Saint Patrick’s Day is on March 17, which means you have under a week to choose which Toronto St Patrick’s Day flower arrangements will bring some Irish cheer to your recipient. Pictured above is the Shades of Green flower arrangement, featuring beautiful chrysanthemums, orchids and hypericum arranged in a vase, garnished with limes and artichokes – all in green, of course! It’s one of our most popular flower arrangements for the holiday, priced at $171.99.

Talk to us, your local Toronto Flower Shop, about other popular St. Patrick’s Day flowers, boasting the national flag’s colours of green, white and orange, available in a variety of flower types including daisies, chrysanthemums, roses and carnations. Just let us know what you prefer.

A Little About St. Patrick’s Day
A national holiday in Ireland, St. Patrick Day commemorates the missionary who helped convert the Irish to Christianity over a span of over two decades (circa late 4th century AD). March 17 was when he passed away. Although the day is most important for Catholics, it has become more of a patriotic holiday, recognized by those of Irish descent living not just in Ireland, but anywhere in the world.

Celebrations paint the town green, in honour of the traditional colour of Ireland and the life which spring brings. You’ll also see shamrocks, a type of clover that symbolized the Holy Trinity as explained by St. Patrick.

Here in Toronto, look out for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, organized by the St. Patrick’s Parade Society of Toronto (SPPS). In its 23rd year, the parade starts at noon on Sunday, beginning at Bloor and St. George.

Many of us have already bid a warm welcome to the new year, 2010. However, for the Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese and other ethnic populations, the real new year has yet to begin. According to the lunar calendar, the new year doesn’t start on January 1. Rather, it changes annually. This time, the first day of the new year is February 14 (the same day as Valentine’s Day).

Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is an important holiday, much like January 1 is for those following the solar calendar, and flowers play an important part in all festivities. Chinese New Year flowers  symbolize the beauty and vitality of nature, are an expression of good faith for the future and represent rebirth. Cut flowers and plants (in particular, plants that bloom since they lead to the production of fruit and thus represent prosperity) are purchased in abundance to decorate the home, creating a festive atmosphere that is reminiscent of warm spring days that are soon to come.

Popular Chinese New Year flowers and plants
Plum blossoms: One of the first fruit trees to bloom in the season are plums and many welcome them as a sign of perseverance through hardship.

Bamboo: Strength and flexibility – bamboo symbolizes traits that are admired.

Golden kumquat: A symbol of wealth and prosperity.

Azalea: This frilly bloom represents harmony.

Chrysanthemums: Symbolizing three traits, perfection, optimism and joy, chrysanthemums are highly prized for this holiday.  They are also linked with royalty.

To all those celebrating the Chinese New Year, best wishes for the Year of the Tiger!

We hope everyone had a great Christmas on Friday, and a relaxing Boxing Day. Now that it’s over, we aren’t going to be writing about Christmas anymore (whew!) It’s time to move on to New Year’s.

Flowers for New Year’s?

That’s right! Move aside those tired poinsettias, christmas cacti and amaryllis that served their purpose for Christmas and make room for some gorgeous New Year’s flowers!

The New Year holidays is a time to celebrate life, and what better way to welcome 2010 with something that also celebrates the beauty of life? Here are two things you should look for in flower arrangements for this time, so if you’re thinking about sending something to your recipient as an expression of gratitude or celebration, read on.

1. Colour. Most people throw (or attend) a party to ring in the new year, which means the most suitable flowers are ones that are colourful and vivid. We’re talking orange, red, blue or any other shade that is suitable. There’s no need to mix it up, unless you want to.  Select a flower arrangement that’s in one colour or more. A note of advice: make sure that you send flowers that match the type of party you’ll be having or attending. For example, if the party invitation is quite formal, you may want to send something that is in fewer colours or even just one: white. White is usually considered “formal”. If it’s a huge bash that’s not black tie, mix it up for the best effect. The Royality Vase is a fabulous flower bouquet, with bursts of yellow, delicate white and green.

2. Glitz. Although this year trends tend to be more natural, New Year’s is different.  There’s always a bit of glitz to make it more festive, whether it be in the form of sparkly ribbon, gold/silver sprayed branches, or other garnish.

And if it’s not glitz, then the arrangements tend to be “over the top”, such as Tropical Beauty flower arrangement seen in the picture above. As you can see, it’s not your typical bouquet. It’s extravagant and grandiose, without any hint of glitz.