When people visit their local florists, it is usually to buy flowers, or occasionally, a plant for someone they care about. And, while there are many choices in both flowers and plants, florists also offer a number of non-floral gifts for every occasion. These are great for someone who is allergic to flowers or to add to a floral arrangement as part of a theme such as New Baby or Mother’s Day. So, if you are looking for a unique gifts but are not sure what you would like to get, why not check out your local florist and see what they might have in store? You may be surprised at what you find and decide to do more shopping there for all of your gift-giving needs.

Here are five things you might choose at your florist rather than – or in addition to – flowers:

Stuffed animals, rattles or other baby-themed items – Teddy bears are a wonderful addition to a floral arrangement, especially to celebrate a birth or first birthday.

Chocolate – The only thing sweeter than flowers is the gift of chocolate. Why not choose a gourmet chocolate “arrangement” for your sweetest? It is a chocolate-lover’s dream.

Fruit – Fresh fruit is a tasty, healthy way to show you care for someone watching their diet. It also makes a terrific group or office gift. These arrangements usually include a variety of in-season fruit including grapes, bananas and oranges.

Gourmet food – You can choose what to include from specialty coffees to nuts to jams and fancy crackers. This is a fabulous choice for the “foodie” who loves to eat and come in many sizes and varieties for one person or many.

Balloons – Great for birthdays or any occasion where you want to give someone a “shout out.”

No matter what you would like to get for that special person in your life, your florist is a great place to start looking for the perfect gift. Skip the mall where there are so many uninteresting, manufactured gifts trinkets and think outside of the box. Florists have so much more than flowers and plants than you can imagine and can offer suggestions based on the occasion and recipient’s age and sex. There is something for everyone and they will be able to help you make a great choice. The person who receives the gesture of your thoughtfulness will be glad you did.

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