The Flower Blog

Should I use Purple or Lavender? 

Considering lavender or purple as the primary or accent color for your wedding?  This video shows many creative ways to incorporate these colors into flowers for your special day. 

Challenges

One challenge with shades of lavender/purple flowers is that nature doesn't provide us with the variety of choices as other colors.  Another challenge, particularly with lavender, is that there are different shades of lavenders.  A bluish shade of lavender will clash with a pinkish shade, so it is important to stay within the same color family when selecting the flower varieties for your wedding.  It is important to define the shade(s) of purple you are using throughout the wedding for the same reason.  Plum, Eggplant, Royal Purple, even fuschia are in the purple spectrum but could clash if care isn't taken to keep the color families separated. 

Lavenders & Purples are Beautiful

Often, lavender and purple shades are used together as the primary and accent color for weddings.  This creates a beautiful contrast throughout the wedding in the floral arrangements and other decor as well!

Let us be a part of your special day! Schedule an appointment to see our Wedding Specialist! Click Below!

Here at Gillespie Florists we LOVE Gerbera Daisies! They are so versatile, come in tons of colors and just make you want to smile! Customers love them too! Every week, we sell hundreds of them!

We offer two different sizes in Gerbera Daisies: Mini Gerberas and Regular Gerberas. For short we call the Gerbs!
Customers love to come into our 500 square foot walk in cooler and hand pick their Gerbs. Sometimes they will mix the Gerbs with other flowers or just get all Gerbs. My favorite combination is mixing Gerbera daisies with regular daisies. Regular daisies are much smaller than a Gerb and are less expensive. So, That is a great way to get a big colorful bouquet without breaking the bank!
  Because Gerbs come in an infinite number of colors, if you are looking for a specific one, you may want to give us a call and see if we have them in stock or if we can order them in for you.

The Gerbera Daisy is the type of flower to lift your mood! Which is probably why people like them so much! We use them in weddings all the time! Then it makes an easy choice for husbands if they want to get a small pick me up for their wife in years to come because I think there will always be Gerbera Daisies!

Check out this great video I took yesterday of all the colors of Gerbera Daisies we had in stock! It's hard to believe there is so much variety on any given day but here at Gillespie Florists, There Is!

Click below to check out bouquets with Gerbera Daisies!

Summer weddings often take place in non-traditional venues such as parks, patios, gardens, lakes or even a backyard! With the popularity of outdoor venues on the rise, in the floral industry we are seeing a trend towards more natural décor for these outdoor weddings.

Many couples choose to say their vows under an arbor or arch, which can be decorated with flowers, greenery, ribbons and more.

Brides are carrying more casual and non-traditional bouquets to fit with the outdoor theme of their wedding.
The use of Erygium (blue thistle), kale, hypericum berries and queen anne’s lace is more widely accepted than ever before. The addition of feathers,wheat, cattails and leaves into arrangements connects nature and texture throughout the
wedding décor.


Let’s not forget the groom- this summer, he’s wearing a blend of the bride’s bouquet on his lapel. The natural trim gives a sense of masculinity to the boutonniere that appeals to many of our grooms.



What about the reception? Is it possible to carry the casual yet elegant theme through the entire event?

Absolutely! This stunning set-up in a large tent carried the floral theme
from the ceremony to the reception seamlessly.


Even the head table was garnished end to end with garland and flowers!

Contact our Wedding Specialist for a Consultation or for more information!

  Celebrating the 4th this weekend? Whether you are hosting your own party or going to one, flowers are a must! Celebrate Independence Day with floral fireworks! Create your own fireworks display with sparkling bouquet from Gillespie Florists. You can even celebrate the Fourth of July with red roses or plants. However you decide to celebrate, Gillespie Florists can send your bouquet nationwide or locally here in Indianapolis.
 You don't have to spend a lot to add flowers to your party! Celebration of Independence is a vase filled with delphinium, daisies, carnations and an American Flag!
 Product Code: GF40
 Price: $29.95
  Want something a little different? Check out this 1948 Ford truck container filled with red carnations, daisies and red, white & blue ribbon! The truck makes a great keepsake item!

Product Code: 08F15

Price: $48.95

Check out all of our July 4th specials! There are not just flowers but plants too! Also check out the rest of our website for gift baskets, garden stones and figurines!

 

Click Below to Shop July 4th Flowers!

Watch our July 4th video!

Give it a Toss!

During my tenure at Gillespie Florists, I have worked with wedding themes that are
trendy or traditional, simple or grandeur, classic or unique. One topic of discussion during the planning stages of all the weddings that I am involved in is “Are you going to have a bouquet toss (ceremony)?”

Traditionally, the bride will “toss” her bouquet during the reception toward bridesmaids and other unmarried ladies. The person that catches the bouquet will customarily be the next to marry.

The brides of today are split on this tradition; some have opted for more contemporary versions of this idea, still others hold fast to the traditions set forth by their mothers and grandmothers.

For me, it’s a simple decision. A lovely bouquet of fragrant flowers with long, streaming ribbons, floating through the air above the joyous faces smiling below, is an image that will be treasured forever. 

Click below to ask our bridal consultant a question or schedule an appointment!

  What is it about Zombies that appeals to us? Zombies have been notably popular since the late 19th century and these days are exceedingly popular in these United States! 
Zombies are known for their eating habits- eating human flesh and brains, causing a breakdown of civilization- a Zombie Apocalypse, and looking grotesque with torn clothes, bugs crawling on them and extremities falling off. 
Actually, it's no wonder Zombies like flowers! They need something good in their undead lives, right? This picture to the right is showing an ugly but sad looking Zombie trying to smell a flower, even though he has no nose. Looking at this, You actually feel sorry for this flesh eating creature. Click on the Zombie to see the full image and see the artist's notes on it. 

  This bouquet was a Halloween Special, this is a great depiction of beauty complementing the grotesque. 

I Googled " Zombies like flowers" and came up with tons of content on this. I think people want to see the sensitive side of the Zombie. I think they want to see a being that is remorseful for eating peoples brains. It is a sad and lonely life for the Zombie, they probably ate everyone they know and really I don't see other Zombies being great listeners. 

So, the next time you see a Zombie, don't try to sever his head. Instead, think about how he might have feelings too. Hand him a bouquet of flowers, then while he is enjoying the flowers and smelling them, get a chainsaw and hack off his head. Because though he may have feelings, he won't be able to change his nature and he will still eat your brains!

Need a Zombie distraction? Buy some flowers!


Check out this video: Plants vs Zombies Music Video
Can Zombies be ugly and cute at the same time?

Delivery charges 

When I joined the company as a full time staff member in 1969 we didn’t have a delivery charge.  We expensed all costs related to delivery along with all other corporate expenses.  Therefore, each and every customer whether taking a product out the front door or having us deliver it across town would contribute to the payment of those expenses. 

Over the years as wages, fuel, floral products, insurance, taxes, vehicles, maintenance etc. have increased to such an extent that we felt the costs could not be shared by all customers so we decided to direct the delivery expenses to those using the service.

I am amazed at the acceptance of the fees charged by the package delivery industry.

Consumers willing pay delivery fees in excess to our delivery charge for an item to be delivered within 3 days. 

We’ve experienced resistance to our standard delivery to deliver a product within an 8 hour time frame.

Recipient Phone Number

Here at Gillespie Florists we try to secure a phone number for the recipient from our client.  If there is no answer at a residence, it is our policy to us a company cell phone to contact the recipient.  Many times the recipient is at a location in the house or apartment that they cannot hear the knock at the door and/or the doorbell but hear the phone that is nearby.  If there would be no one at home, generally there is an answering machine or voice mail available to leave a message for the recipient.  In addition, we leave a Call Tag at the door advising of the delivery attempt.   The tag may not be seen because many people enter through their attached garage using a garage door opener.

The Doorstep Problem

Another delivery related issue.  The package industry leaves items at the doorstep.

In my opinion that is unacceptable in our industry.  Our products are perishable, weather conditions and animals could destroy our product.  People could see and remove the product from its location.  The recipient might never see our product because they do not use that particular entrance or they could be out of town for days leaving the product in an inappropriate environment.

Buy Flowers with a Real Local Florist! Click Below!

We’re halfway through 2011 and at Gillespie Florists; we know that brides each have their own very distinct style. However, there are a few color trends that are new to the 2011 wedding season.

Our Top 5!

 

#5 Spice  

Perhaps replacing classic red, this terra cotta colored spice version is gaining popularity for use year round, where prior to 2011, spice was nearly exclusive to fall weddings.

 

#4 Bright Yellow and Cream

Pale shades of yellow (often paired with tiffany blue) have been a staple for brides over the last couple of years, but this year the brighter yellows are blossoming.

 

 

#3 Peaches and Creams

Hinting at our number one color combination, this brighter version landed in the number 3 spot.

 

#2 Blue and White 

 

“Something borrowed, something blue” might be the mantra for brides choosing to accent their wedding décor with shades of blue (often paired with purple and/or green).

 

#1 Champagne, Ivory and Pink

Our number one color combination is trimmed with berries, beads and even wire accents; this bouquet is anything but bland!

Getting Married? Have questions about our Bridal bouquets or Weddings? Click below to get some answers!

What You & Dad Don't Know.

 Father's Day is coming up on Sunday June 19th and most people don't know that flowers are not only a totally appropiate gift but that Dad will love it!

Every year we work hard to come up with unique designs for Dad that he will love! Like this Webber Gill Bouquet pictured to the right. It is a mini grill made by Webber filled with flowers! How cool is that?

Not Hooked?

Just because we work hard on making interesting designs for Dad doesn't mean you are hooked on the idea of flowers for Dad this year.

Men are actually stimulated by color and are visually oriented. Research shows that men prefer vivid colors such as yellow, orange and red. Men also enjoy plants and blooming plants! Pictured to the left is a perfect example of a planter filled with green plants that are easy to take care of!

Try having us incorporate a favorite hobby of Dad's into your Flowers for Dad. We have an assortment of sports, trucks, coffee mugs, grill, fishing containers and gifts!

Not Just Flowers.

Still don't want to send Dad flowers? That's OK! Send him what he craves! Junk Food! We have Junk Food baskets, Fruit baskets & Gourmet baskets!

Make your gift more personal by giving us something to add into your bouquet! Is Dad a golfer, barbecue king, fisherman, ect? Bring us a box of golf balls, grilling utensils, fishing lures or whatever is going to make your gift extra special!

Get Dad flowers this year and he will absolutely love it! He will love getting something totally different this year!

Check out our entire Father's Day selection!

Thanks to AboutFlowers.com for the great info!

What is the Fuzz that Wuzz?

We found out about a really great product called The Fuzz that Wuzz and had to have it! Mary Meyers created a line of plush stuffed animals made out of plastic bottles! It's incredible to think that these lovely, cuddly stuffed animals were once plastic bottles destined to be sitting in a landfill!

The 411 on the Fuzz

Each Fuzz that Wuzz animal is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. This means that each animal keeps over 10 bottles out of landfills! Mary Meyers says that two million plastic bottles are used in the U.S. every ten minutes and 51 billion go into landfills annually.

It will take 700 years before plastic bottles in landfills start to decompose and less than 30% of plastic bottles in the U.S. are actually recycled.  Wow, those numbers are staggering!

We recycle here at Gillespie Florists and we encourage for you to do the same! Every time I toss a plastic bottle into our recycle bin, I wonder, will this be an adorable stuffed animal someday? I'd like to think so!

To see this great line of The Fuzz that Wuzz, stop in our store at 10th & Raceway!

Looking for great gift ideas? Check out our website!