Spring Update - Part 3

This week we're going to post a bit of what's in the store as well as some of the arrangements we've been making, but first there are a few announcements to make.  Next Wednesday the 25th is Administrative Professionals Day, and we will be delivering thank-you gifts of all kinds to the Admin Pros at your workplace who deserve that special recognition for the hard work they do.  Don't forget to give us a call; some fresh flowers and plants can really brighten up your office, and everyone's day!

We're very excited to announce that the 29th Annual Art In Bloom at Minneapolis Institute of the Arts is coming up next weekend, April 26-29th.  Each year local floral designers, amateur and professional, are invited to create work inspired by works in the museum collection.  Over the weekend, the museum becomes a veritable garden of delight where art and nature come together in a celebration of Spring.  We are partnering as we have in years past with Gabbert's Design Studio in one of the many commercial floral displays that are part of the event.  You'll find us in the entrance to the Target Gallery on the second floor.  Frank just told me he had a vision of what he wants to do, so we can't wait to show you what we have in store.  We'll be posting more about this next week, and a wrap-up following the event.  If you haven't been to the museum or this event before, you are absolutely required to visit!

Now for the pictures!  At the top of this post was a detail of this arrangement we did for a funeral last week.  We specialize in creative and non-traditional arrangements for all occasions, and are happy to work with you to get the style you like.

We do a lot of work for events, making centerpieces, buffet, and table arrangements that give and elegant and stylish pop to special occasions and gatherings.  One of our frequent event clients had a showcase last week and asked Frank to put together a few examples of what we do.  This table arrangement is making a bold statement with orange roses and tulips and those tall flowers in the center, called eremurus, provide maximum height and interest.

This matching arrangement, with orange roses and gerbera daisies, hydrangea, and beautiful dark blue delphinium, works as an accent for a buffet, or prominently displayed at the entrance, inviting your guests inside.  The showcase event this was made for last week was held outside on a windy day, and you wouldn't believe that this was blown over once or twice in a strong gust, and it still looks great!  What is not captured very well in this photo are the battery-operated LED accent lights adorning the outside of the vase, and even in the water (!) that can add a great glow to those evening events.  Come in and see them in person, and we'll show you all the cool ways we can use them!

This centerpiece, in complimentary orange, sits low at table, so your guests can still talk to each other across the table.  Whether you need 2 or 29 (or more), we can hand-craft them for your next event.

A customer brought in her own ceramic bowls to use for a few centerpieces last week, and we are always happy to use whatever vase or container you'd like, so bring 'em in!  This photo didn't look quite so blurry on my phone, but you can sort of see those great big green spider 'mums paired with orange tulips, pink spray roses, and that dark purple statice makes for a colorful and cute look for the table.

We got some great unique green plants in the store last week, and this muehlenbeckia hanging on the far left was just begging for a Euro basket treatment.  Remember, this is just an example of what we have in-store, and what we can make, so come and see us and get your little slice of spring today!

See you soon!

Valentine's Day 2012 (Part 2)

Sometimes a dozen red roses is not quite the right gift on Valentine's day, whether you are giving to a friend, family member, or someone that you would like to eventually be sending red roses to, but haven't quite reached that stage.  We have so many options and gift ideas in the shop right now, we want to share some of them with you.  Like the 12 long-stemmed roses above, in stunning pink and lavender hues, here's some special things you can find that say "Be Mine" in many different ways.

Clever (or not so clever) puns about "two lips" are entirely optional when you give beautiful Minnesota-grown tulips as gifts.  We can put them in a nice arrangement alone or with some other nice fresh cut flowers and greens, or wrap them up for you to take them home.  The best part is they will remind everyone who sees them that spring is coming soon!

Speaking of spring, we have a selection of ready-to-go bulb gardens in the shop that are sprouting up like crazy.  If you don't have much of a way with plants, its fine with these guys, they just like a splash of water now and then, and they'll be blooming in a matter of weeks.  We always love to share our knowledge of plant care with our customers, and these are great for beginners.  Also, what better way to say "our Love will grow and grow" to your special someone?

I already see a touch of color in this one!

These Anthurium (ann-THIR-ee-um) plants such a cool a colorful gift year-round gift, but especially for Valentine's because the flowers have one big petal shaped just like a heart!  (Well, the iconic version, not an actual heart organ) (and Frank would correct me to say that it's not technically a petal but a modified bracht called a spathe)  <3  For more info on these fun tropical plants check here or read the rather jargon-y wiki page here.

Here are couple of examples of Valentine's colored Cyclamen (SIGH-cla-men) we have in the store.  There's lots more blooming and green plants to choose from, so come check 'em out!

These lovely lavender and white Azaleas (ah-ZAY-lee-ah) are just about ready to pop open to full bloom, and there are lots of blooms on them.  

As mentioned in the previous post, we will be open extended hours, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.

<3 <3 <3  Happy Valentine's Day!  <3 <3 <3

Valentine's Day Is Next Week!

This Tuesday is Valentine's Day, and Best Wishes is here to help you express your love for that special someone, or those special people in your life.  We're getting stocked up on red roses for the traditional symbol of romantic love, a dozen long-stemmed beauties like the ones seen above.  Our roses are a cut above the ones you'd find at the gas station or grocery store, as they are fresh from Len Busch Roses in Plymouth, MN, and cared for from the moment we receive them and arrange them, to when we hand them off to you.

We have an awesome selection of gourmet chocolates to go along with your "I Love You" greetings, most of them locally made!  From unique flavors like Licorice Bite and Dark Salted Caramel to standard Milk Chocolate, these bars and truffles are delicious!

Besides roses, we make all sorts of flower arrangements to make all those loved ones in your life feel special, or to give to yourself to brighten up your home or desk at work.

In the shop right now we have all kinds of great plants, cards, gifts, and decor items.  These little orchid plants are pretty much the cutest thing, and gift that will last for years.  The flower spikes will grow back!

As well as the orchid cuties, we have a few incredible orchid plants in the shop with lots of really unique blossoms.  They are not your typical phalenopsis!

We'll be open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. this Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, then open early in the morning 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. both Monday and Tuesday so you can come in before or after you head to work.  

Have a Happy Valentine's Day! xoxo