Exotic Flowers in Boston

If you know a little about flowers, you’re well aware of the rules to follow if you want to make your centerpiece last:

1. Clean Water
2. Fresh Stem Cutting
3. Quality Supplier
4. Temperate Thermostat Conditions

The last one is particularly important, especially if you’re trying to pick up the perfect vase of blooms for a friend.  Living here in New England, there is a wide skew of preference for setting indoor temperatures, depending on both your internal comfort as well as the time of year.  While many of us do just fine in our homes setting the heater on 65 degrees, others like things to be just a tad bit warmer at 70-75 degrees. Here’s where we head for some trouble…  If you know the person you are gifting flowers to is habituating in conditions similar to Florida, then we need to select varieties based on that factor. Certain species have absolutely no shot at surviving in homes with heat standards hovering towards the tropics and will prove quite disappointing fairly soon after receiving the bouquet.  Don’t think about calling your florist to complain either because some of the responsibility to maintain healthy blooms should fall on you. Expecting a bunch of tulips to preserve its beauty in a space with temperatures held in the 80’s in just plain ludicrous so you’ll want to do a little research before sending fleurs to a loved one in a hospital (they are notoriously sweltering hot) or to a neighbor who likes to walk around in t-shirts in the middle of the winter.  

Don’t lose hope though…  Lucky for florists (and you), we’ve found plenty of species that are both stunning to gift as well as tough against typically undesirable locations.  While roses may not be the best option in cases like these, you’ll be happy to know there are a slew of others that are just as attractive to present to a family member or friend.  Jot down the names that appeal to you and ask a local florist about availability the next time you want to send flowers to someone with warmer weather condition preferences.

Do Ask For:

Orchids: Especially Phalaenopsis and James Story

Cymbidiums: Green do particularly well in the heat as long as they are fresh

Birds of Paradise: Native to the rain forest

Ginger and Protea

Succulents

Do Not Ask For:

Lily of the Valley

Sweet Pea

Garden Roses

Peonies

Ranunculus

I bet it’s not a total shocker when you hear the fact that New Englanders are the highest rated tourists to tropical islands during the months of December through February.  We’ve all been there when the eerie bleakness of the winter gets to us and we just have to find escape even if it’s just for a few days of fun in the sun.  New Englanders have a lot to battle during this season including expensive heating bills, early nighttime fall and debilitating light deprivation just to name a few… It’s a tough time of year for many of us and it’s only natural we’d seek refuge to someplace warmer.  If you’re thinking about jumping on the bandwagon, you might want to review this list which has the top five most visited tropical islands...by us!  Check out these beautiful destinations and see if one of them just might be the perfect place for your winter getaway!

The Maldives

These incredible low lying islands are home to crystal aqua marine waters, white sand and stunning coral reefs that beckon snorkelers by the thousands.  The huts are their signature calling card where visitors can sleep and fall asleep to the sounds of the ocean.

Bora Bora

This South Pacific Island has long been the fantasy for many travelers seeking warmth and exotic surroundings.  French owned, the colors of the beaches and water reflect an omnificent property and have become home to beautiful animals such as turtles and stingrays.  Many foodies also enjoy it here since Bora Bora has an A Class reputation for delicious cuisine.

Santorini

This one is definitely a place I want to visit because the water is a magnificent electric blue and the beaches are actually carpeted with red sand.  I enjoy learning about history as well making this a perfect match for me since Thira and Akrotiri are also located here to explore.  

Galapagos Islands

Another dream of mine is to experience the beauty of the Galapagos Islands because of the pristine beaches that lay on the islands coast and the wildlife which breeds on the land and water.  Funky species of birds and aquatic life flourish here and are fun to discover and you can even pretend you're Charles Darwin himself!

Palawan

These Philippine islands are a must visit if you’re looking for a wonderland like adventure this winter.  Not only is the ocean infused with breathtaking blues but it also possesses swirls of emerald green that excite photographers from around the world.  If you get bored hanging out on beaches too long, you’ll love that Palawan also is home to a very cool jungle where hiking is a favorite activity.

One of HR’s biggest puzzles when attending to tasks of the office is trying to figure out what varieties of plants and flowers to order from their Boston florists.  Why is this challenging?  Office buildings tend to run warmer than the average climate of other work places so only certain varieties will hold up for a full week.  The other component of the predicament is that you have an eclectic group of people to be weary of who might have allergies or a general dislike for certain fragrances and textures.  Because of this, you need to be careful to order pieces that are low in pollen count and odorless, which shortens the list of possibilities even further.  

Does that mean to skip the weekly flower order all together?  Heck no!  

There are several options towards solving this pickle of a problem and all are easily attainable just by contacting your florist.  Check out these perfect flora and fauna for your office and watch the employees and clients stand in awe of their beauty.   

Tropicals

photo credit: Flower factor

Tropicals such as Birds of Paradise and orchids are fabulous for stagnant environments with little air movement because they can withstand the heat and have an incredible property of longevity.  Their bright colors and dynamic shapes will create a great topic of conversation as well as a bright welcoming for guests.  

Hydrangea

You might want to consider using hydrangea for two reasons; one they hate the cold so a warmer temperature is better for them and two if they are watered regularly, they will last for weeks.  Green is the strongest in many cases, so you might want to coordinate that color in your order.  

Cacti & Succulents

Photo credit: Flower factor

You can’t go wrong with cacti because they’re durable, need very little upkeep and come in a variety of colors and sizes.  Cactus plants also hold no aroma making them outstanding for sensitive noses.  Just be sure to invest in succulents instead of prickly varieties!