The Flower Blog

Valentine's Day is quickly approaching and the flowers and gifts options are limitless! What to do? What to choose! I'm narrowing down the options to a few of my favorites which range from petite and sweet to full-on fancy! With our Valentine's Collection, you can express your love on any budget!

1. I Love You Everyday...Let's Celebrate Just Because It's Valentine's Day!

Gerbera Crush [17V10] - $29.95

We are starting off this quirky list with the happiest flower on earth! Go ahead and look upon gerbera daisies and try not to smile. It's a challenge!

Gerbera Crush is filled with fun brightly colored red gerbera daisies, red hybericum berries, and a swanky aspidistra leaf (also known as the cast-iron plant). Easy on the wallet and just the right size to enjoy it's beauty anywhere in the office or home!

2. I Know You Like Sweet Sayings...

To the Moon and Back [17V06] - $36.95

This fancy cylinder vase wrapped with violet wire is brought to life with two lavender roses suspended in water-storing gel beads. Added bonus, this bouquet includes a lovely keepsake heart etched with a phrase long known and loved in the childrens book Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney. Your love can be perfectly expressed with this sweet bouquet with a nod to those of us who adore the sentiment "I Love You to the Moon and Back".

3. You Can't Stand Valentine's Day...I'm Gonna Send You Something

Love Stinks [17V06] - $39.95

Is the love of your life not a big fan of Valentine's Day? Cupid make them cringe? That's reason enough to send something to help them with the cause of Anti-Valentine's Day!

Love Stinks is filled with daisies, carnations, alstroemeria and carnations with an adorable and non-scented plush skunk holding an adorable heart with "Love Stinks" embroidered on it.

(Click here to check out our Budvase version Little Stinker)

4. This Will Make Your Office Mates Beary Jealous...

Crazy About You [17V02] - $62.95

This is one of those arrangments we have to be careful with because it is SO adorable that one may attempt to hug the entire bouquet before removing the plush bear!

Three lavender-kissed roses, nine Purple Moon series carnations, limonium and a huggable, lovable teddy bear dressed to the nines with a bouquet matching ribbon. I'm a sucker for plush animals and if your special person can't say "no" to them either AND loves getting flowers at the office...this one is the winning pick.

5. Going All Jane Austen for You...

Love Speak [11V01] - $82.95

Did I have you at Jane Austen? Strike a chord on the piano forte?

How else to elicite "a thousand times yes!" than with fragrant stargazer lilies, pink carnations, and the most delicate pink roses you've ever seen? Artfully arranged eucalyptus, airy larkspur and leatherfern combine for a final look fit for a romantic walk-out-of doors with your beloved. Except you don't have to take the walk if it's not on the order of the day; we can bring the view straight to you!

 6. Roses are Red, and Many Colors It's True, During       Valentine's Day They Are Precious but not as Precious as You...

Vin Rouge [13V07] - $99.95 

The rose. Timeless, elegant and representing love and romance through the ages. This still holds true today as roses are still the most popular flower to send celebrate the Valentine's Day.

If your relationship leans towards the classics then Vin Rouge is quite the catch with twelve long stem beauties, babies breath, greenery and lovely ribbon! 

(Click here to send a modern version of the classic dozen with Red Passion!) 

7. My Life  Overfloweth in Color and Joy with You in It

Enchantment [17V03] - $139.95

 Life is grand when you have love in it. Our Enchantment bouquet is visual expression of what cannot always be articulated with words.  

The fine designers at Gillespie Florists start with a large 10” Gala vase and expertly design your bouquet with yellow lilies, bright blue delphinium, purple larkspur, vibrant orange carnations, blazing orange roses, truly yellow daisies, white monte casino, deep red mini carnations, solidago and lush greenery! Wow! That's a mouthful isn't it? Speaking of mouths, this bouquet is a jawdropper. One cannot see the intensity of the colorful florals and not be blown away...in my humble opinion.

There are so many eligible bouquets in our Valentine's Day Collection which almost made the list for this year but better for you to see what I like and then decide what fits your valentine's day needs and check out our offerings for yourself! Come to our store and browse what we have created fresh daily and pick up sweets and gifts for your sweetheart or call us today to make something perfect for your Valentine!

When is wedding season? Spring and summer are tried and true but fall and winter welcome weddings too! Here at Gillespie Florists, wedding season can happen at any time and the first weekend of October 2016 is a prime example!

Fall weddings have been well underway and the first weekend of October 2016 was a definite indicator that another current of wedding weather had begun. We'll take it and love all the many themes and colors which roll out during this time of year.  Take a look at samples from our Eight Wedding weekend! They are picture perfect, just the way you want your weddingd day to be.

Fresh designs and favored traditional ones with brilliant color and texture, this weekend had it all. Traditional wedding florals such as callas and roses incorporated into quite a few of our bouquets while gerberas were used in striking nosegays and accesorized table pieces in others. One of top choices on my list was the eye-catching bridal bouquet of blue thorn thistle, soft pink roses and roses of popping color of orange! Speaking of wild colors, the contrast of white callas and deep blue roses in the cascading bridal bouquet is simply stunning! Another personal favorite is the sweet peach color callas clustered together with rich red roses and the most luscious sherbert-colored roses! Hypericum berries and leucadendron accessorize this fall themed bouquet with exquisite texture and color. Let's not forget classic pastel and cream colors continuing their parade into the fall/winter season with the prominence of babies breath and hydrangea from that weekend as well!

Brilliant bold colors, soft vintage pastels and everything in between; the first weekend of October 2016 was a fabulous way to herald in fall with the beautiful colors and weather which come with it. Do you have a favorite wedding season? Ours is any time we have the opportunity to create gorgeous flowers fit for the occasion and help brides make their wedding day dreams come true! 

Planning a wedding? Need inspiration for wedding flowers? Check out our extensive wedding collection!

Good Service is good business.
- Siebel Ad

Gillespie Florists does many things really well, one of them is customer service. We strive for everyone who walks through our door or gives us a call to have the best experience when working with us. Always looking for new ways to improve your experience with us, we've developed a new system for you to see your order before it goes out the door! "Impossible! You're joking" some may say. But here it is, a few FAQs on what we are doing to continue our tradition of bringing quality flowers and service to your door.

1. What Exactly is this Photo Service?

Picture this (no pun intended): You've called Gillespie Florists, your go-to florist. The designers have artfully designed a lovely bouquet for that special someone. Ever wonder what the final product looks like before it's delivered? Now you will know! We want our customers to see the quality we are delivering before it's delivered! We have a procedure set in place to take a photo of your order before it is sent on delivery or picked up at our store.

2. How Does it Work?

1.When you call or visit Gillespie Florists and place your order we ask     if you would like a photo of the bouquet.
2. What method you would prefer to see the photo? Text or Email?
3. Once bouquet has been designed it is taken to the photography           station where a picture is taken and then sent to you per preferred     method of either text or email.
4. The bouquet is wrapped up and sent on back to our delivery area,       ready for delivery. If the order is for pickup, we send it to our 500       sq ft cooler!

3. Are There Restrictions for This Service?

As this is a service of Gillespie Florists, it does not extend to orders being sent out of town.
This is available for Indianapolis area deliveries provided by Gillespie Florists.

4. How Much Does this Cost? 

We offer our bouquet photo service free of charge! 

5. What if I Have Multiple Bouquets in my Order?

If you are placing an order going to different locations with different bouquets, we would take a photo of each arrangement and send separately. If there are multiple bouquets ordered going to the same location with the same card attached, we would take a group photo of your order. 

Since implementing the Bouquet Photo Service in June 2015 we have received a lot of great feedback! Our customers enjoy seeing the final result and having the extra assurance their loved one is receiving a beautiful and artfully hand designed arrangement! Granted, it is one more step in the process at Gillespie Florists to complete an order but going the extra mile for our customers is what we do best and you can't put a price tag on that!

Have more questions? Please give us a call or send us an email at gillespieflorists@gmail.com!

"Summertime is always the best of what might be"
- Charles Bowden

School bells have rung, trees are beginning to show their golden autumn colors; with soft cool breezes blending with the bold heat of the sun, summer is bidding us farewell for another year.

However, we are going review a few of our favorite summer wedding flowers before fall season hits head on!

As we begin preparing bouquets for fall weddings our favorite summer styles and colors from Summer 2016 are still fresh on the minds of our floral designers and wedding specialists. This collage is a small portion of many gorgeous weddings they have had the pleasure of helping prepare. Summer brides fashioned their weddings with a plethera of color combinations ranging from bold, bright and beautiful to the softest creamy vintage colors and everything in between. Plump and precious succulents were and are still on high demand while delicate hydrangea, peonies and ranunculous were never far behind. As always, what wedding season is without a decent dose of the classics such as ravishing roses and callas? The happiest flowers on earth, gerbera and sunflower, added festivie flair to rich in color wedding themes. 

The summer season can be gentle and rhythmic with colors reflecting warm days at the ocean and long walks on the beach and it can also be stunning, striking and vibrant with festivals, brilliant sunshine and fantastic voyages. Whatever the feeling and theme brides want to reflect on their summer wedding day; our staff stands up to the challenge of any color and flower comibination you dare to dream for your big day. 

Find our favorite wedding flower themes and more in our wedding collection!

 

Schedule a free consultation with our wedding specialist!

"Our perfect companions never have fewer than four feet."
— Colette

Our customers find more than flowers when they visit our store! We have delightful dogs who bring smiles and chuckles whenever they are in the building. If you haven't met them in person, plan a visit to meet one (or more) of our beloved mascots. Till then take a moment to learn more about our furry friends who frequent the store, ask for belly rubs, ear scritches and all the love and hugs they can get. 

***SPECIAL NOTE****If you would prefer to have your shopping experience mascot free,
call us at 317.273.1100 and we will have our furry friends take a break in the back.

Meet Minnie Pearl

Minnie Pearl (often referred to as Minnie) is our newest English Bull addition to the Gillespie Florist Family!
She has been learning the ropes from her big sister Evie. Minnie is super playful and very sweet. She enjoys spending lots of time with Mom and Dad, walking, exploring and playing with family.

Evie!

Evie has been with us a few years and learned the ins and outs of being a perfect mascot under the constant tutelage of big sister Pearl. Evie is also one for adventure. She is very courageous and very gentle. Before Evie joined the family we invited our friends and fans to vote on her name. It was a very exciting experience with so many excellent names from which to choose. We are happy Evie was the most popular vote, we can't imagine calling her anything else.

Sawyer

Next up is the super cute Sawyer! Half Yorkie, half Pekingese/Dachshund and 100% Princess! Sawyer may be a diva but we don't mind, her superpower is looking ADORABLE all the time. She can often be found snoozing on top of desks, under feet or following her second favorite human (Sarah) around the store. Sawyer may be small but her personality is mighty. She gives Minnie and Evie and run for their money and often stops everyone in their tracks due to her charm.

Tula, Juno and Bose

Next up are a few Great Danes who often ride with Pat while he takes deliveries. Tula is the youngest of the bunch. She is very playful and loves to lean in for back pats. Juno is the eldest and loves to shake hands. Bose is a most handsome boy and loves to keep Susan company at home. While at the store these gentle giants spend most of their time in Pat's van or resting outside in the sunshine. This terrific trio does not often visit but when they do, rest assured they're here to help Pat get back on the road so he can treat them to dinner on the way home.

Pictured: Tula with Pat
Pictured Below: Juno with the bespeckled Bose 

We have more furry friends to introduce. Be sure to check our social media pages for Furbaby Fridays, when we share updates on the entire crew!

Miss out seeing Minnie and Evie on your last visit? We've got links for you follow them and their family adventures below!

Evie and Minnie Pearl on Twitter at Bulldog Evie & Minnie Pearl

***SPECIAL NOTE****If you would prefer to have your shopping experience mascot free, call us at 317.273.1100 and we will have our furry friends take a break in the back.

 “All you need is love. 
But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.” 
― Charles M. Schulz

I agree with the great Charles M. Schulz, except let's make "now and then" more often. When you bite into your first Ghyslain Chocolate, you'll taste what I mean!

Wait a moment, we need to back up! Because before the bite comes the sight. Have you seen these beautiful works of art? The internet can only do so much for your senses. A digital picture is worth about 500 words; however when it comes to the absolute artistry of these handcrafted chocolates made in Union City, Indiana, well...one should view these beauties in person.  If the image below hasn't piqued your interest enough to grab keys and visit Gillespie Florists immediately then let me persuade you further with an ode to these exquisite works of art which my eyes long to behold forever but my mouth will only withhold these treasures for mere moments.

Banana Foster, Pistachio Amerana, Tahitian Vanilla, Biscottino Salted Caramel...I'm drooling right now. Literally drooling. As exotic and delicious as the titles are, what lies underneath will seal the deal with a marriage of flavors such as: white chocolate infused vanilla bean; Gianduja milk chocolate ganache with carmelized hazelnut; dark chocolate center with passion fruit blend caramel; orange marmalade, dark chocolate ganache infused with Grand Marnier extract and chocolate pearls...

Am I kidding you right now? No! This is no joke, friends. Ghyslain is the real deal when it comes to superb gourmet taste and handcrafted artisan flair. 

Oh the glory of just a mere visual sampling of these tasty treasures. Waiting to be admired and relished for the mastery in both taste and design. They are so breathtaking in sight you will not want to eat Ghyslain Chocolates. But you will and you won't be able to have just one. Trust me, you won't be sorry.

Go on, prove me wrong on this. Before proof can happen a visit to Gillespie Florists is in order where we have a grand selection of Ghyslain Chocolates. Better yet, give us a call and have them delivered with a delightful bouquet to someone you love. Maybe they will say "Thank you" by sharing. Or maybe you should just order an extra box for yourself. Yes, that would be best. Love is strong but I'm not sure it can withstand the sheer magnitude Ghyslain Chocolate experience (says the person who sampled the product and *forgot* to share). 

Say "I love you" "Just Because" or "Thinking of You" today and visit our website for all the flowers in your life!

Birthdays, Christmas, Father's Day...these are the days which can be excruciatingly difficult for those of us who are clueless on the perfect gift for "him". You know who I'm talking about....that important guy or guys in your life.  

The only guy in my life I don't have to melt my brain creatively in the gift department is my dad. Without fail, he is most delighted with sweaters and sweatshirts. He loves receiving these from me to the point where someone compliments him on any sweater, he will say "Kelly bought it for me" when in fact, it's possible one of my other siblings did. After a few incidents they have left the sweater purchasing to me. Gifts for my dad? Done and Done. Everyone else? Oh, the agony. But never fear, I've compiled a list of gift ideas to make your next gift for him a little bit easier! 

1. SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

 

Finding the right gift can be hard to find and if you google "gifts for him" your search is far from over! Is your gift for the great outdoorsman? Sports enthusiast? Geek? So many searches, so little time therefore let's start with a winning list with something for everyone! Dads, brothers, husbands and friends. I love Heavy.com's Top 100 Best Gifts for Men because it's there's a great range in price, lifestyle, age. After scanning the list I was surprised to find quite a few items that I would purchase for the guys in my life! My top three items were the The Official John Wayne Way to Grill (for the foodie); Pyle SoundBox Splash Waterproof Portable Speaker (for the music lover); and the Vivere Double Space Hammock (for the outdoorsman). Great variety and price points for a variety of lifestyles all in one list. BOOM. DONE.

 

 

 

 

2. DIY GIFTS 

 

Let's say DIY is your style! I know it's mine and the very first thing I do is look at my favorite pinterest boards. Sometimes going to the place with a billion pins is overwhelming therefore take a short cut to theartofmanliness.com.  The Art of Manliness list of DIY projects is overflowing with great ideas which you can DIY or give to him as a gift to do! I especially love the altoid tin survival kits and all the ways you can personalize it and the best beef jerky in the world because...beef jerky and I want to make it for myself post-haste! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. FROM THE KIDS

 

My three kiddos always want to take part in gifts for dad! Every once in awhile we carve out a large block of time to work on a special gift! One of our favorites is painting ceramic bowls. Breakfast time is always bonding time with dad so cereal bowls have been a big hit!

 

Not feeling the painting? Try one of these Kid Friendly DIY Gift Ideas from Care.com! From cute candy cards to pretty cool bicycle brake clocks there is something for everyone. I can't say my favorite on this list because it's bound to be a birthday gift pretty soon! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. DON'T FORGET YOUR FRIENDLY LOCAL FLORIST!

 

Of course I'm going to mention Gillespie Florists! Flowers do not seem to be synonymous with gifts for him but have you seen what we can do? Planters or flowers for the home, office, and man cave in fun containers like jeeps, Ford trucks, sports balls and even grills! Snack baskets, gourment food baskets, stones for the garden. Send a "Just Because" surprise bouquet, just because. The kids can join in the fun, walk the red carpet and select flowers for the important guys in their life! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's bring it back home. I've shared some of my favorite "For Him" lists with you as well as ideas I've personally used! These ideas serve as starting points to get you going in the right direction for the perfect gift for him. Online, hand delivered, DIY, whatever your style; as long as the gift is thoughtful and from the heart, it is sure to be a hit with him.  Happy Gifting!

 

Want to send some love through the language of flowers? Shop some of our favorites now!

 

 

The art of mothering is to teach 
the art of living to children.
-Elaine Heffner

Mothering is a type of art form, isn't it? A daily, sometimes hourly balance of tasks to accomplish while caring for the ones you love and hoping the best parts of yourself are being reflected in the process.  It is a difficult balance yet we strive to keep balance every day. Dads, you do it too, we've got you on our radar! Every day is a chance to celebrate the relationships and love we have in our lives but having a few days a year to dedicate to mothers, fathers, siblings, grandparents, etc; doesn't hurt to send some extra special love and thanks, does it? So for Mother's Day, I am absolutely delighted at what the talented floral designers at Gillespie Florists have artfully crafted for our Mother's Day collection this year. Just like our mothers, these bouquets are works of art and I adore how they reflect the nature of mom in her many different forms.

1. Pastel Treasures

16M05
42.95

A terrific trio of goodness found in vintage bud vases! These small arrangements make a lovely combination centerpiece, placed individually throughout the room! Soft pastel colors in a few of our favorite flowers including gerbera daisies, waxflower, roses, snap dragons, seeded eucalyptus and mini-carnations! If the special lady in your life loves simple and sweet; she will enjoy Pastel Treasures. 

Giving this as a gift to represent a certain number of people? We can adjust the number of vases to suit your needs! Call 317.273.1100 or email gillespieflorists@gmail.com for pricing options!

2. Butterfly Dreams

56.95

 

I'll admit it; I'm a sucker for butterflies, warm colors, and multi-purpose gifts. This particular design combines all these attributes in one for a most adorable bouquet! Not only do we have the beauty of fresh colorful daisies, carnations, waxflower, and alstroemeria but also the long lasting function of a quaint keepsake mug! If mom is an avid warm refreshment fan, she will appreciate this gift within a gift. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Painted Hummingbird

16M10

54.95

 

Is it just me or do we associate delicate winged creatures with spring and love. We've covered butterflies; it's now time for our feathered friends, the hummingbirds! This bouquet reminds me of the quick flitting movements of these fairy-like birds. Fuji Mums reflect the needle thin beaks dipping searching for nectar. The fine Bear grass and airy nature of limonium filler and floral design is like catching a glance of the hummingbird before it disappears. 

 

Soft pink hues and demurely painted hummingbird in a keepsake vase complete this ethereal  bouquet! 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Azure Hauteur

16M03

$109.95

 

Show some love on a large and elegant scale with Azure Hauteur. Tall Bells of Ireland, ornamental kale, the delicate white anemone, green mini hydrangea, green hypericum berry, purple monte casino, tinted blue limonium, spiral eucalyptus and seeded eucalyptus all artfully and tastefully arranged in a pristine blue vase. The classic appeal of this arrangement is perfect for the sophisticated lady in your life. 

Succulents: Low maintenance; available in variety of colors, shapes, sizes; versatile; garden friendly; wedding friendly; plays well with fashion trends; and inexpensive?  Where do I sign up?

The possibilities are endless with these hardy little "fat plants" as they are sometimes referred. Desirable for their ornamental looks and hardy nature there is no telling what our creative brains will come up with next in terms of how to use these versatile flowers. Succulents are in high fashion for weddings and it's no wonder. Dress them up with sophisticated ohara roses and ranunculous or go loose leafed and airy with caspia and cabbage, there's no stopping these plants from being a bridal favorite all over the country and with our brides at Gillespie Florists! All of our wedding flowers are gorgeous and the ones which incorporate succelents are no exception! We've put together a collage of just a few of our stunning designs including these popular plants!

From soft and subtle to outstanding bold and vibrant, succelents are a lovely addition to all manner of themes and styles.
Let's not stop there, the exotic look and low maintenance appeal of succulents go further than your average wedding flowers. Go to your neighborhood dollar store, value store, favorite found object shop and pick up containers matching your theme and decorate the reception tables with these take home favors for guests. Create a long lasting impression which will add flair and interest to any home and/or garden! This is just one of hundreds of ideas on succelent incorporation into weddings. Just check your favorite idea collecting website (you know which one I'm talking about...i bet you have hundreds of pins to prove it too!).

There are many pros to utilizing succelents in weddings! Low maintenance; variety of sizes, shapes and colors; year round availability; low cost and versatile. Thinking of incorporating them into your wedding? Give us a call today and schedule a free consultation with our wedding specialist!

We do not remember days; we remember moments. 

~Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand

Ahh memories...those moments in time you will never forget. Prom Night is all about unforgettable moments whether they be romantic, comical, dramatic, amazing, fun, crazy, silly, catastrophic, and lastly, epic. However your dream Prom is remembered is completely up to you. How your evening begins? We have a menagerie of materials and florals to start this magical night with sparkle, shine, and all things divine.

Speaking of divine, our floral designers have been hard at work with fresh new creations for Prom Night 2016! Metallics, shimmer ribbons, glitter, rhinestones and all your favorite shiny decorations are back along with a generous element of texture. Popular prom dresses this season are simply smooth and chic which means it's time to accessorize your ensemble with a glamorous corsage! Latest trends are letting Nature take its' course with succulents and greenery in high demand. Think tropic and exotic with colorful orchids, feathers, and striking blue thistle. Even our boutonnieres are going above and beyond with makeovers to match their corsage counterparts. 

Are you feeling the "Wow" factor? Amazed? Have we taken your breath away? Just think! The above corsage collage is a minor sampling of everything Gillespie Florists has to offer for an extraordinary Prom Night!

Ready to get started on your dream corsage? Visit our Prom Night collection online for great ideas and come into our store to view our prom materials and supplies! Our knowledgable prom specialists can help with questions, colors and special requests. Prom season is here; get started now!