The Flower Blog

Treat or Flower!

Actually, Treat and Flower! We are having our fourth year of Trick or Treat hours at Gillespie Florists! We are excited to see what everyone will dress up as! I'm going to share some of my favorite pictures from the last  couple of years!

  As always we will be offering candy and free flowers to anyone coming in dressed up during our Treat or Treat hours!

We have some really cool displays that are perfect for taking pictures! We'll take pictures for you and will be happy to email you a copy of the picture!

Trick or Treat Hours:

Monday Oct. 31st 4pm-7pm

Since you'll be in for Trick or Treating, why not pick up a few things? Take 20% off carry out items with code "18A".

Candy, Flowers, coupons! It's a trifecta of treats at Gillespie Florists this Monday, October 31st!

For Halloween, Pearl and I made a video that was supposed to be scary but ended up being very funny! Click below to watch the video!

Summer time is the most popular time for weddings for those couples that want to have their special day outside! That also means that summer time is the most popular time for anniversaries! Coming up with the perfect anniversary gift for that special someone can be very time consuming and hard for some people. For those that are approaching their one year wedding anniversary this summer, or any other wedding anniversary, here are some gift ideas besides the amazing flowers we love to provide to our customers.

1. A walk along the canal in downtown Indianapolis is always something cost effective but fun for couples to do together. The canal also has pedal boats that you and your partner can rent and travel up and down the beautiful canal and experience the sites of downtown Indianapolis.

2. The zoo! Now some people may think the zoo is just for kids but who doesn’t like animals? And who wouldn’t enjoy the perks of slowly strolling around the zoo, checking out any exhibit that you would like, without having to chase your little people around or missing out on your favorite animals because the kids have had enough and are ready to go?

3. Maybe you and your partner are more into historical buildings. The West Baden Springs hotel in French Lick offers 70 minute walking tours of the hotel and grounds that take place four times a day every day of the year except Christmas day. Spend a lovely evening at one of the four restaurants located on the grounds of the hotel and have a night to relax in one of the many rooms of the this historical hotel.

4. Indiana Repertory Theater hosts many theatrical performances and concerts throughout the year if your special someone is into that. It might not be Broadway but if you are unable to travel far this would be a great way to catch one of the many Broadway shows that comes through Indianapolis!

5. Rolling hills and streams of the outdoors more your thing? Check out Turkey Run State Park and enjoy a long peaceful stroll through the wilderness with that special someone!

6. Maybe you and your partner have the chance to travel out of state, a trip to a remote beach or a cruise is always a way to spend special time with that special someone.

7. Only have a sitter for the kiddos for a few hours? Take the evening and check out a new restaurant that you and your partner have never been to and then enjoy a movie.

8. Maybe you and your partner don’t have the chance to escape for some one on one time and as much as she loves flowers, she would rather have something that she can keep for many years to come. Come check out the wide variety of silk flower arrangements we have in the shop!

9. Over the years you have given that special someone several beautiful pieces of jewelry and she has no good place to keep them when they are not being worn. We can help you out with that too! We have a large variety of wooden musical jewelry boxes to pick from.

10. Flowers are always a great way to go but maybe she already has several vases from flowers you have sent her before. Take some time and come into the shop and have one of our customer service staff help you personally select a beautiful bouquet of handpicked flowers to take home to that special one in your life!

As you and your special someone approach that anniversary time, take some time to check out the local attractions in our wonderful state and check out the amazing selection of flowers and gifts we have in our shop!

With Wedding Season of 2014 well underway, I have seen a gradual shift of trends from Wedding Season 2013 at Gillespie Florists. Color schemes that feature tints, tones and shades of the primary wedding color, limited use of foliage and a return of a popular accent flower have all made Wedding Season 2014 something to “blog” about!

I had mentioned in a blog post last year that I was noticing a trend towards “nude” colors. I meet with many brides well in advance of their wedding which prompted me to take notice of this up and coming color trend. So far, the nude color trend is the most prominent color scheme of this year’s wedding season. So what are nude tones? Nude tones are very subtle colors and when combined, they seamlessly blend together. Examples of nude colors are pale peach, pale pink, cream, tan and taupe. Next weekend, every single wedding I have (which is more than I can count on one hand) features this color scheme. In recent memory, I cannot recall a single weekend where every color scheme was the same.

Fashion is not my forte, but while interacting with brides, I have picked up on a few trends that are quite “fashionable” this year! Many brides are choosing “mismatched” dresses (both in style and color) for their bridal parties. For example, a bride may choose a smoky lavender color as the primary color theme for their wedding party. The bridesmaids can then choose a style and color of dress in a complimentary hue of the primary color, such as eggplant, iris, lavender or even a patterned fabric which incorporates several of the colors.

Groomsmen are expressing their diversity with various colors of ties, vests and even dumping the traditional black tux for a stunning charcoal or silver tux or suit. Flowers can be designed to unify the bridal party by designing similar personal flowers (i.e. small clusters of babies breath for all the groomsmen boutonnieres and clutch bouquets of babies breath for the bridesmaids). Or, to reflect the diversified theme, each attendant receives their own style and color combination of flowers.

Shabby Chic and Vintage style décor for weddings is still a popular theme carried over from last season. However, I have noticed a slight change in the flower varieties that are featured in this season’s weddings. Babies breath has made a huge comeback in the last year; to the point that babies breath, which is generally readily available, has been in short supply in the last couple of months! A couple of weeks ago, I contacted my local vendors to beef up my babies breath inventory because we were running low. Every single vendor was sold out of all varieties of babies breath. I’ve been the primary flower buyer for almost 10 years and this has not happened before!

In wedding designs, I have featured babies breath in bouquets for brides and bridesmaids, boutonnieres, corsages, ceremony arrangements, centerpieces and even a wreath designed of babies breath! 

Finally, I am seeing the growth of a trend against including foliage in wedding flowers, especially personal flowers. From my interaction with brides, the perception is that the foliage adds another (unwanted) color to the arrangements. I can understand this point of view and have successfully designed dozens of weddings without any foliage. However, with traditional design, I feel that foliage adds subtle depth and texture to an arrangement, as well as hide the mechanics of the design. A small amount of foliage nestled within an arrangement or collared on the outside of a clutch bouquet hides unsightly wires, floral tape, stems, glue and oasis that should remain unseen. No matter what style the bride prefers, a trained and talented floral designer can adapt to the specific needs of each wedding.

As Wedding Season 2014 continues, I am sure that I will be introduced to up and coming trends that will shape the next wedding season. For now, I am enjoying the current trends, learning and growing with each wedding that I am so honored to be a part of!

Ready to start planning your wedding? Click below to  contact our Wedding Specialist! 

Over the past year and a half I have seen some of the most amazing wedding flowers created here in the shop!  I had a very small and non formal wedding so flowers were not a major concern for me, but looking back on things I wish I would have done more with flowers.  

I think that yellow is an amazing accent color to any summer wedding.  Our designers can do some amazing arrangements with beautiful yellow flowers!

Our bridal bouquet called Bailey would be perfect for any bride to be that wants that splash of yellow as she walks down the aisle.  This amazing bouquet is made from beautiful yellow roses, stunning white lilies and white freesia that will provide a wonderful aroma as you walk down the aisle.  

Bailey - GFW127

Maybe you are not a fan of lilies or freesia but you love daisies, we can do that too!  The bridal bouquet called Sunbeam is beautiful.  This bouquet is a simple yet beautiful mix of yellow and white daisies and yellow roses.  Sunbeam is an elegant and cost effective way to make a full bridal bouquet for your special day!  

Sunbeam - GFW44

Have a more wildflower style bridal bouquet in mind for your special day?  Check out this one called Lemon Ice, featuring white roses, yellow freesia, white calcynia heather, pale yellow stock, purple limonium, tree fern and variegated pittosporum.  This bouquet is a hand-tied arm style design.

 

Lemon Ice - GFW45

 

Of course you cannot forget the centerpiece for the main table!  Brooke is a beautifully designed centerpiece featuring yellow calla lilies and yellow Asiatic lilies, as well as snapdragons, delphinium and belles of Ireland.  

 

Brooke - GFW96  

 

Maybe you want a centerpiece but not as large, we still have the perfect one for your special day.  Aubree is a wonderful centerpiece designed with yellow snapdragons, yellow daisies, a large yellow lily and blue delphinium.  

Aubree - GFW94

 

Tossing around the idea of adding fresh flowers to your wedding cake?  We can do that too! Breanna is a mix of yellow daisies, yellow alstromeria lilies and blue delphinium.  If you are not wanting to have the added pop of color from the blue delphinium, do not hesitate to ask if there is something else that could be used in its place!

 

Breanna - GFW93

 

 

Alexa is a  simple yet stunning way to add just a little something to remember to your seating arrangement for your indoor or outdoor wedding. Already have a sash on the rows of chairs in that beautiful sunny yellow?  Let us add exotic stems of white orchids to the end of the rows closest to your aisle.

 

Alexa - GFW95

 

So you have finally made the big decisions on the perfect bouquet, matching bridesmaid’s bouquets, centerpiece for your main table and decorations for the ends of your seating rows. Suddenly you realize you have not selected anything to recognize the other special men and women in the lives of you and your future husband.  The parents and grandparents!  Check out the beautiful Claire and strapping Elias. These matching corsages and boutonnieres are the perfect way to recognize those special people in your lives!

 

Claire - GFW89

 

 

Elias - GFW90

 

 

As you can see we have many options for you to check out that will help you get that splash of sunshine in your flowers for that special day!  With all of this talk about yellow, maybe yellow is not for you! But if you like some of these bouquets or arrangements, make sure you ask our wedding consultant what your options might be to change up the yellow to your own special splash of color!

Click below to contact our Wedding Specialist!

Click below to shop our entire wedding selection!

 

This week marks the two year anniversary of my continuing education adventure with my youngest sister, Della. Two years ago, on June 18, 2012, Della and I nervously entered the South Florida School of Design to take an intensive, 3 week advanced design course. It’s funny, but no matter what age I am (I’m nearly 40 years old), I still feel jittery on my first day of school!!

The adage “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” played through my mind as I walked through the door that morning. I grew up in the floral business, I had learned the art of floral design from some of the best instructors in the Midwest, I have traveled the country to attend Master Classes with world renowned instructors—so why travel all the way to South Florida for an intensive, three week course? For the sunny beaches, of course!!Just kidding—although, that was a nice perk of attending design school in a coastal town in South Florida! Actually, continuing education is an important aspect of any industry. If you remain stationary, you will never go anywhere.

It was amazing to me what I was able to learn and re-learn during my time as a student there. Walter, the instructor, has had an amazing journey in the floral business. I not only learned design techniques from him but I also gleaned information about the industry and daily operations that I was able to take home and put to work.

Perhaps most important, I reconnected with my youngest sister during our adventure. We have worked together in our family business all of our lives, but sometimes we take the little things (like each other) for granted. We laughed so hard we cried, we took hikes in state parks on the weekends, we studied together for our exams… It was truly a precious time for me.

As blog posts go, this one doesn’t have a lot to offer as far as insight or revelation in the floral industry. However, I hope that you remember to “grow yourself” a little bit every day and take time to appreciate the relationships you have with your friends and family!

Father’s Day is quickly approaching!  Third Sunday in June is the big day for dad. Want to send something to that special dad, grandfather or positive male role model in your life? Believe it or not there are some guys out there that do like flowers.  If not, don’t worry we have other options for you to check out!  

Catcher 
[09F06]

Avid coffee drinker? Baseball fan? Needing alittle color on his desk?
Catcher is a perfect combination Dad will love! Bright red carnations mixed with white daisies artfully designed in a keepsake baseball mug. 

Birdie
13F03

Ok, so dad is not a baseball fan but enjoys a wonderful trip to the golf course once a week to play a round of golf with his buddies.  If you send dad the “Birdie” (Item #13F03), a brightly colored mix of yellow daisies and blue delphinium, he will have a cool golf key chain to show off to all of the guys at the golf course.  

Classic Blue Truck
09F11

Dad or Grandpa is a huge fan of the old style cars?  We carry keepsake containers of classic vehicles such for Jeep, Mustang and this ceramic 1948 Ford pick-up truck. Filled with yellow daisies, red carnations and purple statice; a perfect gift for that car lover in your life.  

Emerald Garden
GF3022

We cannot forget the man out there that would be perfectly content with a small terrarium containing a mixture of several small green plants (Item #GF3022).  These terrariums would be just the perfect size to sit on dad’s desk at work.  

Tailgate Party
10C08

Maybe dad does not have a green thumb for plants or flowers, we still have the perfect gift for dad!  “Tailgate Party” (Item #10C08) is a wicker basket filled with a variety of tasty snacks for dad to munch on over the course of his special day.  

As you can see we have a large variety of wonderful arrangements that you can send to Dad on his special day!  We also have keepsake containers from football and basketball, to fishing, horses and motorcycles.  It’s not to late to get your order in for delivery or pick up on dad’s special day this Father's Day!

Check out our entire selection by clicking below!