Exotic Flowers in Boston

(MAY 1, 2020, BOSTON, MA) – This year, Mother’s Day looks different for many of us. It may not be possible in light of COVID-19 to visit with mom or other women who have influenced your life. Such separation induces stress and loneliness but, according to several research studies, flowers may be just the antidote moms and women in general need this season.

According to a survey by Wakefield Research, 68 percent of people feel stress on a weekly basis, and 32 percent are stressed every day—numbers that are now almost certainly higher in today’s COVID-19 environment. Women, in particular, are affected, as one in four report experiencing stress multiple times a day.

Research from the University of North Florida shows that something as simple as flowers can help. The findings show that people who lived with flowers in their homes for just a few days reported a significant decrease in their levels of stress and improvements in their moods. Additional research from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, shows that the presence of flowers around senior citizens decreased depression among 81%, refreshed recent memory among 72% and encouraged outreach to loved ones among 40 percent. And research from Harvard University found that people who live with flowers report fewer episodes of anxiety and depressed feelings.

“Flowers have evolved to activate positive emotional responses from people,” says Rutgers University researcher Jeannette Haviland-Jones, Ph.D., director of the university’s Human Emotions Lab. “Each bloom has the potential to put a smile on our face and sway our opinion of a friend, colleague or loved one. That’s powerful.”

“When you receive flowers as a gift, you know that someone is thinking of you right now, this very minute,” said Rick Canale, owner of Exotic Flowers in Boston, MA. “Flowers spark joy, something that everyone needs right now—especially mothers.”

For Mother’s Day gift ideas, visit www.exoticflowers.com  or call (617)942-4803.

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Mother’s Day is quickly approaching and I know there are some dads out there who are starting to freak out a bit about what to get the wifey…  It’s a common problem with most dads who rack their brains each May trying to come up with the perfect present. Maybe you’ve have past years full of memories of giving gifts that didn’t go over so well like that gym pass for exercise class or the new rake you swear will making leave collecting a breeze?  Yes- these are all most likely going to end with a frown but luckily for you, this blog is dedicated to helping you turn things around! What moms want for their special day is a thoughtful gift that reflect just how much you love and appreciate her. She wants to receive a meaningful gesture, not shed those pesky few pounds you’ve been so gracious to bring attention to.  You’ve got to get inside her head and that’s where you’ll find the answer to your Mother’s Day question. If you’re still having trouble tapping into her psyche, take a browse at these sure-fire winners that are bound to impress!

Spa Packages

One great place to start is to lead her to a day of full on pampering done by some of Boston’s top spa specialists.  Maybe she would love a manicure and pedicure or perhaps she’s in need of a deep tissue massage? A nice touch is to pick up a gift certificate and pre-book her an appointment to make it extra special for her.  Top businesses to browse are: Sway Aveda Spa, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental and Equinox Boston.

Take Out

I’m married to a florist so the idea of a Mother’s Day brunch just isn’t in the cards since he works the whole holiday but that doesn’t mean I have to set foot near a stove!  Cleaning pots and pans plus boiling water is an absolute NO so think ahead and order a great take home menu to enjoy among yourselves. Be sure you choose something SHE LIKES instead of YOUR favorite Chinese food joint that is such a cheap deal, you just can’t pass it up.  Think Cheesecake Factory, P.F. Chang’s or a terrific Italian café she’s always raving about!

For God’s Sake…Don’t Forget the FLOWERS!

If there’s one thing you can’t screw up on Mother’s Day is ordering ahead a fresh bouquet of spring blooms.   Pink peonies, roses and freesia are some of the most popular go-to’s but if she adores purple lilac

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 13th and florists all over the city are already pouring hours of thought into their holiday inventory.  It’s a special day for all moms out there who have throughout the year, poured their hearts into taking care of their families and floral professionals are ready to give them exactly what they deserve!  Bright arrangements, pastel bouquets of decadent centerpieces are all among the possibilities these specialized designers are gearing up for. If you know your special someone has a real soft spot for beautiful blooms, why don’t you go the extra mile and bring her something that will truly make her hit the floor!  As inventory changes seasonally, the spring varieties are now just arriving which happens to be some of the most stunning species you’ll see during the year. Imported from all over the world, prepared to be amazed by the gorgeous floral selection being offered by local shops who have the single mission of pleasing HER!  Here’s a sneak preview of some of this May’s more stylish pieces that will get you on your way to brainstorming the perfect Mother’s Day gift! 

You may already know that peonies-specifically pink peonies are one of the biggest sellers for Mother’s Day.  The explanation is simple since the color perfectly reflects the spring season as well as the theme of women in general.  Besides the shading, the luxurious shape of the petals as well as the pleasurable appearance of the soft and delicate blooms consistently shoots this variety straight to the top for requested deliveries.  Mix and match the tones or select a straight hue and you’ll be sure to let her know just how much she means to you.

Although we typically think of pink as being official Mother’s Day protocol when it comes to flowers, bright tints of yellow, orange and green can also be a huge crowd pleaser.  These shades are happy and cheerful, while also being a reminder of the warmer days ahead for all New Englanders. I like parrot tulips, mimosa, freesia and daffodils for this look but you can substitute these options with roses, forsythia and gerbera daisies to make a piece really “POP”!

Now this is definitely my sweet spot when it comes to flowers because there’s nothing I love more than a stunning blend of purple and lavender spring flowers.  The tiny sprigs mixed together perfectly complement one another while bringing an aroma to your home that is simply unforgettable. With so many varieties to choose from such as hyacinth, sweet pea, lilacs you just can’t go wrong with this sexy Mother’s Day arrangement.

This Mother’s Day, why not gift the most important woman in your life with a beautiful arrangement of fresh cut flowers!  Celebrated this year on Sunday, May 14th, tell her “I love you” with a stunning bouquet or arrangement filled with this season’s new decadent blooms!  From spring bulbs to exotic orchids, there is something for everyone to make the perfect selection for dear old mom.  

photo credit via aboutflowers.com

In the past, Mother’s Day has been associated with traditional colors of blush, white and lavender but thankfully, 2017 is pulling in some new trends that are sure to “wow” their clientele.  Instead of the marketing the accustomed “pink” (the color most commonly symbolizing women), why not spark things up with an interesting mix of new shades and tints?  Bright green, orange and yellow are making a huge comeback, arriving earlier than their predicted summer arrival.  Another option can be to choose a single tone of all blue flowers, such as incorporating hyacinth, delphinium and hydrangea together.  If she is more apt to like blooms of red, gift her with an assortment of red roses, gerberas and freesia.  

If you’re still stumped on how to order the perfect arrangement for mom this May, follow these interesting and efficient tips this Mother’s Day.  

1. Scented vs. Scentless:  You might be surprised but people actually are incredibly sensitive to a flower’s aroma.  The reaction can be either positive or negative so you want to find out if their nose can take strong fragrances or not.  It’s also wise to know whether they have allergies to certain species because lilies for example, can cause sneezing, scratchy throat and watery eyes for some folks.  If this is the case, use flowers such as hydrangea, tulips or dendrobiums.  If they do enjoy a pungent aroma,  roses, hyacinth and lily of the valley are excellent substitutes.  
2. Personality Counts: If your mom is on the quieter side, she may really like an assortment of lighter shades such as cream, peach and the always favored, blush tone.  On the other hand, if her personality ranges on the louder side, wouldn’t a bright mix of fuchsia, chartreuse or sun bright yellow be a better match?  You don’t have to stick to traditional palettes just because that’s what’s always been done before.  Break out of your color funk and try finding hues that emulate who she really is!
3. Give Her What She Likes:  If your mom isn’t into to pink roses then why are you spending money on buying them for her?  If the woman really adores white lilies (or for myself, lavender sweet pea) than give that woman what she wants!  You wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her so make sure you are really are keeping in mind her tastes.

Mother’s Day is less than two weeks away and florists are preparing fast to amaze their customers with gorgeous bouquetsworthy for mom.  Right about now, new seasonal varieties are being packed and shipped into Boston by the thousands with the hopes that this year’s holiday will be a hit with lush and fragrant flowers.  Whether you are drawn to purple lilac that reflects an English flare or a more exotic appeal of tropical branches and orchids, designers are whipping up an incredible assortment of stunning arrangements.  Don’t wait too long, because Mother’s Day is on May 8th, so you’ll want to get your orders in ASAP to ensure availability and delivery confirmation.  It’s also wise to do your homework previous to picking up the phone and dialing your florist.   One option is to visit the websites of renowned and celebrated local businesses to get a good sense of market prices and product alternatives.  Decide what style and color you wish to purchase and reserve your floral extravaganzas today!

Top 2016 Mother’s day Arrangements

Viburnum is a big hit during this holiday because the season is right and the flower head’s flattering green snowball appearance is hard not love!  You can buy this variety as a mixed bouquet when pared with roses, hydrangea and other yummy spring flowers or simply clump a mass of stems together for this eye-popping effect!

You can’t go wrong with a pretty assortment of mom’s favorites and lucky for us, there’s an incredible palette of color to choose from!  Yellow, pink, green, orange and fuchsia mixes are extremely popular but soft blush tones are also often requested. Show stopping varieties such as peonies, lilac and ranunculus are so beautiful together- how can you go wrong?

While I’m a big fan of garden blooms, I also really enjoy the power of tropical blooms and the presentation they make in my home.  Phaelenopsis orchids are one of my favorites and they come in a spectrum of white all the way to bright pink.  If you really want to knock mom off her feet this year, ask your florists about plant and cut stem options for these beauties.  They’ll be a bit pricier than other cut flower arrangements but the reaction you get will be worth every penny when you give them to her!

Mother’s Day is only a few weeks away and there are still a lot of preparations to make!  The reservations have been made for a scrumptious meal at one of Boston’s finest eateries and the kids have all decorated bright and cheery cards so what could we be possibly missing?  Our holiday pre-orders to our local florists!  Now if you even entertain the idea of waiting for the last minute to pick up a bouquet, you should really rethink that decision because Bean Town’s talented designers are already whipping up inventory requests for buyers to make sure they have exactly what they need for this year’s arrangements to mom.  Walking into a flower shop the day of Mother’s Day could be disastrous and at the very least hectic so take the time to surf your preferred vendor’s website to find an appealing floral product and call ahead.  After all, you don’t want to get stuck with a dozen red roses from the supermarket.  You want something nice for that special mother in your life!  These styles and varieties are what’s hot this season and will definitely be making a splash on Sunday, May 10^th!

Peonies

You just can’t go wrong with a big and bountiful bunch of peonies for Mother’s Day.  Their soft texture and large array of pink shading perfectly emanates the essence of the holiday and the spring weather couldn’t be better for imports from countries such as Holland, California and Ecuador.  This variety is extremely easy to intertwine with other appropriate holiday stems but honestly, they’re better off on their own because the sweet smell alone will plow mom over with a smile.  Sarah Bernhard, Coral, Charm and Shirley Temple top my list for most beautiful types of peonies.

Popcorn Hydrangea

Popcorn Hydrangea isn’t just any old hydrangea-we’re talking the fancy stuff when dealing with this stunning and unusual variety!  With sepals resembling actually popcorn kernels, their plump heads have an interesting texture that is more durable than it’s mother plant allowing them to last longer.  Colors of white, purple, green and blue are available but if you really want to gift something extraordinary, ask for the pink, which is grown in a delicate, blush shade.  Like most up scale varieties, popcorn might cost a bit more than the average hydrangea but I assure you, it’s worth it.  Opt for a few stems instead of the traditional mixed bouquet and say “thanks” to mom in style!

Suzie Canale