We believe that sending flowers is a timeless and thoughtful gesture, something that people don't normally buy for themselves, which makes it all the more special when they do receive them. Therefore, we want to make sure we can help as many lovers and friends feel special on Valentine's Day, a day which can often carry heavy expectations. Luckily, a simple token of flowers can be what makes someone feel like they haven't been forgotten.
Roses are red, but several other colours exist too!
As Valentine's Day approaches, roses become a popular choice for expressing love and affection. But did you know that there are many different varieties of roses available? Each one has its unique characteristics, making them perfect for different relationships and personalities.
One of the most popular varieties of roses is the time-honoured red rose. We use the variety Freedom which is as classic as it gets. They have a long vase life as well as that perfect shade of red, not too bright, and not too dark. Another fan favourite is a bright, tomato hue called Nina. She's a modern and fun take on a classic and we love mixing her with shades of blue, orange, and peach. Red roses symbolize love and passion, making it a timeless choice for Valentine's Day.
If you're looking for something a little different, consider pink roses. They represent admiration and gratitude, making them a great choice for expressing appreciation to a friend or family member. Pink is also a very common favourite colour of flower, and they look wonderful amidst other varieties of blooms. They come in several shades of pink, from a pale pastel to bubblegum to a bright, hot pink. Some of our favourite varieties include Secret Garden, Pink Xpression, Hermosa, and Pink Floyd.
For those who want to make a bold statement, consider orange or yellow roses. Orange roses represent enthusiasm and excitement, while yellow roses symbolize friendship and joy. These colours are perfect for new relationships or friendships. We have a special bouquet called 'Bestie' that we made especially to give to a friend. Each flower in the design has a meaning that evokes all of the feelings you might want to express to your BFF. Included are yellow roses of the name Candlelight. They are the perfect buttery yellow, and open up absolutely gigantic! You can check out the bouquet here.
If you want to express your love in a more subtle way, consider white or lavender roses. White roses represent purity and innocence, making them a great choice for a new relationship or marriage. We are very specific with the type of white roses we bring in, and our absolute number one, ride-or-die white rose is called Playa Blanca. She has a very high petal count, a long vase life, and is a creamy shade of white that isn't too blue or yellow. We use Playa Blanca all year round and is our primary rose for weddings.
Lavender/purple roses symbolize enchantment and love at first sight, making them perfect for a romantic surprise. We use the varieties Ocean Song and Cool Down interchangeably, but one of our favourites is called Amnesia, which is a dusty grey, almost green-tinged, purple. Just trust us, it's lovely, pictured below!
In conclusion, there are many different varieties of roses available, each with its unique meaning and symbolism. This journal post has only scratched the surface of all of the wonderful varieties and colours of roses that we carry and love with all our hearts! Whatever your relationship status or personality, there is a perfect rose out there for you and the special someone in your life.
Our Valentine's Day collection is live, and can be found here.
Flowers are more than just pretty decorations or tokens of affection. In fact, they have their own language that has been used for centuries to convey messages and emotions. This language of flowers, also known as floriography, was especially popular during the Victorian era when social norms prevented people from expressing their feelings openly. By using certain flowers or arrangements, individuals could communicate everything from love and admiration to jealousy and disdain. Luckily, most of our flowers convey positive feelings!
We sometimes have customers that wish to know the best colour of rose to gift to convey a certain message, such as yellow for friendship, but that is usually the extent of it. Similarly, every Valentine's Day our most popular gift is red roses, but have you ever wondered why that is? There are so many different meanings for an array of flowers, many of which we have in the shop on a daily basis that we are more than happy to arrange into a meaningful design for you.
If you or someone you know are interested in floriography, we carry a wonderful deck of cards with the most beautiful floral paintings on one side and information about each bloom on the other. You can see a few in the photos accompanying this post.
Please keep in mind that while we think this is an interesting and fun way to portray certain emotions or celebrate certain milestones, it by no means is a rule or condition you must meet to share flowers with a loved one. If your friend’s favourite flowers are red roses, please do not be afraid that they will automatically assume you have romantic intent! Floral varieties and colours can also just be nice to look at. This journal post is only meant to be fun and educational!
Here are the most recognized meanings for our most popular blooms:
Alstroemeria - Support, Friendship
Amaryllis - Pride
Anemone - Anticipation
Aster - Wisdom, Faith, Daintiness
Baby’s Breath - Everlasting love
Bittersweet - Truth
Calla Lily - Faith
Campanula - Constancy
Carnation, General - Uniqueness
Carnation, Red - Deep love, My heart aches
Carnation, White - Innocence, Pure & Sweet love
Carnation, Pink - Motherly love, Encouragement
Carnation, Yellow - Disappointment
Chamomile - Courage, Patience in adversity
Cherry Blossom - Peace
Chrysanthemum, General - Optimism, Wealth, Abundance
Chrysanthemum, Red - I love you
Chrysanthemum, Yellow - Slighted love
Chrysanthemum, White - Truth
Clematis - Intelligence
Cornflower - Growth
Cosmo - Harmony
Daffodil - Regard, Unequalled love, Inspiration
Dahlia - Resilience, Good taste
Daisy - Innocence, Loyal love
Delphinium - Opportunity
Fern - Magic, Fascination
Freesia - Trust
Gerbera Daisy - Joy, Celebration
Gladiolus - Integrity, Strength, Victory, Preparation
Hellebore - Scandal
Holly - Defense, Domestic happiness
Hydrangea - Gratitude for being understood
Iris - Good news, Faith, Trust, Wisdom, Hope, Valour
Larkspur - Open Heart, Levity
Lavender - Admiration
Lily, White - Purity, Heavenly
Lily, Yellow - Happy
Lily, Orange - Confidence
Lily, Stargazer - Abundance
Lily of the Valley - Hope
Since we don't often get in Lily of the Valley unless it's locally grown, we have a special necklace collaboration with Sugar Blossom Jewelry in case you are wanting to send some "hope" to a friend or loved one. Find it here.
Lisianthus - Desire
Magnolia - Nobility, Love of nature
Myrtle - Good luck, Love in a marriage
Orchid - Fertility
Peony - Happy life, Bashfulness
Phlox - Unity
Poppy - Memorial
Ranunculus - Attraction
Rose, Pink - Grace, Happiness
Rose, Orange - Desire
Rose, Coral - Sympathy
Rose, Lavender - Love at first sight
Rose, White - Innocence, Heavenly
Rose, Yellow - Friendship, Congratulations, Platonic love
Scabiosa - Warmth
Snapdragon - Graciousness
Solidago - Encouragement, Good Fortune
Sunflower - Health, Strength, Adoration
Sweet Pea - Blissful pleasures, Departure
Sweet William - Gallantry
Tulip, General - Perfect love
Tulip, Red - Passion, Declaration of love
Tulip, Yellow - Sunshine in your smile
Waxflower - Endurance, Assertiveness
Yarrow - Healing, Courage, Everlasting love
Zinnia - Lasting affection
Please note that some of these varieties are seasonal and therefore not available at certain times of the year. If you are looking to create a recipe, please give us a call and we can help you create something special.
We have come up with a few combinations for you if you wanted to say something specific!
When you want to say:
“Don’t worry, I’ve got your back!”
Alstroemeria (Support, Friendship) + Waxflower (Assertiveness, Endurance)
“Congratulations on your new baby!”
Pink Carnations (Motherly love, Encouragement) + Gerbera Daisies (Joy, Celebration)
“I’ll love you forever”
Red Roses (Romantic Love) + Babies Breath (Everlasting love)
“Well done on the promotion!”
Delphinium (Opportunity) + Chrysanthemums (Optimism, Wealth, Abundance)
“Get well soon”
Sunflowers (Health, Strength) + Yarrow (Healing, Courage)
“I am so sorry for your loss”
Scabiosa (Warmth) + Coral Roses (Sympathy)
“Hoping for a better and brighter tomorrow”
Iris (Good news, Faith, Hope) + Larkspur (Open heart, Levity)
If you come up with any of your own combinations, we would love to hear your suggestions. Hopefully you have as much fun with it as we do!
Today, we’re talking about Yarrow!
Yarrow, also known as Achillea Millefolium, is a flowering plant that has been used for medicinal and decorative purposes for centuries. Other common names for Yarrow are old man's pepper, devil's nettle, sanguinary, milfoil, soldier's woundwort, and thousand seal. The plant is native to Europe and Asia, but can now be found in many parts of the world, including Manitoba!
In the language of flowers, the yarrow flower shares twin meanings of healing and love. This makes yarrow the perfect “get well soon” gift for a loved one. Yarrow’s symbolic meaning is traditionally associated with healing which originates from Ancient Greek mythology. Yarrow also developed into a symbol of youthful love. Numerous European cultures where the plant is native independently involved the herb in various rituals of courtship. For example, in England and Ireland young girls would put a leaf of the plant in one nostril. If they experienced a nose bleed while reciting a rhyme about true love, it would mean that their love was true. (We prefer healthy conversation, but you do you!)
Want to learn more about Floriography and the language of flowers? Check out this handy set of educational and beautiful floral cards.
One of the most interesting things about yarrow is its historical use. In ancient times, yarrow was believed to have magical properties and was used to ward off evil spirits. It was also used in traditional medicine to treat a range of ailments, from headaches to wounds.
Yarrow's Latin name, Achillea Millefolium, is derived from the legendary Greek warrior, Achilles, who used the herb to treat wounded soldiers in battle. According to herbal lore, the centaur Chiron taught Achilles how to use the plant, which was said to have grown from the rust on his spear. Interestingly, Yarrow has been discovered in a Neanderthal burial ground, among other medicinal plants, indicating its use in ancient times. We love learning about flowers and their history, if you do too, check out The Story of Flowers.
In modern times, yarrow is still used for its medicinal properties. It is believed to have anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and astringent properties, and is often used to treat digestive issues and menstrual cramps. In addition to its medicinal uses, yarrow is also used in cosmetics and skincare products. Its astringent properties make it a popular ingredient in toners and facial cleansers. This doesn’t mean you can buy yarrow from a local florist and ingest it or apply it topically! All plant medicine applications should be checked with your doctor first.
From a floral design perspective, yarrow is a versatile and beautiful flower that can be used in a variety of arrangements and bouquets. Yarrow originally grew only in white and yellow varieties, but careful plant breeding has resulted in a far wider range of colors. Common Yarrow is now available in colors like pink, magenta, salmon, red, gold, and yellow. The variety that is available to us year-round is a bright, mustard yellow, and happens to be our favourite. It can also be dried and preserved beautifully, keeping its colour. Interested in drying yarrow? More info can be found in this book!
Yarrow is a favourite here at the shop, due to its longevity, colour, and overall beauty. We’ve used it to make arrangements, bouquets, wreaths, and to decorate our own spaces. If you’re looking for yarrow to send to someone (or to gift to yourself), or want us to include it in a mixed bouquet, give us a call to place your order.
]]>Every plant is different. Just like us, what works for one might not work for another. That’s why we recommend a base knowledge of the plant species you are wanting to care for. There are a multitude of resources which we use on a daily basis, but our primary tool? Google!
Let’s Talk General Care
For most plants, the best rule of thumb is to provide bright yet indirect lighting, and water only when the top inch of soil is dry. As mentioned above, this does not apply to every plant! Luckily, most of our plants come with a care tag with basic instructions, as well as the plant’s name so that you can find more detailed information on the World Wide Web or at your local library. We’ll be bringing in a book on houseplant care soon!
Levelling Up Your Plant Care
One of the most useful tools we use is called a Plant Moisture Meter (shop it here!) which tells you the level of moisture in the soil so that you can assess with a bit more accuracy (and without getting dirt under your nails.)
Looking to take your plant’s growth to the next level? We offer two different plant fertilizers, one called Thrive which works to keep plants strong and healthy and help deal with the stresses of indoor living, and Boost which works to both sustain and develop healthy new leaves and roots. We have gotten excellent feedback on both, and have had to re-stock our supply frequently.
Another great tool to have on hand is a sharp pair of pruning clippers or snips. This way you can prune back growth when necessary and remove dead leaves and stems without infecting your plant. We offer both clippers and snips, and as a bonus they can be used to cut your flower bouquets!
Pets and Plants
Some of our furry friends like to eat our green friends, which in some cases might be harmful! Check out this journal post that lists 10 pet safe plants.
Taking care of your plants doesn't have to be a difficult task. With a little bit of knowledge and effort, you can keep your plants healthy and thriving. Remember to give them the right amount of sunlight, water them properly, and fertilize them when necessary. Additionally, keeping an eye out for any signs of pests or disease can help you catch and treat any issues before they become too severe. Taking care of plants can be a rewarding experience, not only for the beauty they bring to your home but also for the satisfaction of watching them grow and flourish under your loving care.
]]>Different flowers can be toxic to different pets; we're going to stick to generic flowers that are non-toxic to both cats and dogs.
In any case, your pets should not consume flowers/plants.
Before we get into safe and non-safe flowers, let’s go over 3 essential ordering tips.
1. Always Mention Pets
Always, always, always mention that your bouquet/arrangement is for a pet owner. Even if you listed your preferred flowers or double-checked the bouquet recipe, designers need to know if it’s being delivered to a home with pets. Simply because we make substitutions based on our inventory. We do our best to meet your preferences, but if we don’t have it in stock, we will choose the most similar flower.
2. Order in Advance
Orders with flower restrictions should be placed in advance, especially if it’s a large bouquet/arrangement. Choosing non-toxic flowers while following style guidelines takes more time - rushed orders aren’t fun for anyone. This also ensures that the appropriate stock will be available.
3. Be Flexible
We get it, you put a lot of thought into your preferred design, but we all make sacrifices. Placing your order in advance helps significantly, but shipment delays and unusable stock are, unfortunately, common in our industry. Your flexibility is always appreciated.
Pet-Friendly Flower Varieties
Here are 10 flowers that are non-toxic to dogs/cats and safe to use for your next bouquet.
Again, we always recommend keeping your floral arrangement away from your pet(s). The flowers might not be toxic, but there is still a chance of a bad reaction.
Toxic Flower Varieties
If you share your home with a cat or dog, absolutely stay clear of these flowers. Just ask our manager Kyla, who was gifted some lilies and paid the whopping price of $5,000 for a vet bill. Her cats made a full recovery thanks to the team at the Winnipeg Animal Emergency Hospital.
You might think that flowers can just be put out of reach, but as flowers age their petals drop and can be found by sneaky pets (like in Kyla's case.)
Poisoning Signs and What To Do
Accidents happen, if your pet ingested toxic flowers, they may be showing these signs:
Symptoms can take up to a few hours to appear and there are different symptoms for different flowers. Cats and dogs may react differently/show different signs. On the occasion that your animal eats toxic flowers, a vet needs to be called immediately. You need to provide the type of flower(s) that were digested, approximately how much, when, and what symptoms they’re showing. A vet will provide the next set of instructions based on the information provided. Supposing that your fur baby might have ingested toxic flowers; keep an eye on them and monitor their behaviour closely.
Pet-Friendly Plants
Just in case you're buying plants, here are 10 worry-free plants for your pets.
Again, ideally they're not ingesting ANY plant material (that isn't cat grass), but these are non-toxic.
Pet-Friendly Bouquets and Flower Arrangements
Academy Florist is full of animal lovers and we want to make sure that all pets are safe around flowers! We have created a bouquet option on our website that can be found here. If ordering over the phone, please let us know that you require pet-safe varieties.
We’d love to see your custom pet-friendly bouquets and your furry friends, tag us in your story/post!! @academyflorist.
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Step One: Choosing an Appropriate Vase
We design our bouquets based on how they were ordered, or the budget that was provided, therefore they sometimes come in different shapes and sizes. Finding the best size and shape of vessel should be based on the width of the stems as well as the size of the flowers in proportion to the vase. This just means you want the stems to be able to fit in the neck or opening of the chosen container. Too tight a fit will cause your flowers to become damaged, too loose and they’ll fall out of the water. Stem length is less important, as they can always be cut down to sit comfortably in the vase, it just becomes a problem if you are choosing a vase that is too tall. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your container, whether you use a drinking glass from your kitchen or an unused plant pot, sometimes a perfect vessel is hiding in plain sight.
Fill this vase or container with fresh, cool water, and set aside while you prepare your blooms.
We do everything in our power to make sure your flowers get to you as safely as possible, which means there are a few mechanics you have to “un-do” when receiving your bouquet. Firstly, you’ll unwrap the paper around the flowers and then remove any excess elastic bands, twine, sponge, water source, etc. It is our hope that you are able to reuse these items for another purpose, or at the very least recycle them. You’ll want to leave on the one elastic band that is holding the stems of the bouquet together before proceeding to the next step.
Step Three: Cutting the Stems
Ideally you are able to cut at least an inch off of your bouquet (which helps the flowers drink better) but a small snip is better than nothing. You can hold your bouquet up to your chosen vessel to eye-ball the height that the stems should be, and remember that you can always cut them again, but you can’t add length after the fact!
Find your strongest, sharpest pair of kitchen shears or gardening pruners (don’t have a decent pair? We sell our favourite clippers!) and while holding the bouquet in your non-dominant hand, make quick cuts to each stem of the bouquet. Remove the elastic band from the stems, and quickly place the flowers into the water. Don’t be afraid to adjust the stems as needed, as the bouquet wasn’t designed for the specific vase you are using.
Step Four: Placement
We go in-depth on how to get the most out of the flowers in your space in this journal post, but essentially you want to keep your blooms out of direct sunlight, away from any air vents, and somewhere where you will be able to see them frequently. We actually recommend moving them around with you so you get the most out of them!
Getting the most out of your flowers is important to us here at Academy Florist. While we wish our flowers could last forever, we like to think that they are all the more precious because their beauty is fleeting. There are a few things you can do to keep them at their best for as long as possible.
In a perfect world, you are re-cutting the stems every few days, but the absolute BEST thing you can do is to change out the water every day. This will keep them fresh and happy for the longest.
If you would like to keep your flowers for even longer, some specific varieties dry very well and can be kept for quite a while. We carry a wonderful book called Flowers Forever which details how to dry all of the different varieties and creative ways to display them in your spaces. Find it here.
It’s no secret that we love flowers, and it shows in our work. However, sometimes flowers don’t perform as expected. If you aren’t satisfied with your flowers, please reach out either by phone or email and we will happily make it right! You will be asked to provide your name, contact information, and a photo of the flowers so that we can assess the problem effectively. More of our refund policy can be found here.
Receiving fresh flowers can be a wonderful and uplifting experience. Whether you receive them as a gift or treat yourself, there are many ways to make the most of your blooms. So when you bring home a bouquet of fresh flowers, take a moment to appreciate their natural beauty and know that they were grown just for you!
]]>The Basics
In order for our team to get your flower order to your chosen recipient, we need a few very important (non-negotiable) details:
Custom vs. Academy Signature
We have an incredibly talented team of floral designers here at Academy Florist, so when deciding what to order for someone, we are very fond of our “Academy Signature” options, also known as Designer's Choice. This allows you to give us a budget (maybe a colour palette if you would still like a little bit of input), and then you let one of our professionally trained team members take it from there. This is a great way to get something extra special and unique as our designers are able to shop our cooler for the best and freshest items.
If you have something more specific in mind, keep reading to get some insight into what to consider when ordering a custom floral design. Keep in mind that ordering in a specific variety of flower might not be possible, or may be subject to a 2 week ordering timeframe.
The Recipient
There are a few things to consider when choosing what sorts of flower varieties to give. For example, you might know that your mother-in-law loves a certain flower, which is great, but does she have a cat that loves to nibble on everything? Or is your best friend sensitive to strong smells? Here are a few things to consider and inform us about when placing your order:
For a look into ordering pet-friendly flowers, check out this journal post.
Descriptive Words to Use vs. Those to Avoid
When describing the style, shape, and colour palette of your order, there are a few words that help us to achieve your vision, and a few words that we recommend not using to avoid confusion. This is because some adjectives are ambiguous or might have a different meaning to different people.
Words to use to describe the shape and style you’re after:
Words to use to describe colour palettes:
Words to avoid using as they are too ambiguous or might be interpreted differently:
When in doubt, send a photo of something similar to what you are looking for to info@academyflorist.com so that we can make sure we’re on the same page.
Another important thing to consider when ordering fresh flowers is the time of year and therefore the seasonality of flowers. You can check out our Flower Seasonality and Availability journal post for more specific information, but good practice is to tell us that you are okay with whatever varieties are in season at the time.
Hopefully this will help you to be more confident when ordering flowers from us, but you are also always welcome to give us a call at (204) 488 4822, or visit us at 925 Corydon Ave and speak with a team member about our absolute favourite thing, flowers.
]]>Flower Varieties Available Year Round
Academy Florist is the only florist in Winnipeg that sources flowers directly from the flower farms. This means that we are able to get you the best and freshest product, and also that we can get varieties from greenhouses and flower fields all over the world. In doing so, we are able to offer certain flowers all year long. Here is a list of flowers that you can be sure we will have any given week:
We update our online offerings each season, which you can shop here.
Flowers For Each Season
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter
The availability of fresh flowers is a perfect example of the cycle of seasons and the wonder of nature. Whether it's the daffodils of Spring, the dahlias of Summer, the chrysanthemums of Fall, or the hellebores of Winter, each season brings its own unique palette of colours, scents, and textures. By understanding the seasonality of flowers, we can appreciate the ephemeral nature of life and the importance of living in the moment. We can also support local farmers and florists who work hard to cultivate and showcase the best that our Manitoba summer has to offer. So next time you want to buy some flowers, consider asking your florist to use the best of the season.
]]>The benefits of having flowers in the home are numerous and varied. From improving air quality to reducing stress and anxiety, flowers have a positive impact on our overall well-being. They also add beauty and colour to our living spaces, creating a more inviting and welcoming environment for ourselves and our guests. Whether you choose to grow your own flowers or purchase them from us, incorporating them into your home décor is a simple and effective way to enhance your quality of life. So the next time you're looking to spruce up your living space, consider adding some fresh blooms to your home and experience the many benefits they have to offer.
If you are unsure of how to care for your flowers, or what to do when you receive them, check out our Receiving Flowers journal post here.]]>