Exotic Flowers in Boston

For years we have been displaying ghosts, vampires and ghouls for a Halloween display. Over the years, we have found that less clients were purchasing pumpkins. In 2018, we did not sell pumpkins and did not decorate for Halloween. We had been losing hundreds of dollars selling these items.

Halloween 2019 - Pumpkins, goblins and scarecrows are back. Why are selling items that we know we are losing money on? 

Last weekend, my family and I bought our pumpkins at a farm in Peabody. My fourteen year old son asked why Exotic Flowers no longer sold pumpkins? I explained that we lose money on them. His response, 'Dad, if you decorate for Halloween and celebrate fall- it shows the community you care about them.'

Talk about a proud parent moment. I must be doing something right. Sometimes, it's not about the money. It can't be. We appreciate our place on the highway and will no longer lose sight of that.

If you live in New England, then it’s pretty safe to say that fall festivities are right up your alley.  One annual tradition that is of particular importance is the one night where we can all transform into anyone we want… Yes, I’m talking about Halloween!  You may have noticed that I used the word “all” because contrary to what you may think, Halloween is a holiday for all of us (not just the kiddos).  Perhaps you’ve been invited to a party or maybe an office celebration where friends and coworkers will be whipping up wardrobe creations and you just haven’t found the inspiration yet to make your own?  No problem!  For those who love to garden or have a fancy for florals, I have just the ideas for you and most of the materials needed can be found already at home.

photo: Victor VIRGILE—Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Become a Wrapped Bouquet!

This costume is too cute if you love flowers, plus it’s quick and simple so you don’t need a whole lot of time to accomplish the look.  Just wrap yourself in an extra-large piece of paper and tie with a ribbon.  Add blossoms to the packaging by cutting large blooms out of construction paper and either glue to the back of the paper or attach to sticks that can be inserted inside the cone.  Be sure to dress in a single color such as black, navy or red and presto!  Your Halloween look is complete.  If you own a flower shop and have an employee who is willing, have them put on this outfit on October 31st to greet customers at the door. Patrons will get a kick out of the company’s holiday spirit as well as attract others who might be passing by.

Become the Flower Dude!

This design is quick and easy to throw together in a pinch since all you really need is a smock, clipboard and maybe either a small arrangement or bouquet of roses to hold.  Simple jeans and a t-shirt are the best pieces to wear underneath and letting a little stubble grow in will also add to the effect.  Florists are typically NOT glamourous people who often work long hours contrary to what most believe.  Sporting fancy jackets, pants or expensive jewelry will draw away the authenticity of “florist role” so be sure to stay in character as much as possible.  If you know a florist already, ask them to borrow some arrangement cards that you can put in your front pocket or hand out to others as an added accessory.  If you really want it to look real, hold a dixie cup in your hand and tell people it’s coffee.  I haven’t met a florist yet who isn’t addicted to the stuff!

October is a time for warm fires, cozy sweaters, apple cider and jumping into leaf piles.  For many New Englanders, it is their favorite time of year, but there is one group in particular who seems to be inspired by the crisp change of the seasons the most.  That’s right-Boston florists love the autumn months because a fresh batch of product containing different hues of color and texture begin to arrive.  

Not only are many of the varieties longer lasting than the species within the summer collection, but they possess interesting new textures that are fun to play with.  From farm stands to backyard gardens, these beauties are bursting through the earth ready to take their moment in the spotlight and it’s up to us to come up with fantastic ways to do just that!  New species that are usually in high demand during October are orange sunflowers, millet, chrysanthemums, wheat and deep colored roses.  For right now, we’re going to shelve the pastel look but there’s still a ton of wiggle room for those who don’t prefer the rich combination of orange, red and yellow that we usually see now.

   Flowers have consistently been utilized as a focus by some of the world’s most ingenious designers for centuries.  This creative thinking has led the way to innovative styles that appeal to those attracted to blooms and appreciate their exotic presentation.  

Magazines such as “Modern Bride” and “Vogue” often showcase clothing that is entirely inspired after flora and fauna and has become some of the hottest styles in places such as New York, LA and even Rome.  Fashion and flowers have gone hand in hand for a long time and with the October holiday approaching, it’s no wonder why several new patterns for costumes are being dreamed up right this minute!  Both children and adults are in store for a treat this Halloween because fun and fancy wardrobes are being styled after some of our favorite blossoms.  Whether you’re planning on trick-or-treating with friends or attending a spooky festivity, you’ll have loads of options to choose from when transforming yourself this year.  

VIP Roses in Holland creates the coolest roses. These roses not only look like dessert, but smell llike it too. They are real roses and dipped in wax to look like chocolate and frosting. They are not for consumption.

Looking for meaning ?? These roses not only trick you into thinking they are dessert, but are a true treat for flower lovers.

Let’s face it…. There’s no better place in the world to go Trick or Treating other than New England and if you are lucky to be living in Massachusetts, you’ll experience double the fun!  After all, we do live in spook central being conveniently located close to Salem where the heart of witches and cauldrons were born.  Yes, Halloween is a wonderful and fn time for all of us but its important to keep in mind safety factors for our little goblins and ghouls.  This October 31st, make sure that you and your children go over precautionary tips that will help everyone enjoy Halloween to the fullest.

photo credit: clipartsheep.com

Safety Tips

* Never trick or treat alone!  Always find a group of Dracula’s and Frankenstein’s to accompany you

* Carry a flashlight with you at all times and wear glow sticks for extra luminescence.

*  Never run from house to house!  Enjoy the stroll throughout the night-it only       happens once a year!

*Look both ways before crossing the road!  People driving should be extra aware of the occasion and SLOW DOWN.

* Wear tight fitting masks and costumes that do not have material or other                                       accessories hanging that might cause an injury.  Let’s make sure you say BOO instead of Boo Boo.

* Walk on sidewalks instead of lawns and never get into a car with a stranger!

* Do not enter any homes without an adult.  Trick or Treating should remain outside and only visit houses that are well lit!

* Have your parents check all candy before eating and throw away anything that is hand made.  Grandma Jenkin’s cookies are ok but never eat anything unwrapped from strangers!

* If you have food allergies, be on the look out for teal pumpkins, which are a sign that the house is giving out gluten free, peanut free treats!  

* Trick or Treating in Boston is from 5-8pm so make sure you’re home in time for curfew since that’s when the werewolves come out!  

It’s time again to start getting a little spooky decorating for Halloween!  Not only will our homes need to be accessorized with cob webs, witches hats and fake spiders climbing the walls, our flower arrangements needs to be made to reflect this ghostly spirit as well!  Boston florists are devising cleverly creepy pieces for their customers who possess a fun imagination and passion for celebrating this BOO-tastic holiday in style.  Designers are considering all elements when putting together arrangements including style, décor and texture that will coincide with this scary time of year.  That means the slimier, furrier, scalier, sweeter and eerier we can make these floral presentations – the better!  Halloween flowers are among the top most requested ornamental pieces for New England residences and particularly for businesses.   Local establishments even claim that one of these festive arrangements can actually increase sales and revenue for the month of October.  

My husband always sends me Halloween flowers. The one above was created with a Frankenstein mask. He used candy for the eyeballs. His head rests on top of spanish moss. his scar is celosia flower, while the blood drip from his mouth is an orchid. Red roses and bittersweet provide the ideal frame for this creepy floral creation.

Last year, Ricky sent me this Frankenstein  arrangement at the Westwood Public Library. The focal point is the Universal Studios Frankenstein action figure. Antique hydrangea and sheet moss set the stage while pink and yellow spray roses, freesia, free spirit roses and bittersweet frame the arrangement. 

Neither of these floral designs will break the bank and either one will set your Instagram account on fire. 

Happy haunting.

- Suzie

Halloween is here and for some little ghost and goblins, trick or treating for the first time can be frightening.  Lucky for book lovers, there are tons of stories perfect for teaching young children all about the spooky holiday while taking a little of the fright away from their worries.  By using furry creatures, clever pumpkins and beloved characters that your kids may already be familiar with, parents have a huge selection to choose from to help get their witches and warlocks ready!  Halloween is more than eerie things creeping behind dark corners- it’s a lot of fun, too!  Here are a few of my favorites that I read to my boys, which have stayed favorites on our bookshelves during the month of October!

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything

August 20, 2002

by Linda D. Williams

CLOMP, CLOMP, CLOMP… This great tale surrounds a little old woman who says she’s not afraid of anything but is she really?  Follow the scarecrow whose clothing makes noises and chases her through the woods to find out if what she claims is true!

Pete the Cat: Five Little Pumpkins

July 21, 2015

by James Dean          Who doesn’t love Pete the Cat or                   the classic story about The Five                 Little Pumpkins?  Now readers will          enjoy a double dose of the tale as               this cool character and his                buddies retell the                   Halloween favorite!

Mouse’s First Halloween

By Lauren Thompson

“EEK” mouse squeaked!”

Poor little mouse is so scared of everything that visits on Halloween night but one by one he finds that all of the things associated with the holiday “are not so scary after all!”

Goodnight Goon: A Petrifying Parody

By Michael Rex

A ghoulishly fun spin on Margaret Wise Brown’s, “Goodnight Moon” told from

the perspective of visiting Martians!  The kids will love the silly comparatives

and parents will adore the unique details the author creates!

It is finally October-the time of year when we dress up in costumes, tell ghost stories and most importantly, profess our love for the pumpkin!  Everything from our desserts to our lattes seem to become thematic with this icon of the month, leaving us New Englanders with a wide array of tasty treats and festive décor.  Lucky for us, there’s no shortage of beautiful orange pumpkins in these parts, making it all the more pleasurable to dive right into the fun!  Whether you love baking seeds or carving jack o lanterns, surrounding patches in the Boston area will surely help you find what you are looking for!  Here is a list of some of the best patches, which will provide you beautiful pumpkins and other seasonal activities perfect for the whole family!

Smolak Farm

315 South Bradford Street

North Andover, MA

(978) 682-6332

Smolak Farms is one of my favorites because they hold some of the biggest festivals such as the scarecrow and pumpkin head event!  They also facilitate an ice cream stand, hayrides, corn maze, tractor tire playground, pony rides and face painting that will keep the kids entertained for the entire day!

Boston Hill Farm

Route 114, North Andover, MA

(978) 681-8556

This farm has everything you’re looking for this October including several different pick-your-own patches plus their very own petting zoo!  They also throw an enormous party that runs every weekend until the end of the month luring patrons in with live music and lots of food including barbecue, roasted corn and specialty chicken prepared over the fire.

Belkin Family Lookout Farm

89 Pleasant St., South Natick, MA

(508) 651-1539

Not only is this one of the oldest working farms in the state, but this beautiful orchard boasts acres upon acres of fruit for your picking enjoyment!  Once you’ve picked out your pumpkin, don’t forget to take a ride on their train that circles the property.  Choo Choo!

The children of Boston are busy coming up with ideas for this year’s best Halloween costumes such as zombies, pumpkins, witches and other scary figures.  But is dressing up for the holiday just for kids?

I think not!  

Bean Town’s florists are also using their noggins to try and make the festivities a part of their establishments and why not?  There are several benefits to having your staff prepare a costume for October 31st including marketing tactics, demographic increase and most importantly, to have fun!  People want to know that the places they due business with can join in the spirit, which will make your shop a more enjoyable experience for customers.   Statistics show that businesses which incorporate creative tactics such as costumes see a substantial hike in revenue so why not give it a go this Halloween?

Ghosts, goblins, Dracula’s, they’re all appropriate choices but if you really want to wow your patrons, try implementing a theme congruent to the flower industry!  There are a ton of characters associated with blooms and plants that will match perfectly to your store’s product line and genre.  Here are some ideas to get you and your staff ready to celebrate the spooky holiday of Halloween in flower style!

The Lorax

Dr. Seuss’s adorable critter that taught us the importance of protecting our trees and plants makes a great “green” costume for the concerned environmentalist.  

                    The Giving Tree

Shel Silverstien’s poetry within The Giving Tree told the story about the beautiful relationship between man and nature.

                  Little Shop of Horrors

Become one of the characters from this hit movie about a plant taking matters into his own hands after being the star attraction in a little city flower shop.

                 Plant Book Encyclopedia

Dress up as your favorite flower and plant reference book to get a giggle you’re your brainiest patrons!