September’s here! As the days get a little chillier and the kids are set to go back to school, how about a little pick-me-up with a free $75 Flower Bouquet from us?

To enter our monthly giveaway contest, join our Facebook page by clicking on the Facebook image on the left and tell us how you spent the summer. Did you spend it at the beach? Travel to far and distant places? Work everyday? No matter how exciting – or boring – it was, let us know!

You may be the winner of a gorgeous flower bouquet!

CONTEST RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Contest begins at 12:00 AM EST on September 1st, 2010 and ends at 11:59 PM EST on September 30, 2010.

1. 416-Florist.com’s Free Flowers For You Contest is open to legal residents of Canada aged eighteen (18) years old or older. Participation constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and decisions made by 416-Florist.com, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Free Flowers For You Contest. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.

2. How to Enter: Visit 416-Florist.com’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toronto/416-Floristcom/178650247930 to enter. Join our group and post a comment on the wall telling us what you did this summer. Only one (1) entry per person. All entries become the property of 416-Florist.com and will not be acknowledged or returned.

3. One (1) winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries on August 1, 2010 to receive an arrangement from 416-Florist.com valued at $75. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

4. Notification of the winner will be via private message through Facebook. The winner will have five (5) days to claim the Prize. The prize is non-transferable, non-negotiable and not redeemable for cash, credit or merchandise. No substitutions or cash redemption of the Prize is permitted. Additional restrictions may apply. If the prize is not claimed within five (5) days, it will be forfeited and another entrant will be drawn.

5. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission for Sponsor and its designees to use each winner’s name, city, state, likeness, voice and biographical information for purposes of advertising, promotion and publicity in any and all media, now or hereafter devised without limitation and without additional notification or permission or compensation, unless prohibited by law. All information collected will be treated in a manner consistent with Sponsor’s privacy policy and the consent given at time of entry.

6. The winner’s name will be posted on the following owned by 416-Florist.com: blog, Twitter, Facebook Page. Last name will be emitted for privacy of winner and Last Initial will be used instead.

As Toronto florists, we share a fondness for all kinds of flowers, whether they boast petals that are soft and velvety or stiff and rough. But even we have favourites, depending on the occasion and season. Some of us like cheery sunflowers and crisp tulips, while others enjoy the bountiful petals of chrysanthemum blooms and exoticness of anthuriums.

Ever wonder which flowers famous people like? Here’s what we found:

Michael Jackson
Recent news reports state that Lisa Marie Presley, ex-wife of the King of Pop, urged fans to decorate his burial site with sympathy flowers, but not just any kind of flower. Apparently, Michael Jackson’s favourite flowers were sunflowers! Shortly after her publicized request, thousands of sunflowers were found decorating his grave.

Shakira
Latin pop sensation Shakira loves sunflowers and daisies.

Emily Dickinson

The renown American poet was a self-professed lover of flowers and plants. She was an avid gardener and often gave flowers as gifts.

Although it seemed she loved all kinds of flowers, some of her favourites were Spring flowers grown from bulb form, such as daffodils, hyacinth and tulips. She also liked dandelions and orange tiger lilies. Much of her poetry involved flowers, gardens and nature and their associated symbolism.

Marilyn Monroe and Madonna

Legend Marilyn Monroe and Madonna are two celebrities who have expressed their love for white roses.

Marliyn Monroe’s Star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame is often decorated with white roses, while Madonna is reported to request them on a regular basis for her dressing room backstage at concerts.

We’re sure there are many other celebrities who love the elegance of these gorgeous blooms!

With scientific evidence proving that flowers can positively affect the mood and spirit of a recipient, Get Well flower arrangements are a great way to offer comfort during patient’s hospital stay. Get well flowers make a patient feel cherished – something that can help while they recover.

Most arrangements for hospitals are composed of flowers that can withstand the environment of such a building. That’s right: your local florist, drawing from their professional expertise, creates arrangements that are suited for the warmer, somewhat stuffier atmosphere of the hospital. Flowers that are good as a Get Well gift include lilies, wax flowers, mums, carnations, and cymbidium orchids, as these blooms don’t perish as easily. To complete the bouquet, green touches of eucalyptus and leatherleaf are ideal. Hospital environments aren’t very hospitable to flowers that thrive in cooler temperatures, such as traditional spring blooms like tulips and daffodils, so it’s best to stay away from those unless they’re recovering at home. And remember: a warmer environment makes flowers quite thirsty, so make sure that they have plenty of water.

Another important aspect to consider is the container in which the Get Well flowers are arranged. Don’t give something that isn’t set in a container with water, because then a container will be needed to put the flowers in (and where is the patient going to get that?) Since space is limited and people need to move around the room freely, stable, flat bottomed containers are best. You don’t want something that could easily tip over, so choose something that’s sturdy as well.