the 11^th month on the 11^th hour, thus becoming what we all celebrate as Veterans Day.  Around the country, United States citizens pay homage to the brave men and women who sacrifice themselves in complete totality by engaging in activities, events and honorariums to say their thanks in appreciation for everything that they do.  Among one of the most active demographics to participate within these celebrations are Bostonians who are particularly patriotic due to the rich history Bean Town possesses.  Here are some local events occurring within Massachusetts observing the Veterans Day holiday essence. 

Parades are a wonderful way to join with one another to lionize a special occasion and Boston just so happens to put on a remarkable show.  Beginning at 1pm at the corner of Boylston and Tremont Street, this eclectic group of marchers includes ROTC high school cadets, several military units and incredible bands blaring nationalistic music throughout the city.  Following only three minutes behind is the second parade segment marched by the “Veteran’s For Peace”, an organization dedicated towards advocating knowledge about the cost (financial, physical and mental) of war upon our country.  Filled with chants, speeches and colorful presentations, Boston’s Veteran’s Day Parade is one of the most reputable patriotic gatherings of the year.

Boston is also hosting a variety of special events including the “Women’s Veterans Appreciation Day” event located at the State House on 2014 November 6^th, at 11 am.  Not only will families and friends gather to eat an exquisite brunch celebrating female military personnel but one will be awarded the Deborah Sampson Award in dedication of Massachusetts’ first female veteran.  “Back On My Feet Veteran’s Walk & Run” is another alternative where awareness and funds are raised to support returning military troops to deter homelessness and abandonment.  This wonderful cause takes place on the 11^th of November at 6pm starting meeting at Government Center.   A third option to be included on your calendar is the “Habitat For Humanity Veterans Build”, a construction project supported by the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services to build homes for returning female soldiers.  And the best part about it?  You don’t have to have any previous architectural or contracting skills to join in!

There are flowers for all occasions.  Some are happy, some are sad and some are given with the intent of remembrance.  During these times when we select pieces to honor those we have lost, many look for blooms, which reflect memories of their spirit, hoping to feel once again connected to those who are gone.  Memorial urns, cascades and plants are placed to signify our love and admiration at the sites of their burial for this reason.  We seek to select arrangements that will not only signify our emotion but also withstand the natural outdoor elements that are accustomed to cemeteries and graveyards.  How do we choose remembrance arrangements that are beautiful but will hold up for an elongated time outside?  Here are a few popular floral ideas that will satisfy both the demands of eye appeal and longevity for your loved ones memorial sites.

Long lasting flowers are some of the more popular choices for this type of occasion.  While no blossom is immune to death, there are varieties that will outlive some of the more delicate picks.  Lilies for example, are excellent because of the boldness of their flower’s head and their ability to last for longer than a week depending on the freshness of the stems.  Special species in the lily family, which make great solutions for memorial vases, are Asiatic lilies, known to be grown in bright colors as well as possess strong chutes enabling a longer length of service and calla lilies that boast an elegant white cone shaped face.  

Another type of flower high in demand by funeral specializing florists are in the tropical family with options of birds of paradise, ginger and dendrobium orchids.  Highly branded as strong and almost indestructible (again, make sure you are purchasing the products from a reputable wholesaler with high quality and fresh inventory), their durability and exotic presentation keep this variety on the most wanted list for this type of floral work.  Tropicals are easily mixed with one another and look favorably with other tropical greens including bamboo and hosta leaves.  Don’t be intimidated by a slight increase in cost, their beauty and perpetual ability to outlast other common stems of roses and carnations will leave funeral goers in awe of the design work.

You can’t talk about the options of memorial flowers without mentioning the use of silk flowers within this segment of the flower business.  Un-beloved by all, they do offer the indestructible feature of not being alive and the fact that contemporary manufacturers have made silks a lot more attractive and life like.  Varieties that have ranked among the higher desired for funeral pieces are oncidium, pussy willow and forsythia branches.  If you’re not a huge fan of this material, there is no law stopping designers from intertwining real flowers with the fake.  Peonies, iris and chrysanthemums can add an authentic appeal to urns when paired with quality silk accessories.  Onlookers will love the depth of color and be none the wiser that the piece contains faux stems of flowers. 

Whether you visit Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston to visit E.E. Cummings' grave  or Fairview Cemetery in Hyde Park to visit Boston Mayor Thomas Menino's grave, make sure you bring flowers.

Suzie Canale

Westwood, MA

Suzie lives in Westwood, MA with her family. She works at the Westwood Public Library, has published four children's books and is the founder of the Women's Lockerroom Foundation.

                                                     photo credit: hookedonhouses.net

Holiday décor is a major piece of the puzzle when planning your Thanksgiving Day celebration.  From the cornucopias to the seasonal floral centerpieces, it’s crucial for Boston’s party planners to keep this in mind when hosting family and friends this November.  While we all know that the turkey, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pies are the main attraction, specialists agree that adding a touch of autumn flair turns a nice Thanksgiving meal into an unforgettable event.  Some shy away from installing decorations because they believe that the added cost will break their budgets but I assure you there are several ways to insert beautiful festive pieces without excessive spending. 

                                                      photo credit: families.com

Wreaths remain a popular decoration during the holiday months, and for very good reasons.  Stylish yet simple, wreaths are easily displayed and are produced using many different materials, which is perfect for anyone with a love for flowers, shells, grape vine, leaves, berries and more.  Wonderful because many options can be found right in your own backyard, the list is limitless, allowing you to reflect exactly your taste and personality within your design.  Although some believe that wreathes are confined only to the Christmas season, I assure that this is not true.  Thanksgiving wreaths hold their own particular appeal, offering warmth of rich color and texture.  Here are a few ideas that will dazzle your holiday front door. 

                                                  photo credit: Martha Stewart

Berries are a crafters “treat” from nature because they are versatile between seasons and have stems that are flexible in dexterity.  Easy bending and weaving is important when selecting your featured material since rigid root systems can keep you from forming the desired circular or square shape.  Berries are also wonderful because they come in a variety of shades including red, yellow, orange, pink, green, blue, purple, black and sometimes even peach.  Excellent varieties for this project include bittersweet, rosehip and bayberries.  There is one thing to keep in mind, be careful not to cut anything that is highly toxic if you are planning to hang the piece indoors.  Pets and small children are at risk for swallowing poisonous fallen berries so always know what you are working with.

Fall leaves also make another splash for Thanksgiving décor because New England has the most stunning foliage during the autumn months.  Don’t be afraid to cut branches from a maple tree bursting with color because although the wreath may not last for years to come, it will certainly live for a few weeks leading up to the holiday.  If you would like to construct this by yourself, find a thin but strong wire and wind it tightly around the sections of the two branches without leaves.  Carefully add more shoots being mindful of keeping the desired structure intact throughout.  Once the wreath is completed, if you find spots with too few leaves, you can layer smaller branches on top to minimize thinning areas.

Grapevine is one of my favorite types of fall wreath material because it barely ages and it is so easily made by intertwining vines within one another.  This variety also has beautiful natural curls at the tips, which make a gorgeous yet unfettered and organic presentation.  Luckily, grape vine is native to Boston’s habitat, usually growing in abundance within ground packed with heavy mulch.  Concord, Mass. is home to many grape vineyards, a perfect place to visit if you are interested in this style of Thanksgiving wreathing where many of the local farming and hand made goods stores carry a wide diversity of products using this native plant.  New Englanders sure are lucky to have so many magnificent prospects of materials gifted from our natural environment to inspire our holiday decorating creations!

Suzie Canale

Westwood, MA

 Suzie Canale has published four children's books and works at the Westwood Public Library in Westwood, Mass.

Autumn in New England means more than just carved pumpkins and turkeys, it means color-big color and designers are just itching to use this incredible spectrum throughout their creative floral pieces.  Long gone are the days of palettes containing only orange, brown and green for holiday arrangements.  Florists are now letting their hair down when it comes to selecting great blooms for the Thanksgiving Day holiday rush.  After all, the magnificent cornucopia of color that surrounds this city during this time of year is everywhere, including pigments of gold green, purple and red.  From harvest flowers to farmed gourds and pumpkins, to apples hanging brightly overhead, there is inspiration everywhere and there is truly no limitation to what we can create for our decorative displays.  Instead of sticking to the same ho-hum color scheme, think ardent and bold when concocting your perfect floral pieces.  Here are some innovative color creations that are hot for this Thanksgiving’s seasonal festivities.   

The shade of brown is a traditional color that is used in abundance during the latter months of the year.  Commonly matched with flat yellow or orange, florists can omit this drab pairing and go for something eye catching and elaborate!  Shades that compliment a variety of browns include chartreuse green, white and soft blue.  Any of these partnerships promote a majestic and sophisticated flair for holiday centerpieces without boring onlookers with a “Plain Jane” approach to floral arranging.  For a real pop of color, combine shades of browns with peaches and hot pinks, reflecting the warmer tones of the autumn.

Many florists shy away from using red within Thanksgiving pieces because they know that they will inevitably be depending on the color for the soon approaching Christmas season.  Designers most often will opt for oranges in replacement or substitute the rich hue for a golden pigment instead.  Florists need not to worry about the overkill of red flowers because one, it is the true shade of so many wonderful essentials of fall in Boston and two, face it-people love the color red!  All you need to do is to make sure that you aren’t pairing the shade with another non-blending shade such as a flat yellow or green.  Use your imagination and try mixing stems with lavenders and baby peach or burnt sienna.  The utilization of branches and other “outdoorsy” materials will also help break up the mundane floral centerpieces that were once so common to our turkey tables.  Remember, autumn in Boston is the time to relish in the massive burst of color that Mother Nature has blessed us with so don’t be afraid to dive right in and relish your creative designs within it!

Suzie Canale

Westwood, MA

all photos in this post can be attributed to Flower Factor and AboutFlowers.com - Exotic Flowers is a long standing member for the Society of American Florists and is grateful for the use of their professional photographers.

Suzie Canale is the Director for the Women's Lockerroom Fonudation, the author of The Beantown Tales, works at the Westwood Public Library and raises two young boys.

Autumn in New England is a time of year in which Bostonians relish in seasonal activities of carving pumpkins, jumping in piles of raked leaves and baking pumpkin pies that infiltrate our homes with decadent aroma.  We often sit in anticipation of these crisp few months before snowfall because they are reflective of themes embodying outside activity, family and warmth.  As a Boston florist, we attempt to capture this feeling when designing centerpieces, funeral arrangements, party planning, wedding bouquets and general storefront décor.  While purchases from the flower market often reflect varieties that are locally grown during the months of September and October, flower buyers are also aware of color selections, often opting for tones of red, orange and yellow.  Occasionally, you’ll see a fun accent of purple, green or pink but this base palette is the most popular and supports a strong product line for the fall season.  Why do we depend on this traditional spectrum when creating flower arrangements?  The answer is simple.  Particular colors bring forth particular emotions, many of which revolve around pleasant memories that Bostonians generally experience during this time of year.  Certain colors represent familiar seasonal symbols and events, arousing pleasant thoughts and moods.  The memories make us feel good, which is why we put pumpkins on our doorsteps, tie hay bales to our lantern poles and yes, buy flowers emanating the hues of autumn.  Here’s what my fall color palette symbolizes for me.

Red

Red is often associated with the emotions connected to passion.  Whether love or hate, there is strength behind this hue, a quality that makes us react more so than any other color on the spectrum.  When connecting red to autumn facets, thoughts of crackling fires when the weather drops colder, plucking a ripened Macintosh apple off of an orchard branch and Japanese maples tree leaves blanketing the ground in a luxurious carpet.  The color red connects me to the words warmth, ripe and decadence. 

Orange

When feeling the color orange during fall, there is no getting around the obvious imagery of pumpkin patches. What is so wonderful about pumpkins is that they fulfill almost all of the human senses including sight, taste, scent and touch, a desirable reaction when incorporating this color within your flower arrangements.  Pumpkin patches can symbolize the scent of pumpkin pie baking in the oven, the fun touch of seeds slipping through your fingers and the site of bright orange globes of bittersweet resting in curls of vines.  Orange for me represents the idea of health, enjoyment, laughter and imagination.  Of course we all know what Cinderella’s carriage changed into at the stroke of midnight!

Yellow

Who doesn’t love the color yellow?  Its happy, dazzling and uplifting to the eye where in most cases, brings a person’s general emotion state to a higher level after visual contact.  Sunflowers, chrysanthemums and dahlias are favorites of florists when using this shade within their pieces for exactly this reason.  When associating yellow with fall, I think of the comforting rays of sunshine that we learn to appreciate as they grow fewer and fewer, a field of sunflowers standing stiff with their round faces full of light and the emotion hope as we see more and more candles flicker with the changing months.

- Suzie Canale

Westwood, MA

 Suzie Canale is an avid gardener, accomplished floral designer, mother of two boys, works at the Westwood Public Library, has published four children's books, and is the director of the Women's Locker Room Foundation.

 * all images in post supplied by Flower Factor's flickr site

It’s been deemed the wedding of the decade as fans watched the 53-year-old Hollywood actor, George Clooney, marry the famous human rights lawyer, Amal Alamuddin.  Dating less than a year, the nephew of acclaimed silver screen actress, Rosemary Clooney, had finally found his ladylove after a long career of bachelorhood.  Although details of the matrimonial extravaganza, which took place in Venice, Italy, are still surfacing, the world is on the edge of their seats wondering what this star studded pair had in mind to celebrate their nuptials. 

Believed to have taken place over a three-day span, reports specify that guests were escorted to the seven-starred venue in boats driven through the romantic Grande Canal.  Once they arrived at the Aman Grande Resort, an imperial dinner was served following the couple’s exchange of loving promises atop of a lifted stage.   Official wedding photographs were taken in the middle of the hotel’s lush garden, containing blossoms rich in vibrant color.  A-lister invitees including Matt Damon, Bono and Cindy Crawford who watched as the bride (dressed in a stunning Oscar de la Renta gown tailored with cream French lace) and groom recited vows on a raised platform decorated with white pillar candles.  Red wine flowed and music played on until the early hours of the morning…

 But what about the flowers? 

Floral décor has remained a hushed topic for this event although we have been able to take a peek at a few details revealing first and foremost- that there were a lot of them!  As having been described as a wedding exhuming elegance and grandeur, the palette has been described as mainly white with accents flowing throughout the table centerpieces.  The stunning British advocate carried an all white bouquet of ranunculus and hydrangea, tied together in a traditional European style, while Clooney nixed wearing a wedding boutonnière all together.  We know that massive buckets of white hybrid delphinium were used in several main staged pieces as well Casa Blanca lilies, roses, orchids and lisianthus, again all in shades of white.  Pictures of delicate peach roses and green lady’s mantle were also seen being delivered by florists in dozens of massive buckets.  Floral arrangements included large arches, small bud vases, table rounds and personals, which were included in the estimated $13 million dollar wedding festivity.  Now that’s what you call a wedding!

  Suzie Canale lives in Westwood, MA. She works in the Westwood public library, mother of two boys, an avid chef and gardener who finds time to serve as the Director of The Women's Lockerroom Foundation of Boston. She has published four children's books through the Beantown Tales. 

Clooney wedding photos for this blog from People Magazine and CNN

New England is one of the most spectacular places in the world to celebrate Halloween because our natural environment reaps amazing treats for us to enjoy-specifically pumpkin patches!  Bursting with healthy vines and rotund spheres of orange, pumpkin picking is a popular activity that thousands of Bostonians enjoy during the month of October.  Maybe it’s the simplistic beauty or the wisp of magic that surrounds these mystifying harvest fields, but one thing’s for sure, we have the biggest and best patches surrounding our city giving visitors a multitude of festive locations to celebrate their seasonal activities.  So if you haven’t carved your jack-o-lantern yet, here are a few places in Massachusetts that are sure not to disappoint.

Connors Farm in Danvers, MA is an impressive operation to behold featuring not only a pumpkin picking area of shear perfection but also mazes, which reveres families from all over the state.  Their maze-technology is so sophisticated that they offer options of a gigantic haunted corn maze, regular corn maze or a hale bale maze for the younger guests.  Hayrides are also available as well as a bouncy pillow for children to jump through, petting zoo and zombie paintball.  Parking is free and if you get hungry during your stay fear not.  Connors Farm hosts a picnic area where you can sample from concessions or goodies sold inside their farm stand.  Costs for activities vary with discounted rates available for groups and seniors.

Marini Farm, situated in Ipswich, MA, is a lot of fun to visit because not only do they have a glorious and fruitful pumpkin patch, this location also provides several entertaining booths such as live music, games for kids and a massive corn maze sure to fool even the savviest puzzle manipulator.    What I enjoyed most about my visit to Marini Farm was their simple and authentic style emanating a down home country appeal that provides guests with a real autumn farm experience. 

Carver Hill Orchard in Stow, MA is another hot spot that I would recommend because of their enormous array of fruit and vegetable picking choices including pumpkins, tomatoes, pears, strawberries, peppers, corn, and yes, even flowers!   This orchard also includes a picnic area where kitchen ready foods such as hot dogs and ice cream are available for purchase.  For those who truly love the freshness of pick- your- own styled farms, Carver also features a cut -your -own Christmas tree event where saws are provided starting in the month of December!

And if you're stuck and did not have time to pick your pumpkin from the patch, Exotic Flowers at 609 American Legion Hwy in Boston has pumpkins in all sizes.

 Suzie Canale is local Boston author who has published four children's books, is the director of the Women's Lockerroom Foundation, an avid chef, gardener and mother of two. She also finds time to work at the public library in Westwood, MA.