Exotic Flowers in Boston

These five Valentine's Day gifts are guaranteed to put a smile on your favorite girl's face. 

* Victoria's Secret Lingerie what is better for romance than sexy lingerie. I would however consider this only an accessory gift. Lingerie should not be your only gift. Please include roses from your favorite Boston florist too. 

* Jewelry - as my wife has always told me, a girl can never have enough jewelry. Why not blow her away this year with a ruby necklace from our favorite Boston jeweler, EB Horn ?

* Flowers: not just any flowers. Flowers from Exotic Flowers in Boston. How about a custom arrangement of black magic roses and hyacinth in a barn box ! This arrangement exudes passion and is an office show stopper.

* Custom Made Perfume: want to channel your inner romantic ? How about creating your own custom perfume ? This one of a kind fragrance is sure to melt the coldest heart.

* Her Very Own Star: 'If I could give you the stars, then I would.' Well now you can. Give your girl her very own star. This has to be one of the all time greatest Valentine's gifts. Name a star after the girl you love. 

 If you are any type of baseball fan, then you have heard of Washington Nationals phenom Bryce Harper. Bryce has been heralded as the next Mickey Mantle since he was 15 years old. He helped the Nationals capture the National League East Championship in 2012, was the Rookie of the Year and appeared in the All Star Game.

Harper's popularity seems to know no end. He has appeared in commercials and video game boxes. Harper even shows he can help the floral industry. In Harper's latest video promoting MLB13 video game, he shows how important flowers are in building relationships. Bravo to you Bryce Harper, you just remindeds millions of people how important roses and flowers when wooing. Flowers show romance and Harper reminds millions of fans. See his video here.

Note to Bryce Harper, if the baseball thing does not work out. Call Rick at Exotic Flowers in Boston. We could always use a florist like you in Boston.

January is a month that few gardeners look forward to. Bank accounts are depleted, waistlines stretched to bursting point and the thought of Christmas cheer feels like a distant memory. A glance out the window will do little to lift the spirits, with plummeting temperatures, snow and ice all lined up to give you the winter blues even if everything else fails to.

Twitchy Boston gardeners missing their usual fix can while away the days and weeks gazing out at bare beds, grey skies, ice and snow and picture a string of long dark months stretched out before them. But there is another way, a way to bring light into the darkest of New England winter days.

Exotic plants grown in your home are a wonderful way to fight the winter blues. They bring a colour and vibrancy to cheer even the gloomiest of gardeners and their rich and complex smells will enliven the spirit and brighten your house.

The brilliance of their colours enrich the soul and the challenges they present to the avid gardener are different to the ones faced for the rest of the year, keeping you and your skills sharp and keen.

There are so many varieties of plant and flower that are both exotic and suited to indoor growth during the winter months. But here are just five suggestions to help lift the mood and brighten your home. And remember, spring is already on its way.

The Orchid 

What’s not to like? Beautiful, delicate and with a rare and varied explosion of colour that makes it a must-have in any winter home. There are now more than 30,000 pure species of the orchid which mean there is one for almost every set of conditions. They will need to be watered carefully and placed in a position where the sun can bathe them gently for at least a few hours a week, but, despite their frail appearance, they are remarkably hardy and will fight their way through most winters. Pick one and enjoy the uplifting results.

Lemon Tree

Citrus plants make fantastic additions to your winter collection. The smell alone will bring a smile to your face and a reminder of spring and summer aromas. But these are evergreen plants and what is more they flower during the winter months. To get the very best out of them all you have to do is pick the right spot. An ideal place will see them given plenty of sunlight and occasional water. These plants hate too much water but if you can add nutrients you will reap the benefits. Be careful to keep them away from radiators or heaters and if you can do all that you will be in for a treat. Orange trees are also fantastic and although they are not cheap.

The Kaffir Lily a.k.a. Clivia

This is a beautiful South African plant with spikes of cup-shaped, pink and red flowers. It is from the same family as Amaryllis and will enjoy a bright position out of direct sunlight. If you grow this plant indoors it will bloom delightfully with vibrant colour from the Fall into early winter and should be fed and watered more frequently as the holiday season approaches. The foliage is a sight to behold but it is the beauty of the flowers that will make the difference to even the gloomiest of rooms. A dead cert for a better mood.

Kalanchoe

Another extremely attractive plant is the Kalanchoe, which blooms into a series of tiny but eye-catching flowers even in the deepest of winter. Another reason that this plant is such a winter favourite among the exotic crowd is that it is wonderfully low maintenance and easy to look after. Bright clusters of pink, orange or even yellow flowers are a perfect way to bring colour and warmth to your home.

The Christmas Cactus

Another must-have, even beyond the holiday season to which this plant lends its name. They generally reach full bloom in January, just as your spirits are flagging, and burst into life with rich pink or purple red with elongated drooping fuschia-type blooms that will last deep into the winter months. This is another plant that is easy to keep but it does not like cold draughts.

Protect Your Plants

Having decided to brighten your home with some exotic indoor plants, it is vital to protect them with theft on the rise and the risk of disease always something to consider. Many gardeners now choose to insure their investment, in the same way that garden centre insurance has been commonplace for many years, in order to preserve and protect what can amount to a significant investment. A number of companies offer this service and while it might seem unlikely that someone would actually break into your conservatory to steal your most precious plants, a quick Google search will reveal a slew of local newspaper articles reporting exactly that. You have been warned.

by Guest Blogger

Evelyn Grant

At Exotic Flowers in Boston, we often celebrate events and holidays with flowers. We see how fresh flowers help create memories and amazing experiences. Nowhere in the United States is this more present than the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. Millions of blooms of fresh flowers are on showcase for the world to see and be in awe of. Here are some of our favorite photos from the 2013 Tournament of Roses Parade.

Fact: The originial Rose Parade started on January 1, 1890. 

Our floral partners at FTD have been proud sponsors of the parade for decades. The FTD floats have also won many awards.

The 2013 Rose Parade featured 41 floats, 24 marching bands, and 21 equestrian units. The Dr Seuss float was my personal favorite for 2013. Note the hundreds of green apples around the base of the float. This float won the award for best theme at the parade. Of course being married to Children's Book Author, Suzie Canale is another reason I am so partial to Seuss.

In 2013, our favorite New York florist, Starbright Floral Design, sent top designers from New York to Pasadena to volunteer their skills on the floral masterpieces.

No detail is unimportant for the Tournament of Roses event. Check out the table for ABC which is loaded with toses, orchids and solidago.

Famous Field Marshals in Parade History Include: Shirley Temple, Bob Hope, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, Frank Sinatra, Danny Kaye, Lee Iacocca, Arnold Palmer, Hank Aaron and Angela Lansbury.

: The Favors...

"Our wedding was many years ago.

The celebration continues to this day." ~Gene Perret

Traditionally speaking, wedding favors are given by the newly wedded couple to their guests in both thanks for their attendance to their special day and as a small reminder of the festivities.  There are several factors which decide the form of the particular gift such as a wedding theme, seasonal time of year and of course, a budget agenda.  While some choose engraved trinkets of couple's names and wedding dates, others opt for less customary items which reflect a twosome's spirit or interests.  Wedding favor shopping is an amusing to do during planning, allowing those who would like to exercise their artistic imaginations to do so as much as they wish.   Selecting anything from picture frames to satchels of candy, take a peek at these fabulous yet affordable ideas to offer your friends and family.

Traditional and Engraved~ Traditional favors are sometimes a safe and easy way to go if you and your mate are having trouble nailing down a particular item to give your guests.  Many past favorites include monogrammed baubles such as drinking glasses, photo hangers and key chains.  While all o these are low in cost and easily ordered on almost any wedding favor website, they also represent a useful keepsake from the occasion.  For those who would like to give an updated spin on this novelty theme, replace picture frames with playing cards featuring pictures of the couple's happy moments together.   Aromatic candles with the date of the ceremony and the couple's initials also make smart and useful replacements for drinking glasses and key chains and seeds.

What's "In"~ Modern times have given forth to a myriad of fabulous contemporary favor ideas involving anywhere from cherished sports teams to new age motifs so if the customary offerings don't excite you, have no fear.   Popularity is growing in areas of goody stations where patrons can make their own penny candy take home bags filled with jellybeans, tootsie rolls and lollipops!  For the sports lovers who desire to share their love for a team or game, miniature footballs, baseball caps and golf balls imprinted with the twosome's faces are perfect to liven the celebration.   Other trendy gifts include scratch tickets, photo infused coasters and on site photo booths which provide both the favor and entertainment for friends and family.

Homemade~ Everyone knows that homemade gifts come straight from the heart so roll up your sleeves and get cracking!  If you or your mate have a particular skill or creative talent, don't be afraid to use your personal assets.  Perhaps one or both of you are painters, calligraphers, gardeners or crafters?  Utilize those abilities to make personalized presents and keep the items simple and relevant to the specifics of your occasion remembering bigger is not always better.  Jars of homemade jams, hand tied nosegays designed with blossoms picked from your flower bed and even freshly baked brownies are "people pleasers" with virtually no room for disaster.  

@SuzieCanale

by Eve Pearce

For those who love flowers there is no better way of celebrating their passion than attending one of the many international flower festivals held throughout the world. An increasing number of keen horticulturalists are taking time off from hunting for the latest gardening deals and jetting off on their annual holidays, booked to coincide with these magnificently flamboyant events. It’s easy to see why they’re seduced to join in with the carnival atmosphere. Whilst there are a number of festivals closer to home, in the United States, sometimes it’s good to look further afield. Here we highlight some of the biggest and brightest flower festivals around the globe.

Bloemencorso

We always associate Holland with bulbs, of course, and they are a huge part of Dutch cultural life. For hundreds of years the Dutch have prided themselves on their superior growing techniques, and they lead the world in bulb production. The Bloemencorso – which is Dutch for ‘flower parade – is not a single event, but a series of them, which take place in many towns in the Netherlands and Belgium. The parade includes floats, and other vehicles, which are elaborately adorned with beautiful blooms. They always take place on the first Sunday of September. To see the largest of the festivals, go to Zundert, where only daliahs are used to decorate the floats, making stunning displays. Whole villages compete against each other, with the entire population getting involved, young and old. Each float is hidden inside a tent for decoration, so that prized designs remain hidden. It is a tradition for children to be involved in decorating the floats, and they are there to show off their creations on the parade day.

Genzano Infiorata Flower Festival

Every June there is a huge flower festival held in Genzano di Roma, a province of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy. This tradition has continued for over two centuries, and is held on the Sunday and Monday after the feast of Corpus Christus. A theme is decided the year before, such as the palette of Michelangelo, or the designs of the artist Bernini. The whole town takes part, and converges on Via Italo Belardi, with designs sketched out in chalk on the street, and outlined in soil. The pictures are filled in with colourful petals and flowers, and the whole effect is stunning. A patchwork of colour unfurls, like a beautiful carpet. The tapestry remains for two whole days while it is judged and admired. But, as ever, life must go on, and to end the festival local school children are invited to destroy the beautiful work, which is as much fun to watch and the construction of the carpet itself. As it has been running since 1778, there is a rich body of writing about the festival, from many famous writers who have witnessed it. Hans Christen Anderson remarked, “The whole street is a carpet of flowers.... Not even a breath of air moves and the flowers lie on the ground as if they were heavy precious stones...".

Brussels' Flower Carpet

Another flower carpet extravaganza can be seen in Brussels , in August every two years. It is created in the Grand Palace Square, in front of the City Hall, a stunning enough location in itself. The display covers an area of 79 by 253 feet, and an area of 19,000 sq ft!  Millions of begonias are used to create another stunning display, which is best viewed from the top of one of the surrounding buildings. For a small 3 Euro fee you can get the best vantage point, and some great views of Brussels too. This tradition has only been running since 1971, but it’s a big tourist draw as it’s free if you stay at ground level, and just soak in the riotous colour.

Pasadena Rose Parade

If you’d prefer to stay in the States then New Year in California might be just what you’re looking for. The Pasadena Rose Parade was first held in January 1890, and has gone from strength to strength ever since. It is widely televised on US networks and the competition is always fierce. It is part of the New Year Celebrations, and Californians certainly know how to have a good time. There are marching bands, floral floats and sports events. The floats are never subtle, but always huge fun and beautifully colourful – just right to welcome in the New Year. If you’re looking for a flower festival which has a whole lot extra on offer then Pasadena is the one for you.

Holiday Happiness by Rich Salvaggio

Snow-softened landscapes

And poinsettias brighten the spirit

Flames cavorting in the hearth

With boughs of holly draped along the mantel

And mistletoe dangling, tempting

Capturing kisses, giggles, and sparks!

“Reprinted with permission from Flowers And Profits – Rich Salvaggio”

Hanukah. Chanukah. The Festival of Lights. Kosher Christmas. Kwanza’s hebrew brotha from anotha motha. Call it what you like, it’s December and the three-pronged multi-cultural holiday monster is rearing its ugly head once again. Unless, of course, you love this time of year, in which case let me say it (or sing it) differently: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

The ”eight crazy nights” (Sandler’s words, not mine) of Hanukah carry thousands of years of history and tradition with them. But for those of you who have only a passing familiarity with the rites and rituals of your Jewish counterparts during December (or the month of Kislev, for you Jewish calendar sticklers), I thought it might be fun to lay down a little fact or fiction. So fasten your seat belts, kids, and get ready to take your first steps into a much larger world as I drop some knowledge…

1)   Hanukah is not a major holiday on the Jewish calendar. Fact. You want the heavy hitters form the Hebrew holiday set, check out Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) or Yom Kippur (the day of atonement). The hullabaloo surrounding Hanukah is due in no small part to the gift giving, a tradition borrowed from our Christmas-observing brothers and sisters. Why co-opt a tradition that has nothing to do with our holiday? You parents out there know the answer. How many times can you listen to your kids ask in a pleading tone why their christian friends get presents for their holiday and we don’t? Exactly.

Hanukah commemorates the Jews reclaiming of the Second Temple from their oppressor King Antiochus. The wicked King had desecrated the Jews’ sacred house of worship while it was under his control in an effort to force them to embrace Hellenic religious beliefs. The Jews refused, observing and teaching the laws of their Torah in secret, and a small Jewish faction called the Maccabees hid and ultimately led a successful revolt to reclaim the Second Temple.

The central symbolic miracle that defines Hanukah occurred when the Jews were restoring the Temple, and went to relight the Ner Tamid (Eternal Flame). They only recovered enough oil to light the flame for one night. Miraculously, the flame stayed lit for eight days by which time new oil had been created to sustain the flame. Hence, the miracle that explains both the eight day duration of Hanukah, and its alternative name - “The Festival of Lights”.

2)   The eating of fried food is not only allowed during the holiday, it’s encouraged. Fact. Like all Jewish holidays, there are foodstuffs associated with it. Since the defining miracle of Hanukah centered around the oil used to keep the Eternal Flame lit, foods prepared in oil, like potato pancakes (we call them “latkes”) and jelly donuts (we call them “sufganiyot”) are served during the eight day span. The pancakes are served with applesauce and sour cream. The jelly donuts are truly more like beignets with fruit filling, and in other parts of the world these tasty treats have a variety of filling options.

3)   The holiday is lousy with gambling. Fiction. Fact. Well, sort of both. Back during the rule of Antiochus, Jews were forbidden from studying and practicing the teachings of the Torah. They did so in secret, and they would cover up their activities when agents of Antiochus came around by pulling out a dreidel and a pot full of gelt (coins) to create the illusion that they were gambling. The dreidel, for those of you in the dark, is a four sided top with Hebrew letters on all four sides that stand for how much of the pot gets distributed on any given roll. The game is played with modern day “gelt” (gold foil wrapped chocolate coins), and the letters of the dreidel also stand for the Hebrew phrase which translates to “A Great Miracle Happened There.”

Look at you. Five minutes of your attention and you’re a hebraic holiday maven (that’s Yiddish for “know-it-all”). Thanks for tuning in this year, and don’t be such a big shot that you overlook the opportunity to send something nice to your friends and loved ones from Exotic Flowers. They’ve got more in their bag than just the pushing of petals So don’t be such a shnook! Check it out! And Chag Sameach! (Happy Holiday!)

 Jon Bornstein

Enjoy Every Sandwich

 If Exotic Flowers in Boston wins the $550 million dollar jackpot in Powerball tonight, rest assured your December orders will be filled. Don't worry your Christmas traditions from Exotic Flowers will remain through 2012. 

After Christmas however, the staff at Exotic Flowers would be bringing more than beautiful flowers with a half a billion dollars. 

• we would have to turn the current flower shop in Roslindale into a year round Boston Botanical Garden which would be free to the public and kept in trust for the flower lovers in Boston.
• local Boston churches, charities and schools who have been so kind to Exotic Flowers over the years will be rewarded handsomely.
• the staff at Exotic Flowers in Boston would be handsomely rewarded and go on much deserved vacation.
• a concerted effort would be made to work with The Women's Locker Room Foundation in helping homeless women.
• and of course there will be lots of free flowers and roses for all our Boston clients until we close the doors.