When someone we care about passes away, we can feel helpless and unsure of what to do or how to “make ourselves useful.” For many people, it is a time of such intense emotion and sadness, it can be difficult to think clearly to decide what to do, especially if the deceased is a very close friend or family member. Comfort can come from, and be given, through the gift of flowers. The immediate family knows you care and you have peace of mind in knowing you did something more than just say you were sorry to hear of the individual’s passing. Flowers can be very powerful during these trying times.

If you have decided to express your condolences with flowers, there are some things you should know before you order them. Here are five tips for you to navigate what can be a confusing process if you have not done it before:

Tell the florist with whom you are working that these are flowers for a funeral. They will ask if the person will be laid to rest immediately or if there will be a viewing. If there will be a viewing, you can have the flowers sent to the funeral home.
Funeral flowers are often sent to the funeral home and then left at the cemetery. While many people choose to do this, you could also send a fresh bouquet to the home of the immediate family as well.
Choose hearty flowers for funeral flowers, especially if there will be a viewing before the funeral. This will ensure they will remain fresh until they reach their destination at the cemetery.
There are many different types of arrangements for funeral flowers. You could choose a large arrangement such as a wreath or spray or choose a smaller, more traditional arrangement or basket. There are no hard and fast rules.
If the person who passed was religious or if the funeral will be in a church, you may want to choose a religious-themed arrangement such as a cross for the funeral flowers.

Funeral flowers are a kind and generous way to honor someone and let the family know you are thinking of them and grieving with them. Most florists frequently create funeral flower arrangements and are familiar with area funeral homes and churches. They will be a great help to you in this difficult time and ensure the timely and respectful delivery of your flowers.

What to do next? Buy your flowers from our Toronto Flower Shop.

Flowers are beautiful to look at and smell lovely. However, some flowers and plants need extra care around children and pets because they can cause illness or even death if ingested. While it is rare, poisoning is not an impossibility and it is better to know which flowers are toxic, especially for the more vulnerable members of your household who may be given to eating plants and flowers. Whether they are playing in the yard or gathering around the dining room table, toxic plants and flowers can be problematic and require immediate attention for a doctor when eaten. Flowers and plants generally become toxic as a result of the soil in which they grow and there is little that can be done about this other than safeguarding loves ones.

A partial list of plants and flowers commonly used in floral arrangements include:

Azaleas
Calla Lily
Christmas Rose
Clematis
Daffodil
Delphinium
Easter Lily
Gardenia
Hyacinth
Hydrangea
Mistletoe
Narcissus
Peonies
Poinsettia
Star of Bethlehem
Sweet Pea
Tulips
Winterberry holly (most holly is poisonous)
Wisteria

This list is not exhaustive by any means. It is a representative list. If you notice your child or pet has ingested any flower or plant, assume there could be trouble and call your physician, vet or poison control for more information and direction on what you should do for treatment. Some common signs of poisoning are:

nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
disorientation
fever

It is completely safe to be near these flowers and plants. Problems only arise when they are ingested. And, unless you have a small child who gets into everything or a dog who likes to conduct taste tests on household items, it is rarely an issue. For those who do have small children who are crawling or walking or adventurous pets, you should check with your florist for more information on what flowers to reconsider. They will also have pictures on what these flowers look like and will have substitution suggestions if you decide you don’t want to risk it. Never feel you can’t have flowers because you have children or pets. There are many plants and flowers that are as safe as they are beautiful. And, if you receive a toxic plant as a gift, just remember to keep it out of reach of any to whom it could do harm. That way, you’ll get to enjoy it and there is no risk to anyone.

What to do next? Buy your flowers from our Toronto Flower Shop.

Receiving flowers as a gift can be touching and exciting and, if you were surprised, all the better. Flowers let you know someone is thinking about you and wants you to have a good day. They are a lovely gesture and can celebrate a happy time or make a difficult situation a bit easier by showing support. Indeed, flowers can have a very profound affect on the recipient and if you are that person, you’ll want to do everything you can to keep them around for as long as possible. With proper care, many flowers will last more than a week and some will last several weeks and look beautiful until the end.

But, there are some things you need to do to help keep your flowers looking as beautiful as the day you received them. While everyone knows to put fresh flowers in water, there are some other things you can do to help keep your flowers happy and alive. These include:

Trimming – Trim flowers at an angle so they can absorb water more easily. Don’t place them in water with their stems uncut. They won’t last as long.

Leaves – Remove any leaves that will be immersed in water. Keep thorns if you received roses.

Supplements – Use the supplement package usually supplied with your fresh flowers. This will keep your flowers fresh longer.

Home “remedies” – Copper pennies and aspirin seem to breathe more life into flowers. Though people aren’t completely sure if this is a theory. You can also try lemon lime soda and bleach (yes, bleach!) combinations or Listerine mouthwash.

Temperature – Keep temperatures on the cool side if you can. Fresh-cut flowers don’t do very welkl in direct sunlight so keep them in a shadier place in your home.

Fruit – Don’t store flowers in a refrigerator to keep them fresh or near fruit on a counter. Fruit releases a gas that will cause the flowers to wilt very quickly.

Water – Use warmer water for any flowers not from bulbs and cold water for daffodils and tulips.

With just a little know-how and some common sense, you can keep your flowers looking their best for much longer than if you just dump them into a vase and forget about them until they wilt and you need to throw them away. Take a bit of care and keep the flowers longer. After all, someone cared enough about you to send them. Why not show them you care enough to nurture them a bit to make them last?
What to do next? Buy your flowers from our Toronto Flower Shop.

Many people think the best and most beautiful flowers are only available in Spring or Summer. While this is true for some varieties, there are lovely flowers in season during every part of the year. Some have very limited growing (and availability) seasons while others have much longer seasonality or are available all year long. If you do a bit of research, you will find the perfect flowers whether you are adorning a Winter holiday table or outfitting a summer bride. Choice is never limited by the time of year and there’s something for everyone regardless of the date on the calendar.

So, take heart. And, if you’re confused about what you might find in season at any given time of the year, here’s a guide with some ideas and suggestions for you to consider as you plan your floral needs and talk to your florist to help with arrangements or ordering your bouquets.

Winter – Carnation, Chrysanthemums, Evergreens, Holly berry, Lily, Asiatic Lily, Narcissus, Pansy, Queen Ann’s Lace, Star of Bethlehem

Spring – Apple blossom, Baby’s Breath, Gerbera Daisies, Dahlia, Freesia, Gardenia, Hyacinth, Casa Blanca Lily, Lilac, Peony, Ranunculus, Stephanotis, Sweet Pea, Tulip, Zinnia

Summer – Alchemilla, Bird of Paradise, Calla lily, Delphinium, Dianthus, Gladiolus, Hydrangea, Hypericum, Iris, Star Gazer, Lisianthus

Fall – Anemone, Bittersweet, China berry, Juniper, Misty Blue, Quince, Rover, Statice, Sunflower, Yarrow

This list is in no way exhaustive and many flowers are available during more than one season (zinnias, hydrangeas) and some (roses, baby’s breath, carnations) are available all year. As you can see, whether your tastes are more traditional or incredibly exotic, you have your pick no matter when you’re shopping for flowers and plants. And, if your favorite flowers are out of season, your florist can help you track them down somewhere in the world. They will usually be more expensive but you can have exactly what you want. You can also choose season-specific greens and fillers to help defray costs and add depth to your arrangments.

Once you’ve chosen your favorite flowers and plants, your florist can help you make a statement with the perfect arrangement. Whether you’d like something very dramatic with plenty of height and visual interest or something more understated and refined, your florist will have just the design ideas. They’ll also be a wealth of information on how to care for your flowers and how hearty they are in different climates are environments to help maximize their beauty and longevity.

What to do next? Buy your flowers from our Toronto Flower Shop.

We’ve all done it at one point or another. Done what? Been at the grocery store and looked at the flowers in the flower department thinking they would make a fine last-minute gift for the party or birthday or other occasion. They are inexpensive, convenient and no one can tell the difference between supermarket flowers and fresh arrangements from the local florist, right? Wrong. There is considerable difference between the flowers at the supermarket and your local florist and it’s important to know what the difference is and make a decision based on that information, not on convenience.

Your local florist is different from your local supermarket’s floral department. For florists, flowers are their only business, not a small part of it. Florists also are much more informed about the flowers and plants they sell, how to care for them and flower design. Below are five other reasons you may want to forgo the supermarket flowers and check out your local florist instead.

1. Freshness – Florists are committed to the “products” they offer and work tirelessly to provide their customers with the freshest, healthiest flowers available.
2. Licensing – Florists go through a licensing process to ensure they understand flowers and plants and floral design. This also means they are monitored by the licensing organizations for additional quality control.
3. Skill – Florists can create beautiful arrangements that are more an art form than floral designs. Supermarkets generally create simple designs or just sell loose flowers to keep costs to a minimum.
4. Locally-grown flowers – Florists work more with local flower farmers than supermarkets. This tends to be a more expensive way to do business but it helps ensure the flowers they offer are healthier and fresher.
5. Variety – Florists can find just about any flower a customer wants any time of the year. While it’s sometimes more expensive to do this, it means the customer gets exactly what they want. Supermarkets can only offer flowers that are most abundant and in season for cost management.

Supermarkets can be wonderful places to find just about anything but one must assume that if a business has multiple departments, businesses and services, that there will be little specialization or deep knowledge. Florists are trained professionals who have spent years working to perfect their craft and understand the complexities of the floral industry. It’s true that you get what you pay for and this is true for flowers as well. So, the next time you want to surprise someone with a fresh bouquet or fun arrangement, check out a florist and find the perfect gift.

What to do next? Buy your flowers from our Toronto Flower Shop.

Many people feel flowers are not something within their reach because they see them as an expensive extravagance. While there are many flowers that may outside of your budget because they are more rare or out of season, if you choose flowers that are readily available and fairly common, you will find them an affordable luxury and one that will brighten your day and your home. To keep costs to a minimum, you will want to talk to a florist about what flowers meet your needs without breaking the bank. They will know plenty about seasonal and more affordable flowers and arrangements and how best to care for them.

Locally-grown flowers currently in season will generally prove to be the most cost effective for you. If you have your eye on some rare flower only available for a few weeks each year from the Mediterranean, you will pay considerably more than those farm-fresh roses or daisies. With that in mind, there are several flowers that are always in season and a fabulous bet for the floral bargain hunter. These include roses, daisies and carnations. While these may seem a bit “mainstream” for your tastes, you may be surprised when you start investigating the design and color possibilities that will turn these flowers from common to chic. For instance, a tightly-packed, single-color carnation centerpiece makes a striking and elegant statement for your cocktail or dinner party. Or, choose some boldly-colored roses and cut the stems short to place in a bud vase to add style and grace to your tables.

Gerbera daisies are a wonderful choice for adding whimsy and fun to a shower or birthday party. These sweet, festive stems come in every color imaginable from primary to pastel and cost very little compared with many other flowers. They are also almost always in season and a favorite with many local growers. Talk about a great look for a great price! And, if you can only afford a few of the flowers you love, why not choose to fill things in a bit with lush greens, baby’s breath or carnations in the same color? You’ll achieve the look you want at a fraction of the cost.

Flowers can have a transformational affect on almost any room or event. They create cohesion and visual interest and should not be abandoned because of cost. There is something for every budget and there are more flower choices than ever before so don’t stifle your creativity!

What to do next? Buy your flowers from our Toronto Flower Shop.