Recent Posts

Follow Me

Exotic Flowers in Boston

Carrots Are The Main Event in Harvest Floral Arrangements

Posted by Suzie Canale on Sat, Oct 08, 2016

I’m a New Englander, through and through and that means raising a hardy garden is pretty important during the harvesting months.  I’m also a lover of flowers having once been a wholesale florist right in the heart of the city.  These two passions sometimes simultaneously combine to create new ways of putting vegetables, fruits and yes-blossoms together. carrot.jpg 

photo credit: rossirovetti.com

Since we’re nearing the time when gardens shed their summer food and focus more on root vegetables such as kale, cabbage, broccoli and onions, many florists are taking this opportunity to push forth-innovative ways to use the changes of the season within their daily work.  Why use edibles in centerpieces when traditionally they’re used to eat?  Because they too offer a boom of color and can compliment autumn floral varieties better than expensive stems that would otherwise be used as the primary product.  Not convinced yet to try out this new trend?  Just take a look at what some of the finest designers came up with just by adding a typical bunch of carrots to their bouquets!

carrot_florals.jpg 

photo credit: designsponge.com

 

Tags: Floral Design, Flower Arrangements, Harvest Season, Fall, October

Fall Floral Containers

Posted by Suzie Canale on Tue, Oct 04, 2016

Fall has officially arrived in New England and we are nothing short of thrilled about the wonderful change in season!  What’s not to love about this chillier time of year where the apple orchards burst with fruit, pumpkin patches swell with rotund gourds and overhanging leaves sparkle in a colorful splendor of wonder.  To put it mildly, our home state of Massachusetts is stunning right now and should be enjoyed for everything she offers.  Flower lovers are especially rejoicing because of the refreshed batch of environmental change that inspiring different textures, pigmentation and overall style.  One faction of floral design that is seeing an interesting alternation is the containers where centerpieces and smaller arrangements are being displayed within.  While the summer season usually depends on a lot of clear glass and turquoise blue ceramics, the fall months rely on a very different platform to present their blossoms.  As clever designers often exhibit, their idea of a perfect autumn vase is often decided by its connection to the season.  Rich in color, three-dimensional surfaces and warm tints often decide which container will be used for October flower orders.  

FALL_DOOR.jpg

According to industry reports, the top five criteria for a suitable autumn container are:

  1. Affordability
  2. Accessibility
  3. Reflective of an Autumn New England Motif
  4. Eye Appealing to A Wide Variety of Customers
  5. Water Tight

The list seems pretty simple but in actuality, these guidelines make finding proper fall containers somewhat challenging if they’re trying to implement some imaginative ideas in their design work.


It’s tricky stuff, I tell you…


fall_flowers_boston.jpg 



New Englanders are notorious for placing large urns at the foot of their steps and when they are filled with cabbage, kale and chili peppers, they are simple gorgeous for the fall season.  Pumpkins and gourds are also excellent options because they will hold water without leaking plus give off an interesting textured look.  If you’re going to use glass, try selecting a style that has a soft brown or cream hue to reflect the months of October and November adequately.  

Tags: Floral Design, Harvest Season, Autumn, Fall, October

The Best New England Pumpkin Patches

Posted by Suzie Canale on Mon, Oct 12, 2015

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!





Tags: Harvest Season, Autumn, Pumpkins, October, Halloween

More Autumn Fun in New England by Jon Bornstein

Posted by Rick Canale on Wed, Oct 01, 2014

flowers and cranberries resized 600Guest blogger Jon Bornstein of Newton, Massachusetts returns to share his insight and observations on autumn in New England. Exotic Flowers of Boston is honored to have our friend Jonathan share is writing skills. We have received great feedback from his guest writing and cannot wait to share his blog posts. Not only is Jonathan enjoyable to read, but he is also an avid flower buyer at Exotic Flowers. Jonathan and his company L. Bornstein are both top clients at Exotic Flowers in Boston where they send flowers throughout the world.

Autumn In New New England

  - Autumn is upon us, and with it arrives appetizing phrases like “pumpkin spice” and “apple cider”. That’s right, kids, the Sandwich Guy’s got food on the brain as usual, and the ushering in of the fall harvest season brings the opportunity to experience home-made and fresh baked foodstuffs of every size, shape and flavor at farm stands, fairs and festivals from Westerly to Waterville. At our DNA’s core resides the vestiges of our ancestor’s hunter/gatherer instincts, so for goodness’ sake heed their call and get out to your local orchards and farms while the weather is inviting and the festival season is in full gear.

 

I like my fruits and vegetables just fine, but I LOVE baked goods made with them even better. Pie, crumble, cobbler, I don’t discriminate. I love’em all. Heat it up, top it off with a dollop (love that word) of whipped cream and pass me my share and yours, too. I guarantee you won’t enjoy it as much as I will.

 

This time of year is truly magical with edible adventures. Just this past weekend my family was redirected from one of our favorite farms for apple picking (Apple Crest in Hampton, NH, anyone?) when we got word that there was a Cranberry Harvest Celebration at Tihonet Village in Wareham, MA. Rides and activities for the kids, bog tours by tractor and helicopter for the adults, and most importantly, food of every sort imaginable from food trucks, farm stands, and fair booths for the whole family.

cranberry bog resized 600

 

 Don’t get me started on the nearly two dozen vendors plying their tempting fares. Everything from kettle corn to deep fried Oreos and even a raw bar practically put me in a blissful food coma. After all, the fact that we savor our food is what separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom, am I right?

 fall foods in new england resized 600mmmmm donuts.

Ask any New Englander what their favorite time of year is, and chances are they’ll come right back at you with the Fall. But don’t take my word for it. Get out there and see for yourself!

Jon Bornstein

 

*******************************

Exotic Flowers may not sell those delicious donuts, but we do offer full line of gourmet and fruit baskets. 

Tags: Harvest Season, New England, Autumn, Fall, Jon Bornstein

Subscribe via E-mail

Contact Us for All Your Floral Needs