The Flower Blog

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!

"May your thoughts be as glad as the shamrocks. May your heart be as light as a song. May each day bring you bright, happy hours. That stay with you all the year long."

March is the time of things going green! I'm not talking about recycling unless we're talking in terms of joining Ireland in celebrating their patron saint, St. Patrick, on March 17th. It's a time of happiness, joy, comraderie, and all things green including the White House fountain. Ever wonder why March 17th was delegated for St. Patrick? Why do we wear green? What are popular traditions? Let's check out the history together!

Feast of St. Patrick
In Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig, "the Day of the Festival of Patrick", is a religious and cultural celebration on the death date, March 17, of the most well-known patron saint of Ireland, St. Patrick. Okay...So who is he? Patrick's birth origin is believed to be in Roman Britain on March 17, (around)390 AD, with the name Maewyn Succat. He was kidnapped as a child by pirates, sold to slavery and sent to tend sheep on Slemish mountain, Co Antrim, Ireland. During his six year stint he "found God" and dreamt God told him to go to the shore where there would be a ship waiting to take him home. Patrick escaped and was believed to have met up with his parents and then went on to become a priest. He answered God's call to return to Ireland and spent over twenty years converting people to Christianity; setting up churches and schools; developed a native clergy; cultivated the growth of monasticism, established dioceses, and held church councils. After many years of service, St. Patrick died on March 17th, 493. (Disputed) Some of the legends associated with St. Patrick include the use of a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity and driving all the venomous snakes in Ireland to the sea with a curse from God. 

Celebrations
Sounds like St. Patrick did many things for the folks of Ireland is it any wonder they wanted to celebrate his life? The Roman Catholics started the holiday in honor of their patron saint but the day has grown in popularity and eventually turned into a secular celebration of Irish culture and tradition. Traditional St. Patrick's Day celebrations began as church services, banquets, and dances and more commonly parades and festivals. In relation to church services, Lenten restrictions of eating and drinking alcohol are lifted for the day. There is also "Irish Language Week", during the week of St. Patrick where more effort is made to use the Irish Language.  I had assumed St. Patrick's Day parades started over in Ireland but actually they began in North American around the 18th century and made it over to Ireland by the 20th century. Donning the color green and shamrocks is popular everywhere, including local rivers, canals and beverages.

Shamrocks and Going Green
Why all the green and shamrocks? It was said that St. Patrick used shamrocks to illustrate examples of the Holy Trinity. The three leaves symbolize the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Shamrock was also associated with the earth and assumed by druids to be symbolic of the regenerative powers of nature. Whatever the reason, today you may hear terms such as "wetting the shamrock" which means going out for a drink to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  While "drowning the shamrock" with a pint of beer you may notice your beverage of choice is green for the day.  Green symbolizes hope, growth, rebirth, and all good things. The color was prominent in the 1600s during a short period of Confederate Ireland when Catholic noblemen and clergy took control of most of the country. Later on in the 19th century, green returned to represent the rise of Irish nationalism and republicanism in the 19th century. Most likely the color green was chosen to set Ireland apart from the traditional colors of red and blue associated with the United Kingdom. Hmm...there's some green eggs and ham for thought! Irish pride or simply St. Patrick's Day celebrating; sporting a shamrock or rockin' some green is a great choice on March 17th, especially if you don't want to get pinched!

Legends of St. Patrick, stories of shamrocks and why we wear green; these are just a few of the traditions and icons surrounding St. Patrick's Day. We covered leprechauns right here and will certainly have more to explore another time. Till then, have a safe and happy St. Patrick's Day!

Click below to add refreshing colors of green and springtime to your home, office, and more! 

Memories...Let them fill your mind, warm your heart,
and lead you through." - Author Unknown

Let's take a moment and talk about sympathy and sending flowers. Grieving is a difficult process and for some of us, like me, sometimes we are not sure what to do, what to say, and how to express our love and support for grieving friends and families. If you turn to the Five Love Languages, you can find your best mode of expression during a time of sympathy. Some people cook meals, others run errands, give soul-nourishing hugs, and then there is someone like me, who wants to send words and gifts such as flowers. Oh but flowers, they fade and you want to send something as a memento or keepsake. This list is for you. We've compiled our best sellers for those of us who want to send something "in lieu of flowers".  

1. WindChimes

Windchimes as sympathy gifts are picking up speed. Long lasting and beautiful with soothing tones to create an atmosphere calming of the mind and uplifting to the spirit. Perfect for the patio or memorial garden the healing power of music is known to reduce stress and anxiety and allows a person to relax and unwind.

 
2. Garden Stones

There are many ways to create long-lasting tributes to loved ones. One of the more popular tributes is designing a small memorial garden. They can be as small as a single perrenial or however large the space allows for a full-sized garden with shrubs, grasses, and a variety of flowers. A thoughtful gift to honor a loved one is a garden memorial stone. These weatherproof and durable stones offer messages of comfort and remembrance in the quiet sanctuary of any garden.  

3. Comfort Throw Blanket

Another alternative to flowers which can offer a moment of comfort as a tangible gift is a Comfort Throw Blanket. Beautiful images alongside verses and remembrance messages in heirloom quality can be displayed during the service on a wooden easel. At home, this richly colored throw can be used as a memorial coverlet, lap blanket or wall hanging.

4. Book of Love

Each one unique, these books of love are made from rescued hardbound books. They are given new life through nine seperate processes. All the steps are done by hand therefore, none of the books are exactly alike. This gift is a classic and inexpensive way to express personal thoughts to loved ones which cannot always be put into words. 

5. Keepsake Box

Music box, jewelry box, there are so many ways these decorative treasures can be used by a loved one. A beautiful way to hold cherished memories or personal effects. We carry keepsake boxes in a variety of sizes, colors, and themes appropriate for many occasions and personal style. Many contain comforting words, art, and soothing melodies. There are a select amount which can have the art replaced on top with photos.  

These gifts also make lovely displays either filled or surrounded with fresh flowers artfully designed by our staff. Keepsake boxes are a touching and lasting way to honor a loved one's memory. 

 
6. Figurines

Angels, cherubs, animals, etc; we have a large collection of figurines which are appropriate as stand alone sympathy gifts. Add permanent botanicals or fresh flowers to create a combination of traditional and modern sympathy gift in one. Figurines are subtle yet thoughtful gift which can be placed anywhere in the home and even some outdoors in the garden.

A popular choice and example is our Cielo arrangement. Filled with carnations, daisies, statice and a small light up angel figurine placed in the center.  As someone who enjoys sending flowers and a small "Thinking of You" token; this style of sympathy gift is up my alley.

7. Planters

Last but not least on our list of top choices for alternative sympathy gifts is one which serves as living tribute long after the funeral service is over. The everlasting beauty of the dish garden.  Select one of our many containers or bring one from home as a personal memento; our floral designers are skilled at making a garden out of almost anything. Fresh flowers and ribbons are artfully placed for an elegant tribute for display. 

As you can see we have quite a few alternatives to sympathy flowers and then some. Need more ideas and inspiration? See our extended Sympathy collection online and stop by our store. The fine staff at Gillespie Florists can help you find the perfect ikeepsake or combination of flowers and keepsake for you to express your sentiments in a loving, thoughtful and personal way.  

1. Sweet Annie

Maybe it's the name of the bouquet or the fact it is the most cheerful mixture of lavender and pink! Sweet Annie is overflowing with sweet lavender daisies, delightful pink alstroemeria lilies, fun dark pink carnations, and adorable waxflower. This bouquet is beyond darling and the corners of my mouth immediately raise because it's so darn sweet looking. It reminds me of springtime, young love, laughter, and sunshine. Looking for something light, relaxed, and fun? Sweet Annie is your go-to.

2. Orchids Renoir

Give your valentine a taste of the tropics with this new arrangement for 2016! Orchids Renoir is a modern design with a taste of the exotic with phalaenopsis orchid blooms. Three tea rose and waxflower blooms placed intermittently complete this work of art suspended in water gel beads! A subtle shade of pink decorative wire encircles the cylindrical vase for a striking finish. 

3. Te Amo

Say "I love You" with this breathetaking design which started out as a wedding bouquet translated into a vased arrangement. Between the vintage colors and the sophisticated blooms of hydrangea, roses, tea roses, and eucalyptus, this bouquet is a visual symphony which will make hearts sing. 

4. Starry Night

If you haven't noticed, I lean towards non-traditional Valentine bouquets; the ones which do not have half dozen to a dozen roses in them. I most certainly do adore roses, but love having a mixture of all kinds of flowers. Variety is the spice of life, and then some!  Here, however, is one particular rose arrangement which stopped my scrolling in its tracks. Starry Night with a stargazer lily artistically displayed amongst elegant and rich red roses. It is truly like there is a star bursting out of this arrangement with babies breath sprinkling in all directions. This eye-catching piece is an exquisite fusion of traditional and dazzling flair.

5. Add a little Extra

Let's talk about the extra mile, shall we? You're already there! Flowers are beyond romantic and timeless in their beauty and meaning. Want to go alittle further? Turn that mini to a full marathon? Have you ever sampled Moonstruck Chocolates? Move over, Godiva, there's a new kid in town. I dedicated an entire article to these superbly savory chocolates because they are just that good. Really. Really. Good. I had a box of four truffles...I was reluctant to share with the people I love the most but somehow I did. Barely...and it almost broke my heart when they were gone. Flowers and chocolate..they go hand in hand.  If you're in need of something with a lower calorie intake then try some plush love! Burn calories by hugging the stuffing out of these adorable creatures! Plush animals are for everyone. Young, young-at-heart and everyone in between; the soft fluffy huggy goodness is calling. 

Congratulations! You've made it through the top bouquet picks of Valentine's Day! We've gone from traditional to modern and a few in between to help you find the perfect bouquet to help celebrate and remember the crazy beautiful thing we call love.  Want more choices? Look no further than our complete Valentine's Day collection below!  

And don't forget Valentine's Day falls on Sunday this year so stop by our store and pick up fresh bouquets, stems of your favorite flowers and something extra!  Want to super surprise your valentine? Send flowers Friday, the 12th! Unexpected, gorgeous, and a fabulous way to start off a romantic weekend.

-Franklin P. Jones 

There is something very special about creating gorgeous bouquets and arrangements for one of the most unforgettable moments in a couple's life. We take snapshots of our wedding florals before they are whisked away to the event; it isn't often we see the final picture. Ever wonder what happens to the flowers after they leave the shop? One of our delightful wedding couples sent us pictures from their big day to share with you.

 Let's start off with the bridal party, shall we?

Such lovely ladies and beautiful bouquets! The color and theme took shape around the Bohemian style of the clutch bridal bouquet. Soft, flowing, with a fantastic variety of texture through the burgandy hanging amaranthus, seeded and gunni eucalyptus, misty limonium, and white open cut roses. Sumatra lilies and dark red spray roses added depth to the design while the cream ribbon wrap tied the look together.
The bridesmaids shared a similar style of clutch bouquet with white button mums, misty limonium and gunni eucalyptus, hand-tied with a deep red ribbon wrap for added pop of burgandy color. 

Here comes a closeup of the bridal bouquet and the happy groom!

Mr. Kyle Conner is styling with a deep red spray rose bloom, white button mum bloom and purple cushion mum bloom with touches of white waxflower, misty limonium and seeded eucalyptus in his trendy boutounniere. The groomsmen wore similar boutouniere sans a purple cushion mum bloom. Let's see a photo of all these handsome men together! Looking sharp!

Speaking of members of the wedding party, we've got a couple of reception photos from the reception featuring the cake!

The cake topper was centered around a beautiful silver letter "C" embedded with rhinestones! The designers artfully designed loose flowers including white button mums, red alstroemeria, amaranthus, eucalyptus and more around this special piece. The final effect is elegant with a flair of whimsical fun which is an excellent combination for a Bohemian theme.  You may be wondering why I haven't mentioned the table centerpiece to the right (your right) of the image above. This arrangement shares a special quality with the centerpiece in the photo below. Do you know what it is? I'll tell you, but first, let's appreciate the precious moment happening, the lighting of the Unity candle. 

What an incredible moment in the ceremony... 
Okay, still waiting for me to divulge the interesting commonality between the two centerpieces. Actually between the altar centerpiece and the cocktail, guest table, and small centerpieces at the reception.  Besides using limonium, red alstroemeria, seeded eucalyptus, red hanging amaranthus, and hydrangea, these centerpieces were all DIY (Design-It-Yourself)! 

How does DIY work at our shop? The client, like Jaicie, provides the containers and purchases the flowers at a discounted rate from Gillespie Florists. Then we provide the design space and help, when needed, as the flowers are assembled by client and friends!  It is a great way to save a bit of money and spend time with friends/family while adding an extra special personal touch to your big day.

Thank you once again Kyle and Jaicie Conner, for having us share in your wedding day! Congratulations!
Special thanks to Kristeen Marie Photography for providing the superb photos of the wedding and reception!

Finding inspiration in this article for your wedding day? Check out our online wedding collection here!

Schedule a free wedding consultation with our wedding specialist!

"Autumn is a second Spring to me
where every leaf is a flower."

-Albert Camus

There is the most wonderful time of the year and then there is the most beautiful time of the year. Perhaps I'm biased due to the perfect September day on which I married my wonderful geek of guy. Maybe it's because my birthday falls in the exciting month of October. I've got handfuls of reasons why Fall has a special place reserved in my heart and I bet there are plenty of others out there who feel the same. One of the reasons for adoration of the season of Autumn is weddings. Who doesn't love them? The rich, warm colors from above, temps which don't melt the makeup off your face, and all the harvest glory which can be used in your wedding decor should you so choose. And then there are the flowers! Today we walk down memory lane with a snapshot of some of our favorite bouquets from Fall 2015.

As mentioned before I'm a big fan of Fall weddings because of my own. My wedding was like a fairy tale complete with leaves gently drifting down the path as I...well, it's a great story which you can read about here! Ok back to the subject; there have been so many gorgeous bouquets to choose from for our Fall Wedding snapshot there may need to be a Part 2! Without further ado, a 2015 Fall Wedding Bouquets of Gillespie Florists Snapshot.  

Weddings during this time of year have access to all kinds of flowers, colors, accessories, etc. Go with the flow of the seasonal colors of rich red, gold, orange, plum or deep burgandy. Not feeling the vibrant colors of the season? A palette of creamy white, pink, and peach can soften up the bold outdoors and add a vintage or shabby chic flair to your theme. 

A few of our brides' select flowers this season include callas of all colors; roses of red, softest pink, and ivory; bright and brilliant gerberas; delicate hydrangea; and our fall favorites: mums and daisies! The themes range from superb elegance to sweet and simple country and everything in between. 

There you have it. A fine looking collection of our favorite fall wedding bouquets. Autumn can certainly bring out quite a diverse selection of color combinations, themes, and style. There have been so many lovely weddings this image would scroll for quite a bit to see all the bountiful beauty of this season.

Planning a wedding? Need more inspiration and examples of our work?  Visit our website to see an extended collection and schedule a free consultation with our experienced and friendly wedding specialist!

Halloween is almost here! To me, it's the most wonderful time of the year...till Christmas! And what better way to celebrate a day of dressing up as your favorite super hero, TV character, or what have you than to decorate with spooky stuff, eat candy, and create scary fun bouquets? That's how we roll here at Gillespie Florists!

Know what else we love about Halloween? Trick-or-Treaters! And because we enjoy costumes, candy, Trick-or-Treaters and more, we have a special treat for you! 

Are your little Trick or Treaters anxious to get the Halloween ball rolling? You know they are going to wake up bright and early on Saturday with their costumes on and ready to seek out candy! Bring everyone over to our shop for a few treats of our own as we host a few Trick or Treat hours in our seventh year and running...

Treat or Flower!

Except it's Treat AND Flower! We send off our costumed Trick-or-Treaters in style with candy AND a free flower! Is there a more fabulous way to start the evening than with a fresh flower to go along with the impending harvest of sweet treats?

Still not sure it sounds like fun? Let me convince you with some pictures of a few of our visitors during All Hallow's Eve past! 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

Saturday Oct. 31st 4p-6p

Hmm...costumes, candy, carnations, pictures, a chance to practice trick or treating before the official hours begin...sounds like a great way to start Halloween!  Be sure to add our shop to your trick or treat route. We will be there with flowers and candy at the ready and excited to show off our spooky fun displays, scary bouquets, and creative costuming too!  

See you soon!

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Confession time: I wondered what the big deal was about Sweetest Day. Were card company cronies trying to get all my money and making up holidays because they can? Just another reason to go out and buy something because commerce told me to?  Before my brain got too out of hand I decided to step down from the mental soapbox and educate myself on how this confectionary concoction came to be.

IS it just another day to sell cards, candies, and flowers? Was it initially designed to be Valentine's Day: Part Deux? No it was not. The beginning of this holiday is actually very (no pun intended) sweet.  Let's see what this third Saturday of October is really all about.

First off it isn't a national holiday; it's celebrated predominantly in the Midwestern US and a few Northeastern states thrown in. In 1921 Herbert Birch Kingston, a candy-maker and philanthropist, wanted to create a day to give something or to do something nice to those less fortunate than oneself. Therefore he formed a "Sweetest Day of the Year" committee and they distributed over 20,000 boxes of candy and gifts to "newsboys, old folks, orphans, widows and the poor" in Cleveland, Ohio. The movement was very well-received however it didn't take long for it to morph into more of the common giving sweets, flowers, and cards to loved ones that it is today. We don't need a reason to treat our friends and family but it doesn't hurt to have a reminder does it? Wouldn't it be nice though, to bring back the origin and step outside our comfort zone just a bit? Someone at work going through a difficult time? Want to say "Thank you" to the cashiers you always see. You know, the ones who smile as your children barrage you with candy requests and last minute promises to be good for a treat. 

3. Sweets for the Sweet

You have the facts and I have a better appreciation for the day. It's not JUST about loved ones in your family tree. It's about extending kindness to everyone. We cannot always buy flowers, chocolates, etc but we can give out hugs, handshakes, and smiles for free. Would I like flowers? Yes, of course always. But perhaps I should get them for a friend instead of hoarding them all to myself. You may have a few empty note cards in your office drawer? (I'm talking about myself again) Wouldn't it be really thoughtful to send a few of them? Or let my USPS carrier know he does a great job and I enjoy the fact he takes time to wave at us?  It's the little things. It's the sweet reminder of the blessings we have in this life and we should remember to stop a moment and smell the roses, chocolates and maybe a freshly bathed baby along the way and then spread the joy to others.