Exotic Flowers in Boston

Patriot's Day in Boston is filled with an abundance of activities for all Bostonians and New Englanders. From revolutionary battle reenactments to the 11am Red Sox game to the Boston Marathon, this day is a major holiday in Massachusetts. In 2013, Patriot's Day happens also to fall on April 15th. While April 15 is synonymous with Tax Day, this year it is also Jackie Robinson Day.  

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy tells us that 42 is the answer to everything in the universe. Perhaps. But today I just want to share the 42 things we love most about being a florist in Boston in honor of the great Jackie Robinson.

1. The Swan Boats
2. The Boston Marathon
3. Heartbreak Hill
4. The Celtics
5. The Museum of Fine Arts
6. Fenway Park
7. The Zakim Bridge
8. Arnold Arboretum
9. Franklin Park Zoo
10. Santarpio's Pizza
11. New Kids on the Block 
12. Paul Revere's House
13. The North End
14. Bunker Hill Monument
15. The Freedom Trail
16. Athens of America
17. Hospitals in Boston
18. Roxbury Latin School
19. Sam Adams
20. USS Constitution
21. The Bruins
22. Pizzeria Regina
23. Mike's Pastry
24. The Public Gardens
25. Baked Beans 
26. Union Oyster House
27. The Holocaust Memorial
28. Castle Island
29. Gardner Museum
30. Boston Pops
31. JFK Library
32. Newbury Street
33. The ICA
34. Beantown
35. Red Sox
36. Hubway
37. New Edition
38. Faneuil Hall
39. Walking City
40. we 'Pahk ah cahs'
41. Forest Hills Cemetery
42. Bostonians

 Florists know that no party is complete without flowers. The United States Constitution turned 225 years old. Ask any Ron Paul fan and you know that the Constitution is the umbrella of our society, protecting every citizen within its words. On September 17th, 2012 dozens of florists collaborated on a once in a lifetime floral design to honor and celebrate the birthday of the document.

Philadelphia florists Bill Schaffer, AAF, AIFD, PFCI, and Kristine Kratt, AIFD, PFCI, have a reverence for history, inspired by their hometown. They spearheaded the idea of celebrating the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution with an unforgettable floral display. Schaffer and Kratt rallied florists all over the world to help with the project. From 46 states, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom florists became 'the stars' of the monumental floral display. The florist volunteers created red, white and blue stars using botanicals and other fibers and shipped them to Schaffer and Kratt at Schaffer Designs in Philadelphia. These stars are designed to hang under a 12 foot by 16 foot umbrella shaped canopy on the lawn of the U.S. Constitution Center for one day only on September 17th, 2012. 

The striking bouquet included eighty starts, suspended spheres of flowers and a perimeter of flowers surrounded the structure. Flowers included were carnations, hydrangeas, larkspur and carnations. Bravo to Delaware Valley Wholesale flowers for donating the flowers. Kudos to Smithers-Oasis and Floracraft for their donations of hard goods. Schaffer gave a conservative estimate of $20,000 of creative and material costs, which were donated by the floral industry's elite forward thinkers. 

To get a more detailed look at one of the stars, check out the star of Alice Waterous, AIFD, CF, PFCI, from Michigan. She made this star with seeds “to represent the seeds the Founding Fathers planted for our country to bloom,” she said.