Exotic Flowers in Boston

On Monday, October 9th, we will be celebrating Columbus Day, the celebration of Christopher Columbus who landed in the New World in 1492.  For many Bostonians who enjoy their history, families will be gathering in historical locations across the state such as Plymouth Rock in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  Others will be reading up on the momentous occasion and maybe even be attending a reenactment performed in several of our surrounding communities.  The activities available are endless and it’s a certainty that whatever type of Columbus Day information you’re looking for- Boston has it covered.  

photo credit via aboutflowers.com

History buffs aren’t the only ones getting into the spirit of things this October since many are attempting to bring their own authenticity of this time into their own floral studios.  While many parties will be hosted to mark this special event, florists are trying to find and design with blooms that were genuine to the times.  What does this mean?  Well, it’s safe to say that several species such as hybrid delphinium, phalaenopsis and calla lilies were probably not around in the New World of 1492.  That of course, does not mean that tables were not dressed with floral décor-it just means that the varieties which were obtainable were specific to the area.  What blossoms were they picking to showcase at their holiday meals?  Here’s a list of probable species we might have seen during this historic era.  

Wheat wasn’t only a necessity to survive, but it was also a beautiful plant that could be cut and put into vases.  Bunches could also be tied together and hung in doorways or on doors as a gesture for welcoming guests into their abodes.  The longevity of the stocks would have made them a cost-effective choice for décor plus the color was conveniently versatile with any furnishings present in the home.  Wheat is also a sign for “fertility”, “love” and “charity; three themes that were very important at this time.  

Tobacco was not only a huge cash crop but also a beautiful plant that bloomed pretty flowers during the late spring and summer months. Commonly referred to as “Nicotiana”, the stems could be cut and arranged for centerpieces that not only made a lovely display but also gave off a noticeable scent that may have been aromatic to homes.  Flowers range from a white to soft pink shade which would have “dressed” a special meal perfectly.

Wild Lace Flower was another stunning wildflower that graced the hillsides of the New World during the 1400’s.  Due to its ability to survive with little to no nourishment, lace flower was likely to have been cultivated in mass amounts across glens and meadows.  This variety was a favorite for children who could load up their baskets with stems of these dainty blossoms to bring home as a present to their mothers.  Their white (cream), flat headed bloom closely relates to the fabric for which it is named after and comes from the carrot family that grows similar foliage to the vegetable.  Today, lace flower is still a favorite for many who love the natural appearance of a floral arranging and can be readily ordered from your local florist today.  

If you were born in October, the gemstone that represents your birth is the beautiful opal.  Opal is a one of a kind stone as is often looked upon as being a favorite to many who adore the multi changing colors of the rainbow that can be seen on its surface.  Some cultures respect the gem as being the most impressive of all because it is believed they hold magic powers due to the unique properties they possess.  The gem holds several meanings as well such as hope and purity but can also translate into a sign meaning loyalty or faithfulness, which is why it is the official gift for 14th and 18th wedding anniversaries.  Lure also says that the Greeks believed opals had healing properties to cure ailments associated with the eyes and could possibly even have the ability to give the owner insight into the future.

Opals are undeniably stunning with their multitude of distinctive traits which is why many florists are constantly trying to mirror this beauty with similar eye-appealing arrangements.  Unlike gems such as rubies and sapphires that are much more easily matched to red and bloom blossoms accustomed to a designer’s inventory, opals require a bit more thought when attempting to mimic their similarities in flowers.  It isn’t every day that florists come across translucent or opaque varieties when doing their ordering so they have to use a little creative thinking to replicate the presentation.  The good news is, there’s just about every tint imaginable within opals, giving way to the possibility that you can work with several different shades at one time.  Another approach is to study more of the translucent side of the stone, which can open a door into a whole other set of options. Depending on what the clientele’s objective and preference is when ordering, designers might gain a bit of wiggle room around the species they choose as well as the texture they plan to construct the centerpiece.

Baby yellow ranunculus, dahlias and roses make a wonderful gift for an October birth child because it relies heavily on the softer tones of yellow that many opals possess.  The gift recipient will also appreciate the upbeat and happy appeal that is sure to brighten up any day.  

A simple bouquet of pink peonies may also be the answer because almost all opals have a strong pink pigmentation laying on the the surface. Stick again with the lighter varieties and you can’t go wrong with this springtime arrangement that still packs a “WOW” throughout the fall.  

I love this combination of soft and severe blooms that when mixed together cause quite a show stopper!  Purple thistle, mauve roses, white ranunculus and black privet berries perfectly match the allure of October’s gemstone while offering a sultry and seductive charm.

If you’re a small business owner in the New England area, you already know it’s the personal touches conveyed through your goods and services that keeps a company in healthy territory.  Dependability, efficiency and cost effectiveness are all important factors management must keep constantly in mind to survive the dips and growth spurts of the US economy.  When there is a noticeable decrease in a business’s profits, it’s imperative to take a step back and come up with a plan for what could be done differently.  Many times, there are simple tweaks that can be implemented to increase the bottom line and just as importantly, raise the bar for clientele satisfaction.  While some proprietors decide to invest in expensive décor or pricey marketing materials that may not show the return as expected, others have chosen to lift their company’s presentation in a clever, less expensive way…

Data supports the fact that adding a weekly flower account to your store or office creates a significant difference in several impertinent areas.  For starters, as potential customers enter your shop to browse your selection, they are instantly greeted with a warm welcome that says, “I want your experience here to be one that you remember.”  A bloom’s natural features such as texture, scent and color all positively influence the mass majority of our population’s attitudes which can only bring greater chances for business prosperity.  Another truth to adding florals to your budget is that a pretty arrangement can also increase employee performance as well.  When you make the workplace a happier, more pleasant setting, those who work for you will also experience a better mindset that will likely affect their ability within sales and service responsibilities.  So, you see, it’s a win-win situation all the way around.    

Now that I’ve got your attention and you’re ready to contact the local florist to help set up an account, you might be wondering what are some good options to choose from?  Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend a fortune to add a vase of buds to your business setting.  Adding flora and fauna can be as simple as purchasing a plant or a single stem of roses.  Whatever you budget allows for, there are numerous ways to go about this so don’t get flustered.  These are some top choices that create a beautiful look, plus they won’t break the bank in the process.

Peace Lilies are great plants to invest in, particularly if you do not desire a strong-smelling flower.  Just water once a week and they should stay healthy for a long period of time.  If you want a brighter impact, ask for a 6’’ bubble bowl filled with seasonal cut flowers or request an architecturally interesting design of calla lilies to really display an eye-catching piece.

f you’re a new parent, you’ve probably recently been bombarded with people offering their expertise on what your little one needs to grow up to be the best person they can be.  “You’ll need to take them to every storytime at the local library”, “You must only feed that child organic food” and “Learning baby sign language should be a top priority” may be just three of the hundreds of pieces of advice being thrown at you.  It can be overwhelming to say the very least and a bit confusing as to which suggestions hold water and which don’t.  

According to several Boston’s florists, they also have their own point of view when it comes to child rearing and interestingly enough, protest a special set of floral tips that are said to be beneficial to children.  Just by regularly exposing babies and kids to blooms styled in arrangements or grown outside the home, they will be receiving crucial developmental and emotional influences supportive to their growth.  

Some advantages include:

1. Lower incidences of anxiety and depression.
2. Increased talents found in creativity.
3. A greater appreciation of all things that grow.
4. A general promotion of health in all areas, specifically within sleeping and eating.
5. An efficient tool for encouraging fine motor skill development.
6. Increased development of the smell and tactile senses.

These are some great reasons to expose your children to the positive effects of flowers but now you’re going to need to know what are some ways to do it?  It’s a common question but you’ll find the answers are really quite simple.  Just by engaging in one or more of these activities, you’ll soon see the payoff blooms can add to your new family while also receiving some of the benefits yourself.  Check this list out to begin adding florals to your life today!

1. Plant a garden in your backyard.  This is probably the most obvious but if you don’t have a green thumb don’t worry.  You don’t have to be Martha Stewart to cultivate a flower bed.  Just dig up a small patch of land and add seeds of seasonal bulbs that will sprout during the temperate times of the year.  Water and feed accordingly.
2. Educate your children by browsing a local florist and ask an employee to tell you a few of the varieties they carry.  Kids can begin to recognize various species and perhaps take a fresh bouquet home with them after their lesson.  
3. On the next rainy day, go to a flower shop and purchase some stems of your favorite species and let the kiddos arrange the blooms in vases.  You can teach them about the delicate nature of the plant while also allowing them to learn about color, size and texture.  

Now that we are officially submerged in the fall season, our floral fashion is beginning to mimic the change in color, texture and style.  While September still seems to foreshadow the days of summer while interweaving fresh tones of deeper hues, this month continues to bring about further tints of warmth that reflect the autumn season.  As we look around us, all we see is color, color and MORE COLOR so it’s important to show this in our décor as well.  Pretty soon, you’ll see more of an influx in orange, brown and burgundy, which will continue into the month of November.  For those of you who prefer drama within their centerpieces, you’re in luck because during the next few weeks, florists will begin to utilize this palette by selecting a fresh inventory of fall flowers.  If you’re not ready to say goodbye to some of August’s favorites such as sunflowers or zinnias, have no fear…  Designers are well aware of the lingering summer beauties and will do their best to incorporate a touch of this within your arrangement if desired.  For those of you who are ready to embrace the October festivities with zeal, you’ll want to concentrate on a deeper and more enriching spectrum of color. Here’s a few suggestions to get your wheels turning…

photo credit via aboutflowers.com

October Flowers: October Foliage:

1. Rudbekia           1. Kale
2. Lanterns             2. Bittersweet
3. Hydrangea         3. Hay
4. Black Calla Lilies 4. Millet
5. Orange Day Lilies 5. Maple Leaf Branches
6. Mimosa               6. Green Amaranths
7. Asters                 7. Cabbage
8. Mums                 8. Artichoke
9. Marigolds           9. Grape Vine
10. Orange Gerberas 10.Leather Leaf
11. Dahlias               11. Pittosporum
12. Chocolate Cosmos 12.Wheat

photo credit via aboutflowers.com

Foliage encouraged for this month’s floral arranging is also incredibly beautiful and will likely consist of a hearty leafage that is sure to stand out in a vase.  Since these plants are used to the cooler temperatures we experience during this time of year, not only will they look dazzling but will likely last a lot longer, too!  Another fun trick is to fill vases with native fruits such as apples, small pumpkins or acorns to give pieces an authentic presentation.  You can ask your florist to add this bit of extra texture to your order or simply pick up these items at a nearby farm stand. If you live near forested areas or have a garden still thriving, you might even find these treasures in your own back yard…

If you read the articleabout how to pair a white wine with a vase of flowers but aren’t really into chardonnay, sauvignon blanc or Riesling than you’re going to like this piece that turns the tables to red.  You and I both know you’re a different species altogether from the white wine drinkers and deserve an opposite approach when selecting your florals.  As white wine drinkers are often more casual in personality as well as easy going and fun loving-the reds tend to fold more seriously towards the intense side where they know what they want, when they want it.  Judging from this broad categorization, you can imagine that the blooms chosen for you will look quite different.  If you’re a merlot, cabernet or pinot noir consumer, check out this list of flowers especially tailored for you!

Merlot

Merlot is a smooth operator in the wine world and tends to be on the heavier side in terms of its composition.  The color is almost always deep crimson which helps to make a sexy setting.  Due to its low tannins, merlot is quite popular and is often described as either having a cherry, chocolate or herbal flavor.  There’s no if’s, and’s or but’s when talking about merlot so the perfect flower to accompany a glass should be just as dramatic in nature.  Try placing a few stems of brown cymbidiums, black calla lilies or chocolate cosmos in a vase to really set the scene.

        Cabernet

Cabernets are a lot of fun to variate within your palette because the taste can be completely dependent on where the grape was grown.  Since they are harvested in a multitude of regions, you are bound to receive an eclectic flavor.  Having more tannins than merlot, this wine can taste dry to sweet, bitter to dry and has been described anywhere from having a pepper taste to sweet wood sensation.  That’s quite an array of flavor, isn’t it?  Since cabs can take on many different forms, that means that pairing flowers can also be a bit easier, giving you a tad more wiggle room for your shopping.  If you want to stick with the red theme of things, how about picking up a bunch of red roses, red dahlias or red James Story orchids to maximize this delicious display of eye candy?

    Pinot Noir

This is a great wine to talk about because it’s really quite interesting…  Most popularly grown in Burgundy, France, this plant is actually a very fussy specimen to harvest.  Apparently, the stems and roots are very susceptible to the outer elements and prefers climates that are cooler with well-drained soil.  The shade of the wine is also interesting as well as opulent in color and resembles the jewel tone of a ruby.  Best matching florals are amaryllis, red poppies or red anthurium.

There is a considerable amount of benefits that come from consuming flowers that I bet you didn’t know about…  For starters, they add an interesting taste, texture and decadent quality to recipes that can change the entire “feel” of a meal without becoming overbearing in flavor.  This concept may not be completely foreign to most since many of us already cook with plants such as flowers and veggies which have useful blooms to add to our kitchen.  Violets and squash are examples of this and have several delicious qualities that turn an ordinary dish into magic.  Even if you’re a meat and potato type of a person- I can guarantee there is a recipe here that is perfect for you.  Read up on the qualities of these earthy flowers and see what entices your palate.

photo credit via thenerdyfarmwife.com

Violets

You wouldn’t think it but these little purple wildflowers are more than a pretty ground cover.  Violets have several purposes due to its rich color, scent and yes- even taste.  There are hundreds of recipes that utilize this bloom’s properties to make delicious dishes, particularly those that lay on the sweeter side.  Desserts are the perfect place to show off this spring blossom’s attributes such as in cakes, pastries and drinks.  One idea that really interested me was a recipe that I came across written by “the nerdy farmwife” which was a violet jelly.  Not only did she market the beauty of this concoction impeccably but it also made my mouth water for some jam and biscuits immediately.  Easy as 1-2-3 instructions as well as sensational photographs taken, jelly fans might want to pop on over to this site to see how you can make your own violet infused jelly!

photo credit via marthastewart.com

Squash Blossoms

If you’ve taken a look at the housing market lately, you’ll notice that there are certain houses being sold as soon as they’re shown while others sit there for months, sometimes years.  You may have also caught on to the phenomenon of two houses which look similarly (if not an actual carbon copy of the same blueprint) is often retailed at severely contrasting prices even when they’re offered for purchase at the same time.  For those who are hesitant to put the “For Sale” sign on their homes because they just can’t figure out how the trend will work out for them, here’s a helpful tip.  Yes, your real-estate agent is a major key player in how well you’re going to do at the closing but so isn’t your florist.  Not buying this one?  Read on…

photo credit via aboutflowers.com

It’s no big mystery that landscaping will bump up the value of the property as well as additions, new appliances and general upkeep.  These are all presentation factors that help create the illusion to potential buyers that they too, could be living in your home.  This truth is what sells homes so don’t forget “presentation is everything”.  Before you only budget the prep work to ready your house for the market, you might want to consider other areas of your home that might need sprucing up.

While we know that clutter is a “no-no” in this occasion, you also have to realize little touches that scream you have taste are just as important.  One way to infuse an air of style is to dress the rooms with a vase of fresh flowers.  By adding the right variety to drab sites of the house, you can increase the illusion and appeal to visitors.  This doesn’t mean go straight to the yard and begin clipping-No!  This tactic is going to take a bit more expertise than our beloved green thumbs.  The place you want to begin is at your local flower shop who will be able to match paint, texture and general theme of your abode with equally alluring species of blooms. Depending on the characteristics present, a skilled designer will be able to correctly match, enhance and compliment the space just by using specifically architected centerpieces.  If it’s a bathroom, maybe all you’ll need is a bud vase of spring pips or if it’s the dining room, maybe a vase of wild poppies is what’s going to catch a browser’s eye and hold their attention.  By taking snapshots of rooms that need a little charm to your florist, they’ll get a better idea about what you need to make your home a sure-fire winner on the retail market.

The Charles Street Flower bouquet was created to offer Bostonians a floral gift that reduces stress. In iour hurried lives, flowers can help us relax and take a moment to enjoy beauty. Why Charles Street ? Located in the West End, this Beacon Hill street offers Bostonians a picture perfect inviting stroll for its residents. Also, Charles Street Flowers was a crown jewel of the Boston flower seen.

When you’re a wine lover who also adores flowers, it’s pretty safe to say that both are on your shopping list fairly regularly.  Just as with anything else, you develop your own preferences in taste, color and scent, which lead you to a favorite label or perhaps a specific variety of blooms.  Each and every one of us is drawn to certain flavors and appearances, especially when it comes to floral design and bubbly.  Funny enough… there’s even a way to pair the two that will complement each other’s characteristics such the shade of the alcohol and aroma.  While some white wines are sweeter than the next, there is a method used by several restaurateurs to give patrons the utmost experience in fine dining.  Here are some examples of how it is done.

Chardonnay

If you’re a chardonnay drinker, you usually tend to prefer oaky blends that give off either a honey, nut, butter or spicy after taste.  This type of white wine is fuller bodied compared to some of the other bottles and has the propensity to incur greater taste as the year ages.  When matching with a flower variety, you want to go with a seductive bloom like Annabelle hydrangea, green calla lilies or oncidium orchids.  The chardonnay grape typically has a strong smell so don’t overwhelm nearby vases with stinky florals.    

Sauvignon Blanc

Sauvignon Blanc is a much lighter wine than chardonnay and in turn has a much different taste.  Being the most popular grade to be harvested for wine, instead of a rich taste, this wine is described in fruitier terms.  The difference in varieties depends on the maturity of the grape and can taste similar to a lime or a sweet peach.  You’ll want to remember this when picking out your flowers and opt for airier varieties like cherry blossom, peach peonies and buddleia.  These blossoms may have a scent but will not interfere with the overall aroma.  

Riesling

Since Riesling is originally cultivated in the country of Germany, this wine has a very unique taste which closely identifies with flowers and fruit.  It is said to be the sweetest of all the wines and is often the drink chosen to accompany dessert.  These characteristics make Riesling lovely alongside a vase of pale pink roses (this species will look beautifully against the hue of the liquid), pink ranunculus or my favorite, peach dahlias.