Exotic Flowers in Boston

On Monday April 18th, 2011 the historic Boston Marathon will envelop a 26.2 mile trail throughout Massachusetts. From, Hopkinton to Boston, thousands of runners will be cheered by thousands of fans along the course. The course will shut down towns and roads for almost the entire day.

Monday also marks the beginning of Passover at sundown. In the book of Exodus from the Bible: we learn that God helped the children of Israel escape slavery in Egypt by inflicting plagues upon the Egyptians before Pharaoh would release his Israelite slaves; the tenth and worst of the plagues was the slaughter of the first-born. The Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord passed over these homes, hence the term "passover,".

It is traditional for Jewish families to gather on the first night of Passover for a special dinner called a seder. The table is often  set with the finest china and silverware and adorned with beautiful flowers to reflect the importance of the meal. 

If you’re going to someone's home for seder, bring flowers. We often bring wine, but start your own tradition by arriving with fresh flowers or a beautiful orchid plant.

Exotic Flowers delivers many table centerpieces as well as flowering plants to Jewish homes on Monday. Most of our flower deliveries will go to towns like Sharon and Newton. The Boston Marathon will cut right through Newton and Brookline deterring many of our vehicles. Do not fret, most of our Passover deliveries are already scheduled for Sunday. We will be open and delivering flowers throughout Newton, Boston and Brookline on Sunday.

In celebration of Opening Day, Exotic Flowers in Boston is sharing its top eight baseball movies of all time.

8. The Bad News Bears - starring Walter Matthau. The original Bad News Bears is the bench mark. Buttermaker, Englebert, Ahmad and all the rest make this a classic.

7. Fever Pitch - Fever Pitch tells the story of a rabid Red Sox fan who falls in love and must decide between his beloved Red Sox and true love. Johnny Damon and Jason Varitek make cameos in the movie as the Red Sox make their assault on the 2004 World Series.

6. The Natural - the tragic and heroic tale of Roy Hobbs played by Robert Redford comes to the screen. A must see for any baseball fan. "I lost it in the sun." - Bump Bailey played by Michael Madsen

5. For The Love of the Game - starring Kevin Costner and Kelly Preston - this movie has a personal connection that lands it in our top five.

4. Pride of the Yankees - starring Gary Cooper as Yankee great Lou Gehrig. This film can bring tears to anyone. One of the greatest scenes in movie history. "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth."

3. Major League - starring Charlie Sheen and Tom Berenger - follow this gang of misfits of Indians all along the way. You will laugh the entire time. "It is very bad to drink Jobu's rum. Very Bad." - #winning

 

2. Field of Dreams - starring Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones. This film just got beat out as #1. "It means we're going to Minnesota to find Moonlight Graham."

1. Bull Durham - starring Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon. This scene makes it the #1 baseball movie of all time.

Dear friends,  Spring has awakened at Exotic Flowers. Our greenhouses are bursting with pansies, lilies, geraniums and hundreds of annuals. Spring is an exciting time of year here. We are at our busiest in May, even busier than December. You will witness all kinds of innovations at Exotic Flowers. Every single one has you in mind. Let us know how we are doing.    In April, Exotic Flowers will be participating in Step Into Spring at the Chestnut Hill Mall. This annual show will also honor a most cherished guest. My wife Suzie has been asked to read her fabulous children's book, The Land of Chocolate Cosmos at the Children' s Spring Fling portion of the show on April 16th from 12-2pm. Please stop by and say hello.        Step Into Spring Annual Spring Garden & Flower Show   Spring will bloom early this year at the Mall at Chestnut Hill! Exotic Flowers will be participating in "Step into Spring" Annual Spring Garden & Flower Show! Starting April 1st through May 15th, award winning landscape artists, horticulturists and master gardeners will share exquisite examples of richly planted gardens, stone sculptures and unique garden settings in common areas throughout the mall! See native floral & fauna and also some of the... most rare and unusual varieties. Examples of textures and blooming colors of the natural outdoors will be on view throughout both levels of the mall! Mark your calendars for both upcoming events:

Public Reading for The Land of Chocolate Cosmos

 The Land of Chocolate Cosmos is the first book in the Green Series dedicated towards educating and empowering children to change the world's environmental concerns. Within the first tale, a community is distraught when their magical natural resource, the chocolate cosmos flower, is overused and abused. With the help of Coco, the people learn how to recultivate and preserve the cash crop, sustaining the sweet enchantment of chocolate that once enriched the town.

Come visit author Suzie Canale at the Children's Spring Fling" - Saturday, April 16th starting 12 noon to 2 pm at the Spring flower show at the Chestnut Hill Mall. She will be reading and signing her landmark children's book. 

 

We are coming up on two of the busiest weeks of the year at Exotic Flowers. Easter is April 24th. Administrative Professional's Day is Wednesday April 27th. Mother's Day is Sunday May 8th. Do not get shut out. Order early.   Sincerely,   Rick Canale Exotic Flowers

Family Owned & Operated www.exoticflowers.com 617-247-2000

 

The 3/50 project is dedicated to saving the brick and mortar stores that our nation is built on.

3 - what three indepently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared ? Stop in. Say hello. Pick up something that brings a smile. (Harvard Research that flowers are guaranteed to lift the spirits.) Your purchases are what keep those businesses around. The staff at Exotic Flowers in Boston not only appreciates your business, but also shops locally with other merchants to perpetuate their business. It takes a village.

50 - if half (50%) of the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion dollars in revenue. For $50, at Exotic Flowers in Roslindale, you could buy 50 stems of tulips and make fifty people happy or one person ecstatic. Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 of the employed population did that.

68 - For every $100 spent in locally independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll and other expenditures. So if you buy a $100 flower arrangement at Exotic Flowers in Roslindale; $68 of that goes back to Roslindale, Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park and Boston. If you spend that on a national chain, only $43 stays here. So if you have gardening needs and spend $100 at Home Depot versus Exotic Flowers, then $25 goes out of our community. If you spend that $100 online then $0 comes back to the community. $0 nothing to the local community when you call up ftd.com or 1-800-flowers for a delivery.

1 - The number of people it takes to start the trend ... you.

Pick 3. Spend 50. Support your local economy.

It takes a village.

 

 

 

 

Country singer Faith Hill has sold over 40 million records worldwide. Faith has a huge fan base that spans many musical genres. Faith Hill is fresh off a new Super Bowl commerical showcasing the advantage sending flowers professionally designed and hand delivered by a florist.

The commercial did create come controversy, but the results of increased sales for florists and Teleflora justify the commercial as a success and more importantly that superstar Faith Hill can influence purchasing.

Exotic Flowers remains a member of the elite presidential circle at Teleflora. Through our partnership with Teleflora, Exotic Flowers locations in Boston and Roslindale along with www.exoticflowers.com is proud to ally ourselves with this icon.

The celebrity endoresement for the flower industry is long overdue. Merlin Olsen (with FTD) was a great spokesman, but certainly not the brand that influences purchasing like Faith Hill. Exotic Flowers in Boston will have a Faith Hill category online which will update seasonally with Faith Hill's selections.

 

 

 

In Boston, St Patrick's Day is really the first day of spring. Like the green shake from McDonalds, Exotic Flowers brings in our green carnations; a St Paddy's Day staple. We will have them in both our stores, as well as shamrock plants, lapel flowers and the ideal hostess gift.

 

When it’s time to celebrate the luck of the Irish, a lovely bouquet is a welcome gesture; and this one is the perfect choice for St. Patrick’s Day. With its pretty mix of white and green blooms – delivered in a unique green satin drum.

As refreshing as a Montauk breeze, this fabulously fresh bouquet of white and green flowers in a satiny green cylinder vase makes a very cool gift. Sweetly subtle, yet also exciting, it is a visual delight.

The classic arrangement includes white alstroemeria, green carnations, green roses, a white lily and white stock accented with seeded eucalyptus, variegated pittosporum and rhombus.

Oh, what a lucky day it will be for whoever is lucky enough to have this vase full of joyful and jubilant blossoms delivered to them. Perfect for St Patrick's Day, this pretty arrangement is a pot of gold !

Dazzling green roses, carnations and button spray chrysanthemums, yellow asiatic lilies and along with fresh greens fill a rectangular glass vase.

Hollywood has always appreciated flora and fauna. From lavish Oscar Night parties to the dazzling floral displays along the red carpet. Hollywood's love affair with floral design has deep roots and even carries over to some top stars portraying florists on the big screen. As we approach the Academy Awards, the staff at Exotic Flowers in Boston has picked their top six florist movies of all time.

6. I Hate Valentine's Day - the title says it all. most florists do hate Valentine's Day. It is one of the only days of the year we have to turn away business; and turning away business in this economy is never good.

5. Valentine's Day - Ashton Kutcher adopts the role as florist. Surely a little more polished than the designers at most Boston flower shops.

4. Love Happens with Jennifer Aniston - Unfortunately another less than stellar movie featuring a florist. But having a headliner like Aniston always helps keep the floral industry in the public eye.

3. The Town - although Fergie the florist does not resemble any Charlestown florist I know, Fergie's florist appears the ideal front for the crime boss.

2. Bed of Roses with Christian Slater - one of the better movies featuring a florist. Christian Slater shows where florists bring their poinsettias on Christmas eve.

1. Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo. Although a florist is not the star, legendary San Francisco florist Podesta Baldocchi features prominently in the 1958 thriller.

 

Just like a pizza company who boasts free delivery, flower shops in the Boston area often mention free delivery. Keep in mind, just like the pizza that is sold for $15 delivered versus the $10 pizza plus delivery; flowers cannot be delivered free in Boston. Let the buyer beware of the florist who states 'delivery included' or 'free delivery to all Boston hospitals and funeral home,'.

It's basic arithmetic. How can a florist offer free delivery in Boston ? A driver makes an hourly wage plus benefits, gas is over $3 per gallon, a vehicle requires maintenance, excise tax, registration fees not to mention the scarcity of Boston parking and the ubiquitous Boston meter maids.

At Exotic Flowers in Boston, we charge a reasonable delivery charge from $5 to $12 depending on the location. Unfortunately, Exotic Flowers still loses money every year on deliveries. A swift warning to all Boston flower clients, a florist needs to charge for delivery or she will go out of business. If an established florist claims they are not charging you for delivery, that florist is making that revenue loss up in another hidden fee. Unfortunately, that hidden fee could be a less glamorous floral arrangement.

Delivering flowers in Boston is a challenge. From crowded loading docks to post 9/11 security; traffic james and bad addresses; the life of a Boston flower delivery person can be stressful. The job is also quite rewarding. Recipients of flowers are often quite happy to see you. Drivers are often flagged by passers by with "for me ? you shouldn't have." You never know. Those flowers could be for you. If not, ask an Exotic Flowers driver for a business card.

 

   

Surprisingly, lots of Bostonians use flowers and plants to celebrate one of the biggest party days of the year. Super Bowl Sunday is known for big tv's, guacamole, buffalo wings and beer. But at Exotic Flowers, we ramp up for Super Bowl Sunday too. From black and yellow balloons (or green and yellow) to spectacular floral arrangements created for your hosts.

Arrangements can also be created with miniature football helmets, football action figures as well helium filled football balloons. Keep in mind, we also have a liquor license in Boston and can get your favorite fan a case of Sam Adams in time for kick-off. Gift baskets featuring snacks, drinks and football gifts are also a great gift to send to any Super Bowl Party.

Our staff at Exotic Flowers in Boston does not suggest you gamble, but keep in mind what better way to wager the game than bet a dozen roses versus one of our gift baskets on the outcome of the game.

Or if you make yourself an unwelcome guest, be sure to call us on Monday and we can deliver the perfect apology flowers to your hostess.

Our Prediction: Packers 24 Steelers 13

 

As a fixture in the Boston area, Exotic Flowers and Lombardi Florist have a major responsibility to our neighbors. On a daily basis, the Exotic Flowers floral designers create memorial and sympathy tributes. Funeral flowers represent over thirty percent of our daily orders. We send flowers to all the local funeral homes on a daily basis; including J.B. Johnson on Warren Street in Roxbury, Davis Funeral Home on Walnut Ave in Roxbury and on CUmmins Hwy in Mattapan, Lawler and Gormley Funeral Homes in West Roxbury.

Flowers are often the last gift one can send to the deceased. We suggest a lasting tribute. Flowers make an enormous difference at a funeral. Flowers are clinically proven to help ease the grieving process. 

" It is never easy comforting a relative, friend or associate who has lost a loved one. People are often uncertain as to the best way to show their sympathy. Adding to this uncertainty are changing trends in how Americans commemorate the death of a loved one. Services are simpler and shorter. Viewing periods are now typically limited to one day, if they occur at all. A greater number of cremations have resulted in shorter or no memorial services.

Flowers have traditionally been sent to the funeral home for display during the viewing and service. However, this does not mean that there should be no show of sympathy if no service is held. Grief therapists agree that the rituals surrounding death are an aid in the grieving process. In instances where there is no service, experts recommend sending condolences to the bereaved person or family's home. " - www.aboutflowers.com

With over one hundred years in sales and floral design experience, Exotic Flowers in Boston implores its neighbors not to chance it with their sympathy orders. Funerals are a lasting memory and the staff at Exotic Flowers is the most experienced in dealing with many cultures and clients at this most difficult time.