The Flower Blog

Halloween is creeping closer, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with fresh fall flowers and a little creative time for yourself! Join us at Gillespie Florists for our Boo-quet Bash DIY Floral Design Class on Saturday, October 24th at 4:00 PM.

This hands-on workshop will feature rich autumn colors, fresh seasonal flowers and playful Halloween accents. Whether you’re brand new to floral design or already love working with flowers, you’ll receive step-by-step instruction in a relaxed and welcoming setting.

What to Expect

Led by Gillespie Florists designer Kayleigh, this 1–2 hour class will guide you through creating a festive Halloween arrangement filled with seasonal personality. You’ll learn helpful design tips, professional techniques and a few insider tricks to help your arrangement look balanced and polished.

Want to make an even bigger statement? Add a Single or Double Luxury Flower Upgrade featuring premium stems hand-selected by our lead designer for extra texture, depth and wow factor.

What’s Included

Your $60 registration includes:

• Fresh fall flowers
• Vase or seasonal container
• Halloween-inspired decorative accents
• Personalized instruction and design guidance

All tools and materials are provided—just bring your creativity and Halloween spirit! 🧡

Class Details

• Event: Boo-quet Bash DIY Floral Design Class
• Date: Saturday, October 24th
• Time: 4:00 PM
• Duration: Approximately 1–2 hours
• Location: Gillespie Florists, 9255 W 10th St, Indianapolis, IN 46234
• Cost: $60 per person
• Ages: 18+ due to the use of sharp floral tools

How to Reserve Your Spot

Space is limited, so we encourage early registration!

1. Select “Pick Up In Store Instead.”
2. Choose Gillespie Florists & Flower Delivery under “In Store Pickup.”
3. Select October 24th as your pickup date.
4. Choose the latest available time slot.
5. Complete checkout.

That’s it—your seat will be reserved!

Whether you’re looking to decorate your home, learn new floral techniques or enjoy a creative fall afternoon, Boo-quet Bash is sure to be a frighteningly fun time. Gather a friend or come solo and create something beautifully spooky!

Click here to sign up today and reserve your seat! 🎃

“Why spend the money? Flowers just die after a few days anyway.”

I hear that a lot, and I get it. Why buy something you can’t keep forever? Then again, how long did your last birthday cake last? Mine is lucky to make it through the day. I LOVE cake. And chocolate, wine, chips and salsa—but I’m getting off topic.

We enjoy plenty of things for the experience, even though they don’t last. Flowers are one of them.

A Little Beauty in an Ordinary Day

Have you ever put a bouquet on your dining room table and noticed how often you look at it? You see it when you walk in, when you sit down for breakfast and when you come home after a long day. Its colors make the room feel brighter. You might catch its fragrance as you pass by or pause to look at a flower that opened overnight.

Eventually, the bouquet will fade. That’s a good reason to enjoy it while it’s here: put it somewhere you’ll see it, change the water and take a moment to appreciate it. Flowers remind me to pay that same attention to the people I love. Make time for them. Notice the little things. Tell them what they mean to you.

Why Do We Send Flowers?

Sometimes there’s a big occasion. We send flowers for birthdays and anniversaries, to congratulate someone on a new job or to welcome a new baby. They help us say, “This matters, and I’m happy I get to celebrate with you.”

Other times, flowers help us reach out when life is difficult. A get-well bouquet can bring a little color to someone’s room. Sympathy flowers can let a person know we’re thinking of them, both during the funeral and in the quieter days that follow.

And then there are my favorite deliveries: the ones sent just because. Maybe a friend has had a rough week. Maybe someone helped you out and you want to thank them. Or maybe you saw sunflowers and knew exactly who would love them. No occasion required.

When someone gives you flowers, they’ve chosen to give you something beautiful to enjoy right now. The flowers won’t last forever, but the feeling of being remembered can stay with you long after they’re gone.

“In joy or sadness flowers are our constant friends.”
— Okakura Kakuz

That’s the heart of Flowers for Life at Gillespie Florists. Through celebrations, hard days and perfectly ordinary Tuesdays, flowers give us one more way to connect with the people who matter to us. 💐

Find Flowers for Your Moment 💐

Have someone in mind—or want to treat yourself? Stop by Gillespie Florists to see what’s fresh, or shop flowers online. We’d love to help you find something beautiful.

Lewis Carroll had a point. Birthdays are fun! Getting gifts is fun, and finding just the right gift for someone you love can be even better. There is something special about choosing a surprise that says, “I know you, I thought about you and I’m glad you’re here.”

Of course, finding that perfect gift can also leave you staring at your phone and wondering what people even want these days. The good news? A meaningful birthday gift does not have to be the biggest, newest or most expensive thing. Some of today’s best gifts create a memory, feel personal or bring a little more joy to everyday life.

Here are a few fresh ideas to help make their birthday feel extra special. 🎉

Give Them Something to Look Forward To

Experience gifts continue to be a fun way to celebrate, especially for the person who says they do not need more “stuff.” Think concert or theater tickets, a cooking or art class, a museum visit, brunch at a favorite restaurant, a spa appointment or a day exploring somewhere new.

You can still give them something beautiful to open. Pair the plans with a colorful bouquet, a box of chocolates or a candle in a scent they will love. The experience gives them a memory to make, and the smaller gift makes the birthday moment feel complete.

Turn Flower Shopping Into the Treat

Sometimes the outing itself can be part of the gift! Bring the birthday person to Gillespie Florists and let them explore our store, see what is blooming and choose their favorites from our cooler. They can pick out fresh flowers for a hand-wrapped bouquet, find a cheerful arrangement or discover a little something they did not know they needed.

Add lunch, coffee or dessert afterward, and you have an easy birthday experience with flowers included. Honestly, wandering through beautiful blooms and leaving with an armful of color sounds like a pretty good birthday to us. 💐

Choose Something That Keeps Growing

Plants are wonderful gifts for someone who enjoys bringing a little nature indoors. A peaceful dish garden, blooming plant or collection of greenery in a fun container adds life to a desk, kitchen, office or favorite reading corner.

Choose a container that fits their personality—sweet, colorful, modern, rustic or whimsical—and the planter becomes part of the gift. With the right care, they can enjoy it long after the birthday candles have been blown out.

Create a Cozy Birthday Bundle

Small luxuries are always welcome. Start with flowers or a plant, then add a few treats chosen just for them. Candles, chocolates and thoughtful keepsakes can turn one gift into a whole little moment of comfort.

Try pairing:

• A bright bouquet with chocolates for someone who loves a classic birthday surprise.
• A peaceful plant with a candle for the person who deserves a quiet afternoon.
• A keepsake container filled with flowers for a gift that stays useful after the blooms are gone.
• A wind chime with fresh flowers for someone who enjoys their porch, patio or garden.

It does not have to be a giant gift basket. Two or three well-chosen items can feel wonderfully personal.

Add a Personal Touch to a Gift Card

Gift cards are still useful—especially when they are for a favorite restaurant, local shop, creative class or special outing. The trick is making one feel like more than a last-minute envelope.

Tuck it into a bouquet, pair it with chocolates or include a note explaining why you chose it. A card for a bookstore feels more thoughtful with a note about the book you cannot wait for them to pick. Tickets feel more exciting with flowers in their favorite color. It is the personal connection that adds the “WOW!”

Celebrate With Little Moments

You do not need a seven-day birthday extravaganza—unless that is your thing, in which case, please proceed! A few small surprises throughout the day or weekend can be just as memorable.

Bring them coffee in the morning. Take over a chore they hate. Send a funny message at the exact time they were born. Plan their favorite dinner. Surprise them with flowers at home or work. The goal is not to make the celebration elaborate; it is to make the person feel seen.

Flowers Are Always a Beautiful Idea

When you are unsure what to give—or the birthday arrived a little faster than expected—flowers are a joyful place to start. Colorful blooms instantly make the day feel like a celebration, and our designers can create something that fits the recipient’s favorite colors, personality and style.

Choose a bright birthday bouquet, a peaceful plant in a unique container or a hand-wrapped bundle of fresh blooms. Add chocolates, a candle, a wind chime or another thoughtful keepsake, and you have a gift that feels personal without making birthday shopping complicated.

Let’s Make Their Birthday Bloom! 🎂

Explore the birthday collection on the Gillespie Florists website to send something beautiful, or stop by our Indianapolis store and enjoy browsing the cooler, plants, candles, chocolates, wind chimes and keepsakes in person. Bring the birthday guest along and let choosing fresh blooms become part of their celebration—or visit us on your own and keep the surprise!

However you celebrate, we would love to help you make their one official birthday feel a little more extraordinary.

Ready to make their birthday bloom? Visit the Gillespie Florists website to browse colorful bouquets, cheerful plants and thoughtful gifts for every kind of celebration. Choose their favorite and let us help deliver a little birthday happiness! 🎉💐

August is bursting with sunshine, bright colors and plenty of reasons to celebrate! It’s only fitting that the month’s birth flowers—the gladiolus and poppy—are just as full of personality. Together, these beautiful blooms represent strength, integrity, remembrance and resilience.

Gladiolus: Strong, Striking and Full of Meaning

It’s easy to see why glads stand out in a bouquet. With tall stems lined with colorful blooms, they add height, movement and a little extra drama to an arrangement. We love using them to create designs that feel bright, cheerful and full of life!

The full name gladiolus comes from the Latin word gladius, meaning “sword,” and refers to the flower’s long, pointed leaves. This is also how glads earned the nickname “sword lily.” Their strong, upright appearance has made them a symbol of strength, victory and moral integrity—the perfect flower for someone who leads with courage and stays true to themselves.

Glads also have a romantic side! During the Victorian era, giving someone gladiolus meant the recipient had “pierced the giver’s heart with love.” Today, they can still represent admiration, affection and infatuation.

What Do Glad Colors Mean?

Glads come in a wonderful variety of colors, and each one can add its own special message:

• Red represents love and passion.
• Yellow symbolizes happiness, friendship and encouragement.
• Pink expresses compassion, tenderness and a mother’s love.
• White represents purity, innocence and sincerity.
• Purple symbolizes grace, beauty and admiration.

Whether you select a color for its symbolism or simply because it makes you smile, glads are a lovely way to send a meaningful message.

Poppies: Remembrance, Imagination and Resilience

Poppies may look delicate, but they carry plenty of powerful meaning. They are best known as symbols of remembrance, especially when honoring those who have passed away or those who lost their lives during times of war.

Poppies are also connected to sleep, dreams and imagination. In ancient stories and mythology, they were associated with rest and peace, giving these colorful flowers a lovely connection to creativity and the dream world.

Because poppies can grow in disturbed soil and challenging conditions, they have also become symbols of resilience. They’re a beautiful reminder that even after difficult seasons, something lovely can still grow.

Three Fun Facts About August’s Birth Flowers

• Glads belong to the iris family, despite their “sword lily” nickname.
• Glad blooms generally open from the bottom of the stem upward, allowing their colorful display to unfold over time.
• Gladiolus was the winning word at the very first National Spelling Bee in the United States in 1925!

Celebrate an August Birthday with Glads

With their beautiful colors, tall stems and cheerful personality, glads make a wonderful addition to an August birthday arrangement. Their message of strength and admiration also makes them a meaningful choice for celebrating someone special.

Visit our website to order a Designer’s Choice bouquet and let us know you’d like glads included. When they’re available, our talented designers can incorporate them into a one-of-a-kind arrangement filled with fresh seasonal flowers and designed especially for your recipient.

April’s birth flowers bring a soft, joyful energy to the season—and none capture that feeling quite like the daisy.

The Daisy: April’s Signature Bloom
Simple, cheerful, and full of meaning, daisies have long symbolized innocence, purity, and true love. They’re the kind of flower that feels effortlessly happy—like sunshine in bloom, making them a natural choice for celebrating life’s sweetest moments.

Color adds even more personality to their message:

• White daisies represent purity and new beginnings
• Yellow daisies symbolize joy and friendship
• Pink daisies expresses gentle affection
• Red daisies carries notes of love and romance

Because of their connection to new beginnings and motherhood, daisies are especially meaningful for welcoming a new baby or celebrating an April birthday. They also carry a playful tradition—symbolizing secrecy and trust—making them a thoughtful gift between close friends.

With their bright faces and classic shape, daisies blend beautifully into almost any arrangement. Whether styled on their own or mixed with seasonal blooms, they instantly add a light, fresh feel that’s perfect for spring.

Care Tip: Keep daisies in fresh water and trim stems every couple of days. They thrive in bright, indirect light and will last even longer when kept in a cool spot away from direct sun.

The Sweet Pea: A Fragrant Farewell
Sweet peas offer a softer, more delicate touch to April’s story. Known for their light, sweet fragrance—often described as a blend of honey and spring florals—they bring an added layer of charm to any bouquet.

In the language of flowers, sweet peas symbolize gratitude, kindness, and heartfelt goodbyes. They’re often given as a way to say “thank you for a lovely time” or to send someone off with warm wishes and appreciation.

Available in a range of soft pastels and vibrant tones, sweet peas add both color and movement to arrangements, pairing beautifully with focal blooms like daisies.

Care Tip: Sweet peas prefer cooler temperatures. Change their water frequently and keep them away from heat sources to help extend their vase life.

Whether you’re celebrating an April birthday, welcoming a new beginning, or simply embracing the season, these blooms remind us that the sweetest moments are often the simplest.

We love incorporating daisies into our spring designs—so if you’re celebrating someone special this April, stop in and let us create a custom arrangement filled with meaning, color, and a little extra joy. 🌼💐

Tap here to see our Birthday Collection!

✨ The 2026 Valentine’s Luxury Gift Guide ✨
Where timeless romance meets elevated design.

This Valentine’s Day, go beyond the expected and celebrate love with arrangements that are as unforgettable as the moment itself.

Our 2026 Luxury Gift Guide showcases master-crafted florals designed to impress, delight, and linger long after the day has passed.

1. The Showstopper: Room Full of Roses & More

• For the love that deserves nothing less than everything. This jaw-dropping display features 36 premium long-stem red roses, artfully arranged with lush Italian Ruscus and Springerii for dramatic scale and texture.

  Why It Wows:
  An immersive experience of romance—this arrangement fills an entire room with beauty, fragrance, and undeniable impact.

  Investment: $419.99

  
  
  

2. The Elegant Upgrade: The Indianapolis Sweetheart

• A refined take on a beloved classic. This sophisticated favorite elevates the traditional dozen by pairing 12 velvety red roses with the striking, star-shaped blooms of a fragrant Stargazer Lily.

  Why It Wows:
  Designed in an upgraded keepsake vase, this arrangement offers beauty that lasts well beyond Valentine’s Day—a true memento of love.

  Investment: $144.99

  
  

3. The Grand Gesture: Everlasting Affection

A timeless expression of devotion. This lush design showcases a dozen deep crimson blooms, delicately accented with baby’s breath and finished with a signature satin bow.

Why It Wows:
Renowned for their exceptional longevity, these blooms remain vibrant and beautiful for days—making your message of love last even longer.

Investment: $74.99

💝 Shop Valentine’s Day Flowers & Luxury Gifts Online 💝
Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day flowers? Visit our website to shop our complete Valentine’s Day collection, including luxury rose arrangements, romantic floral designs, and thoughtful Valentine’s gifts for every relationship. Order online for Valentine’s Day delivery and secure the most popular arrangements before they sell out.

Click here to discover our Valentine's Day delivery schedule

Still Have Questions? We’re Happy to Help 🌸

The holiday glow has faded and winter has settled in—gray skies, chilly mornings, and maybe even a surprise snowfall. If you’ve ever woken up to find your car tucked under a fresh blanket of snow, you know the drill: bundle up, allow extra time, and prepare for whatever the roads may bring.

While you’re getting ready to brave the cold, our team at Gillespie Florists is doing the very same—preparing not only our arrangements, but also our drivers, to safely navigate winter weather. After reflecting on memorable storms past (we still remember Snowpocalypse 2014!), we thought it was the perfect time to share how we make sure your flowers arrive just as beautiful as intended.

Our Winter-Ready Delivery Team

Let’s start with our incredible drivers. Each one is equipped with a company phone featuring GPS and mapping, touch-screen gloves for safe communication, and winter cleats to handle icy sidewalks and snowy paths. Dressing in layers is key—while it may be frigid outside, delivery vans are kept at a safe, cozy temperature to protect the flowers inside. Jackets, hats, and gloves are often shed and layered back on throughout the day as drivers move from stop to stop.

Once they arrive at a destination, drivers carefully check for hazards like icy walkways or snow-covered entrances. After a full day of navigating snow, sleet, rain—or whatever winter decides to throw our way—they return to the shop before dark. Keeping both our team and your flowers safe is always the priority.

Vehicles That Go the Extra Mile

Our delivery vans get special winter treatment too. Each one is stocked with ice scrapers, salt, kitty litter, and even 2x6 boards—just in case conditions get tricky. Vans also receive regular maintenance checks, plenty of windshield washer fluid, and frequent washes to stay road-ready all season long.

Protecting Your Flowers From the Cold

Winter weather means extra care for our floral designs. Before any arrangement leaves the shop, it’s carefully “suited up” for the journey. On cold days, flowers are wrapped in protective cellophane, and when temperatures drop to 20 degrees or below, we add an extra layer of tissue. In below-zero conditions, arrangements are even covered with a blanket during delivery. Funeral flowers, including casket sprays and easel pieces, receive the same thoughtful protection.

Pro tip: If you receive flowers at work, hang on to the tissue and cellophane layers—they’ll help protect your arrangement when you head back out into the cold.

Gadgets for shoes, vehicles packed with supplies, layers upon layers of clothing, and carefully wrapped flowers—it’s a lot of extra effort, but it’s worth it. Come snow, sleet, or ice, you can count on Gillespie Florists to deliver your flowers safely and beautifully.

Too cold to stop by the shop? No worries—hop online and browse our best sellers to brighten a loved one’s winter day. 🌸

Flowers have long been a symbol of love and affection, making them a classic and timeless Valentine's Day gift. If you're looking to surprise your special someone, consider these creative and thoughtful ways to present flowers on Valentine's Day.

The Classic Bouquet Delivery💐:
Start with the timeless elegance of a classic bouquet delivery. Choose your loved one's favorite flowers or opt for an assortment of popular flowers like roses, lilies, and daisies. Have the flowers delivered to their workplace, home, or any location that will catch them by surprise, creating a moment of joy and admiration.

Floral Scavenger Hunt🔍:
If your Valentine is always seeking out adventure, turn the act of receiving flowers into a memorable experience by organizing a flower scavenger hunt. Leave clues leading them to different locations, where they will find a portion of the bouquet waiting for them. This not only adds an element of excitement but also builds anticipation as they discover each new bloom.

DIY Flower Arranging Date🌷🌼🌻:
Instead of presenting a pre-arranged bouquet, consider gifting a DIY flower arranging experience. Purchase an assortment of fresh loose flowers and spend quality time together arranging a beautiful bouquet. This personal touch adds a meaningful and creative element to the gift, and you get to enjoy the process together.

Flower Subscription📆:
Extend the joy of receiving flowers beyond Valentine's Day by gifting a floral subscription. Your loved one will receive fresh blooms regularly, keeping the romance alive throughout the year. This thoughtful and ongoing gesture ensures that they are reminded of your love long after the holiday has passed.

Flower Petal Pathway🌹👣:
Create a romantic pathway using flower petals leading to a surprise location. Whether it's a candlelit dinner, a cozy picnic, or a scenic view, the flower petal pathway adds a touch of enchantment to the celebration. It's a visual and aromatic feast that enhances the overall Valentine's Day experience.

This Valentine's Day, elevate the tradition of gifting flowers by adding a personal and creative touch. Whatever you choose, Gillespie Florists has the just what you need to make this Valentine's Day a blooming success.

Check out our Valentine's Day specials for more bouquet ideas. 

Welcome back! After closing our showroom to the public on March 22nd we are pleased to be now open to the public once again. To keep our staff and customers safe, we will be following the guidelines required by the Mayor of Indianapolis and Governor of Indiana. We have put several measures in place for everyone to feel safe and secure as they come to back to our store.

Our store hours will remain 8am-6pm Monday-Saturday, 11am-3pm Sunday.  Customers can be assured our staff will using proper guidelines by wearing mask and gloves. We will be allowing up to 10 customers in the store at a time. Our 500 sq ft cooler will be back open to the public so you can be our guest and enjoy choosing from our entire selection again. Our conference rooms are open and available for Funeral and Wedding appointments.

We will continue to offer no-contact delivery to our customers *when requested* otherwise our drivers will follow traditional delivery protocol. Curbside Service will also be available to those who request it. 

We look forward to seeing everyone back! Even though times have been uncertain we have enjoyed working together and finding new ways to keep people connected through the beauty of flowers. From everyday occasions to the most significant life events, we have been and will continue to be here for you.  #FlowersForLife

Be safe, be well and welcome back! We are in this together.

Gillespie Florists
9255 W. 10th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46234
Voice: 317.273.1100
Text: 317.509.0668
gillespieflorists.com
gillespieflorists@gmail.com

Business Hours:
Monday - Saturday 8am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 3pm

Stay in touch with us via social media:

Even when you can't be there, life still goes on. Though our showroom will continue to be closed through May 15th per requirements of the Mayor of Indianapolis and Governor of Indiana; we are still available online at gillespieflorists.com and on the phone (317.273.1100) for all your floral needs.

To keep our staff and customers safe, we will be continuing to offer No-Contact delivery as well as Curbside Pickup at our store so that we may continue to be there for you and your loved ones when you need us. For No-Contact Delivery, with your permission, Gillespie Florists can connect with the recipient ahead of delivery to establish their preferences for receiving your gift.  This connection can be through text, email and/or phone. Deliveries can be left at a predetermined location (like the front or back porch), if the recipient prefers not to have face to face contact with our drivers. For customers who prefer to pick up at our store, we’re offering curb-side service. Upon arrival, you can call us at our main number and someone will bring the order directly to you. No need to leave your vehicle!

Here is a short video of FAQ's with Sarah and Della. Have questions? You can call our store, message us on Facebook and Google and even send us a text!

From everyday occasions, special occasions like Mother's Day and to the most significant life events, we have been and will continue to be here for you.  #FlowersForLife

 Be safe, be well and as always...wash your hands!

Gillespie Florists
9255 W. 10th St.
Indianapolis, IN 46234
Voice: 317.273.1100
Text: 317.509.0668
gillespieflorists.com
gillespieflorists@gmail.com

Temporary Business Hours:
Monday - Saturday 8am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 3pm

Stay in touch with us via social media: