The Flower Blog

In honor of the spring season, let’s talk about one of my favorite spring flowers - the tulip. 

Although different tulip colors carry distinct meanings - yellow tulips symbolize cheerful thoughts, white conveys forgiveness and purple represents royalty - a Turkish legend may be responsible for the red tulip's symbolism. The story goes that a prince named Farhad was love struck by a maiden named Shirin.  When Farhad learned that Shirin had been killed, he was so overcome with grief that he killed himself - riding his horse over the edge of a cliff.  It's said that a scarlet tulip sprang up from each droplet of his blood, giving the red tulip the meaning "perfect love."

The 11th wedding anniversary flower, it's said that the tulip’s velvety black center represents a lover's heart, darkened by the heat of passion. With the power to rival roses in their red variety and the sweet charm to express simple joy when yellow, it’s no wonder that in addition to all its other symbolism, in the language of flowers, a tulip bouquet represents elegance and grace.

Some tulips varieties have a slight fragrance. Some chefs consider the fresh petals of a tulip edible and use them in salads or on tea sandwiches.
Tulips play an important role in nature. They are a harbinger that spring has sprung and the winter season is almost finished!

Tulips blossom in early to late spring, depending on the climate in which they are planted. Cut tulips are primarily enjoyed during the same season, although they are now commercially grown to be available as a cut flower all year long.

Are you considering using tulips in your wedding?  Contact us for a complimentary consultation. 

How far do we deliver?

I get asked that all the time and it's a great question! Gillespie Florists can take care of your flower delivery worldwide! Because we are proud members of the Teleflora network your order will be hand delivered by us or through Teleflora to get the delivery made by one of our trusted network florists.

Local Delivery 

But what about here, in the neighborhood? Just how far does Gillespie's go? We deliver to Indianapolis and surrounding communities. 

Let me break it down. Our delivery area includes all of Marion County, plus afternoon service to: Acton, Avon, Bargersville, Beech Grove, Bridgeport, Brownsburg, Camby, Carmel, Castleton, Clayton, Cloverdale, Cumberland, Danville, Fishers, Friendswood, Greencastle, Greenfield, Greenwood, Lawrence, Mooresville, New Palestine, New Whiteland, Oaklandon, Pittsboro, Plainfield, Southport, Speedway, Wanamaker, Westfield, West Newton, Whiteland and Zionsville.

On special request, we will go out as far west as Coatesville, as far east as Greenfield, as far north as Noblesville, and as far south as Franklin! We have even taken special deliveries to Martinsville, Spencer, and West Lafayette. 

Special Events

We have on occasion made deliveries out of state from our shop. There will be special events like a wedding, company party or funeral where the customer feels that we would be the best man for the job! We have made deliveries to Illinois, Ohio and have gone as far north as South Bend!

Shipping

Because Gillespie Florists carries so many specialized gift items, sometimes we need to ship the item through the mail. We have shipped all over the country because we had that one thing our customer couldn't find anywhere else!

World Wide Delivery

As I mentioned before, we can deliver around the world or across the country through the Teleflora Network. The reason why we are with Teleflora is because they are the largest network of real local florists from around the world. Teleflora holds all members up to a certain standard to ensure our customers only get the best!

Send flowers World Wide!

We do it all the time. We surprise someone with a bunch of bright yellow flowers to cheer them up. We declare our fervent passion with two-dozen velvety roses. We sense the personalities of different flowers and intuitively choose one over another to fit our mood or the occasion. 

Wedding are the perfect occasion to incorporate meaning or symbolism with flowers.  Each and every bride has a different story and life circumstance so why not celebrate your personal journey with a special and meaningful flower.

Did you know that associating certain flowers with different meanings is an age-old art form? The Japanese call it Hanakotoba, and King Charles II brought it to Sweden from Persia in the 17th century.

Floriography – a fancy name for the language of flowers – was coined in the Victorian era, and while its original translations may have shifted over time, the notion that through flower symbolism we can express what we want to say (and may not be able to speak out loud) still holds true.

From the origin of a flower’s name to its distinctive characteristics and rich mythology, flowers are infused with symbolism and meaning. 

In the weeks that follow, I will be doing articles on some of the most popular wedding flowers and their meanings and symbolism.

Visit our website to see fresh flowers now!

Spring is such a highly anticipated time of year that we thought it might be fun to highlight some of the fresh cut flowers that the season has to offer.  There are so many lovely blossoms to pick from in spring: daffodils, orchids, hyacinth and of course tulips to name a few. 

Tulips - Tulips are the obvious favorite for spring! They come in a myriad of colors: near black purple, blues, reds, pinks, yellows, orange and even white.
 

Orchids - Orchids are ideal cut flowers as they last for up to a week and hold their shape. Available naturally in whites, greens and purples you can also find white ones dyed in all colors such as vibrant blue.

Hyacinth - Hyacinths have a similar look to lilacs (bunches of tiny flowers in white or purple) but tend to last much longer when cut. These beauties are also highly fragrant.  A great in season spring flower option!

Iris - Lovely iris are wonderful cut flowers that can last several days.  They are affordable and come in many colors.

Daffodil - Warm and happy daffodils are also excellent cut spring wedding flowers and come in yellows and whites.

We hope that you find this information helpful as you choose flowers to accent your special day. Remember roses are always available (in pretty much all colors) and can be incorporated into your seasonal flower arrangements.

Do you have another spring flower that you plan to incorporate into your wedding?  We would love to hear about it.  Share a comment below.

Visit our website to learn more!

Find Out More about In Season Spring Wedding Flowers!

One of the first things that brides and their families ask when contacting us about their wedding is, “How much do flowers cost”? 

If only it were that simple.

The answer is that it varies widely by flower choice, design and seasonality.  We custom design each wedding to suit your individual wants and needs.  Because there are so many options out there, it’s difficult for us to even give you an idea without having first met with you to discuss your plans and preferences.  We call this meeting a wedding consultation and we recommend it for each and every family who’s planning a wedding.  Type of flowers and arrangements needed, colors, ribbon selections, accessory options and more will be discussed during your visit.  Before you depart, we allow you to tour our 500 square foot cooler to see the flowers up close and personal.  We are prepared to handle every aspect of your wedding including ceremony and reception décor, cake flowers and more.   

After the consultation is complete, we will assemble a floral estimate for you to assist you as you continue to plan.   This estimate gives you a detailed explanation of each product and its’ cost. 

If we have done our job right, the flowers and designs for your wedding will be as unique as you are. 

If you are planning a wedding, plan to consult with Gillespie Florists!

Contact our wedding specialist now!  weddings@gillespieflorists.com 317-273-1100

When deciding how we are going to present Valentines Day to our customers, we like to come up with a theme that you see with-in ten feet of the main entrance.  We focus on creating an elaborate display designed to amerce the customer in the feeling of the holiday and then pull that theme through to the main show room floor inviting them to investigate further.

This year we are celebrating one of our favorite Valentines Day legends pertaining to Spring that originated in England and France.

Around 1400, during the dark ages, it was commonly believed that February the 14th, was when all the birds returned from Winter.  Signifying the beginning of their nesting season, it added to the idea that the middle of February -Valentines Day- should be a day of romance.

In keeping with the beginning of nesting season, we have featured 2 white doves building their nest under the careful watch of cupid.  The display is brought to life with an authentic woods scene depicting the last winter's snow holding on even as the Spring approaches.  Brightly glittered red hearts give a dynamic color infusion against the stark white background also featuring little red birds spritely perched among the branches.  To finish the effect, several different silk arrangements are set in at any given time to enhance the overall effect.

Click Here select a bouquet to help you celebrate your day of romance!

Watch us put this amazing display together! Watch the video below!

To see more videos by Gillespie Florists, Click Here!

Warm up to the idea of a winter wedding.

Despite the fact that everyone seems to get married in June, winter weddings can be terribly glamorous, warm and magical. With the right elements in place, a winter wedding can be a wonderland.   Read on for some ideas. 

The Flowers

Decide whether you want to go for a silver and white elegant look, or celebrate the season with reds and greens. For those who like silver, look for dusty miller, silver-dollar eucalyptus, and baby blue eucalyptus, mixed with white flowers such as roses, football mums, crocus, lilies and stephanotis. If you're looking for a brighter bouquet, consider red roses with holly and pine-tree greenery. In season flowers such as tulips, roses, and ornamental berries generally will be less expensive choices.

The Décor

Decorate your tables with simple and inexpensive white poinsettias, or fill the room with light by arranging pillar candles on a bed of pine branches.  During the after-Christmas sales, stock up on strands of small white lights, then string them decoratively around doorways, over tables and on archways. Bright red cranberries in a bowl surrounding floating candles make an easy and inexpensive centerpiece.

The Favors

If you and most of your guests celebrate Christmas, an ornament makes a perfect favor. An inexpensive homemade favor is a pretty tin of spiced hot chocolate mix or hot cocoa mix with marshmallows.  Greet your guests with warm coffee or hot chocolate as soon as they come in the ceremony or reception site.  

Also consider a holiday cookie cutter with a cookie recipe attached that says your names, wedding date, and "cut out for each other".

Check our blog each week for a new wedding article. 

CLICK HERE to visit our website for additional ideas to enhance your special day. 

Gillespie Weddings 317-509-0668 weddings@gillespieflorists.com

Every year, all of us at Gillespie's enjoy seeing what Mr. G will come up with for his wife on Valentines Day.  No matter how busy we get, he takes time out of his schedule to make her the perfect bouquet.  Knowing that she has been surrounded by flowers for the past 36 years, we were wondering if she ever tires of receiving flowers for special occasions.  So, we asked her!

"The answer is an emphatic NO.  I always love getting flowers because they are an instant pick me up.  It brings unparalleled beauty and fragrance to where ever I place them.  It's like a little luxury just for me especially when he designs them himself.  On several occaisions, he has even brought home a loose assortment of flowers wrapped in tissue and then arranged them in one of my vases that I keep at home.  So, I absolutely love receiving flowers, every time!"

What will Mrs. Gillespie's bouquet look like this year? I asked Mr. G if he would mind doing it up early for us. This is what he came up with!

He designed a beautiful arrangement just for her!  He started by filling a large clear glass vase with several different varieties of spring flowers that he knows she loves. Featuring an elegant pink Star Gazer Lily, snapdragons, tea roses, larkspur, heather and alstromeria, he always adds a few pastel roses that are her particular favorite.  This stunning bouquet stands over three feet tall and will fill the entire room with fragrance!

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Want your Valentine to feel just as special as Mrs. Gillespie? Click here to buy this exclusive arrangement!

Or Click Here to shop all of our Valentine's Day bouquets! 

Fresh new ideas and colors are sweeping the trends for Valentines Day this year.  With a new resurgence of all the beautiful bright shades of pink being at the forefront and delicate hues of soft ballet pink showing up in several varieties of flowers are destined to create quite a lovely new look to the designs this season.  Look for roses, gerbera's and stargazer lilies as well as the long lasting carnations making a strong showing as they are being presented in beautiful garden style vased arrangements. A great example of this popular style bouquet is seen in our own "Love Speak" Valentines Day designed garden vase.

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It features lovely and very fragrant Star Gazer Lilies as well as delicate pink roses, carnations and lively larkspur.  It will fill an entire room with fragrance and beauty!

For the more traditional romantics, nothing says "I love you" like a dozen long stem red roses vased all around style with complementary filler of limonium or babies breath.

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 White roses as well as the various shades of pink are showing up as a strong preference to many of the
the more traditional customers who are often opting to mix several shades of roses together creating quite an eye catching palette in either brights or pastels. 

Here we are showing, in one of our main window displays, a stunning all white arrangement with a reclined angel.

This display window features a contempory garden styled vase featuring several types of flowers and mixed greens.

“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a penny for her shoe."

So goes an old English rhyme that describes the items which a bride must have when she is married.  It could be a happily married woman’s garter, an antique, an heirloom object, or a sentimental piece.

Today, brides are still working the old, new, borrowed, and blue objects into their special day.  Here are some ideas on how to personalize this aspect of your wedding. 

- Use a classic car for wedding day transportation
- Place an antique bookmark to mark ceremony readings
- Get a relative's monogrammed handkerchief. 
- Display wedding photographs of parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents at the reception
- Find an antique tussy mussy (a conical hand-held bouquet vase) for the bride's bouquet
- Incorporate a piece of a family members wedding gown into your bridal bouquet wrap (see photo above)

- Have the bride carry a childhood treasure she has saved (like a ring, bracelet, small doll, locket, etc.)
- Bring out the heirloom jewelry to wear like an engagement ring or wedding band, a brooch, earrings, a bracelet, a necklace, or some sparkly hair pins
- Display the parents' cake toppers or use it as the wedding cake topper
- Tuck a love letter saved by the bride's mother from the bride's father into the bride's purse

We can help you incorporate special and meaningful items into your wedding day!  Ask us how.

Visit our Wedding flowers now!