Sunday is Valentine’s Day!

Planning to buy some Valentine’s Day roses for your special someone? If you are, pass these helpful tips on to your recipient so they can enjoy the beauty of their fragrant gift longer, when Valentine’s Day is but a distant memory.

Keep them as fresh as possible by following these tips:

1. As soon as you bring those blooms home, put them in the fridge or the chilliest part of your basement until you can properly tend to them. The cold will help maintain their freshness.

2. Thoroughly clean a vase that’s big enough for the roses. Fill it with water, preferably at room temperature, and add an appropriate amount of flower food (floral preservative), stirring well until completely dissolved.

3. Carefully unwrap the roses and remove any leaves and other foliage that are on the lower portion of the stem, so none are submerged in water. This will prevent rotting and keep bacteria to a minimum. Remove any damaged leaves anywhere on the stem as well.

4. Trim the stems with a sharp knife, getting rid of about 2.5cm off the bottom. If the stems are still too long for the vase, remove more until there’s no threat that they’ll flop over. Remove a bit by bit. To prevent air bubbles from forming on the trimmed ends, hindering the blooms from absorbing water, trim under water.

5. Once cut, arrange carefully in the vase and place in a cool location away from direct sunlight, drafts, heaters and air conditioners.

Your roses’ worst enemy is bacteria, so remember to change the water once a day and add flower preservative to fight it off.

Even though Valentine’s Day is only 2 days away, it’s not too late to order your roses for delivery in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond. Visit our catalogue online, or call us at 416-FLORIST!

Have a great Valentine’s Day!

February 14 is only 4 days away. Are you trying to prepare for Valentine’s Day but scrambling for ideas? You want to make this year a memorable one, something they won’t forget.

As your local Toronto Valentine’s Day florist for over a decade, we’ve experienced enough February 14ths to know that one of the most romantic ways to spice up any date is  to go that extra step by decorating the venue of your date with fresh rose petals. We have three colours available: cream rose petals, red rose petals and light pink rose petals. Use one colour for one area, or mix two or more shades together to create a more dramatic effect!

Here are 7 of the most romantic ways to use fresh rose petals:

1. Sprinkle them along the path going toward the table, sofa or bed – or wherever the most important part of your date is scheduled to take place. Doing this sets the mood, putting them into the right mindset.

2. Toss a handful into the box, bag or package of the gift you’re going to give them. Or better, yet, forget the tissue paper altogether and use rose petals  instead.

3. Strew fresh rose petals all over the bed, and cover yourself with them (preferably while not wearing anything else!)

4. A few sprinkled into a shallow glass bowl filled with water makes a beautiful decorative piece. Add a floating candle to complete the effect.

5. A pure white tablecloth scattered with lush red rose petals makes a gorgeous setting for an intimate dinner for two. You may even want to bring them to the restaurant, but  make sure they’ll match the tablecloth (as a courtesy, you may also want to inform the staff beforehand).

6. Surprise your loved one by preparing a hot bath, sprinkled with rose petals. The hot water will release some of the essential oils trapped in the petals, making it delicately fragrant.

7.  If you’re decorations include balloons, put a handful of petals into each balloon before blowing them up. Use clear balloons and red rose petals to achieve the best effect.

One of the most delicate creations is a flower’s petal. Petals are  often the showiest part of the flower, forming the bloom to create its unique shape, colour and fragrance. They also have many beneficial uses as well, such as being the primary ingredient in essential oils for medicinal and cosmetic use. We’ve all heard of jasmine, lavender and geranium oils, but for your local Toronto florist, the most prized flower petals is from the rose.

Rose Petals
Rose petals are used around the world for culinary purposes, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. They are processed to produce such consumables as rose water, rose extract and rose syrup. But for a florist, rose petals are offered in their original form to consumers who demand them.

That’s right. For the diehard romantic, a sprinkle of fresh velveteen rose petals on a candlelit table, to mark the path on the floor or across the bed is a must for the most romantic days of the year, Valentine’s Day. Add a few to garnish floating candles in a bowl of water, toss some in the bathtub for absolute luxury, or include some with the gift you intend to give to your loved one – rose petals are versatile! Even when they dry, they remain beautiful.

Not Just for Valentine’s Day
Don’t think rose petals are just for Valentine’s Day. Any romantic occasion may be enhanced, including weddings, anniversaries and proposals.

If you plan on surprising your partner with a romantic night and wish to sweeten the venue with rose petals, 416-Florist.com can help. Call 416-356-7478 or toll-free at 1-866-356-7673 or search our online store for Rose Petals.

Rose petals are available in lush red, delicate pink and elegant cream. Two quantities are available: Package A, which is about 12 cups or 700 rose petals (enough to cover 12 square feet) and Package B, which is about 22 cups or 1300 rose petals (enough to cover 22 square feet). Package A is $29.99 and B is $49.99.