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Exotic Flowers in Boston

Pretty Petals... By Suzie Canale (Choosing Your Wedding Flowers)

Posted by Rick Canale on Tue, Jul 31, 2012

Boston Wedding Flowers

Chapter 7: Pretty Petals...

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever."

~Alfred Lord Tennyson

 

One of the most beautiful aspects of wedding planning is the selection of flowers which include a mass spectrum of possibilities including color palettes, texture and style.  Traditionally, brides were once confined to a "white only" restriction, limiting the wiggle room for brides to let down their hair when it came to bouquets and centerpiece design.  Although white weddings are still unquestionably stunning and still desired by those taken with blooms of white hydrangea, Casablanca lilies and Bianca roses, new trends have allowed bridal floral work to expand outside of this circle.  Including seasonal and thematic options, flowers can now be tailored to fit whatever fun and fantastical party planning couples have in mind.  For those who like to walk on the "rose petaled edge", try these fabulous floras on for size!

Seasonal Stems~ Tulips are certainly in full bloom during the spring wedding season which are both easy to find and affordable for a budget conscience couple.    Providing both soft and vibrant colored varieties as well as textures of ruffled edges and multi-layered heads (such as the Parrot tulip), this bloom is perfect when mixed or standing alone in bubble bowls.  Summer soirees are blessed with a pinwheel of hydrangea choices including antique, popcorn or sea hydrangea which thrives gloriously off of the salty air provided by the coasts of New England.  Boston gardens are also in full swing during this time growing a multitude of perennial and annual goodies lovely for hand held bouquets.    Some of the recommended flowers are tea roses, nasturtiums, campanula, geraniums, calla lilies and lady's mantle.  Fall is another gifted season for flora and fauna giving way to hearty stems of mums, kale and cymbidiums, deeming this the favorite month for bridal centerpiece design by many florists.  Last but not least is the winter collection, composed of interesting branches which can be arched into contemporary architecturally inspired forms.  Other ideal picks suitable for this chilly season are amaryllis (red, peach, burgundy, green and white) hypericum berries and gerbera daisies which are available year round. 

Themed~ Several soon-to-be's believe that themed weddings are confined to room decor, favors and clothing apparel which is simply not true.  Selecting a motif for your special day can carry right over to your floral planning including both centerpieces and bridal bouquets.  Perhaps the couple are fond of birds and would like to incorporate peacock feathers within arrangements?  How about those who adore animals and would like to choose flowers with names such as elephant paws, lambs ear, Beebalm, or Tiger lilies?  Another theme which holds incredible popularity is the "Tropical" wedding which can include exotic flowers such as the birds of paradise or showy ginger heads.   Orchid lovers have a wide array of delicate species to opt for such as james story, oncidium, and philanopsis, a fabulous way to put some "cha cha" into your arrangements and hand held bouquets.  Exotic Flowers in Boston specializes in this particular area of majestic blooms.

- Suzie Canale
Suzie Canale

Tags: Suzie Hearl Canale, Author, Weddings, Wedding Flowers

Joe Guggia and the Stud's Guide for Buying Flowers

Posted by Rick Canale on Fri, Jul 20, 2012

The Stud%27s Guide For Cover for Kindle resized 600
This fun and informative flower buying guide is a testament to the value of forming a relationship with a local retail florist, like Exotic Flowers in Boston.   While using "sexual rewards" as a premise to grab your attention. "The Stud's Guide for Buying Flowers..." covers flower purchases for all relationships, personal and professional. 
Using humor to add to the guide's value, author and floral designer extraordinarie Joe Guggia, AIFD hits the nail on the head and really puts it out there for the world to understand this journey and take advantage of the "rewards" flower gifting can bring.
In Joe's own words, " So Why The Hell Do I need To Read This Thing?

 

I have a news flash for all you studs that is going to change your life and make me the most awesome guy you know: buying flowers for your wife, partner, mistress, lover or whomever you’re sleeping with is the best thing you can do for your sex life and all around well-being.  While you might be one of those guys that wants to blurt out “but flowers are expensive!” stop that crap right this second and listen to what I have to say.   Trust me that by spending a few bucks here and there on flowers, you can become a wanted lover that will turn your sometimes boring sex life into the romantically overheated experience you want and need.    Know that giving beautiful flowers is an asset to your daily life that will make all your relationships (family, friends, lovers, fellow workers) respond in a positive way to your being.

 joe guggia resized 600

 This world is definitely full of constant surprises and changes at a moment’s notice.  Everyday we’re confronted with something new that grabs our balls and tests us to the max. We get up and go about life hoping that at least one thing we do really makes a difference in our world and the world of those around us.  But sometimes there are those crappy things that get the best of us and we just want to run a hundred miles an hour and yell ”screw you!” at the top of our lungs.

We feel that way sometimes, friggn’ overwhelmed and just plain tired of all the crap that’s thrown our way.  So buying flowers should be one of those experiences we can handle easily and not be confused about.  It’s the kind of experience you should want to do over and over again so you can give that someone special in your life a great gift that they’ll love you up for.  With proper flower buying knowledge you can learn to give something beautiful and get back what you’re hoping for ten fold.  This fact has been proven over and over again, has gone on for centuries and will continue to go on for centuries more.  Humans are created that way, responding in an incredibly positive way to receiving nature’s gift of flowers for any and every occasion.

So trust me and take a few minutes away from that game, food, garage or whatever the hell has your attention. Read and absorb what I have to say.  Follow the techniques I explain in this flower buying bible and be ready to learn how the simplest of bouquets will show them how hot you think they are.     This floral education is sure to get your special someone right where you want them to be, ready and willing to reward you with the best “thank you” you could ever imagine.  And if you were only reading this because someone threw it in front of you and said “Honey, read this!” don’t give them any flack and just do it.  This will be the one time you’ll be damn glad you did!"

A few chapter titles include: 

 

Chapter 1:  Monkey Men Had It Goin’ On

Chapter 2:  The Village of Testosterone

Chapter 3:  Men, It’s A Brave New World:  The Cyber Florist Seduction

Chapter 4:  Money Will Feed The Beast

Chapter 5:  The New Hottie and The Village Screamers

Chapter 6:  In-House Tail Maintenance

Chapter 7:  Flowers Vs. Plants: Testes On The Cutting Block

Chapter 8:  Sexy Roses of a Different Color

Chapter 9:  Mommy and Friends Need Lovn’ Too

Chapter 10:  The Neighborhood Piss Off

Chapter 11:  Kiss Some Corporate Ass!

Chapter 12:  Hasta La Vista, Baby…

The Last Word:  And This Ass Bite Has More To Say?

This book is a keepsake and should have made the Exotic Flowers in Boston Summer reading list. Special thanks to Joe for sharing his talents with the world.

Tags: Floral Design, AIFD, Joe Guggia, Author, Books, Florist Blogger

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