Blog Category Archives: Floral Gifts

Brant Florist is Burlington's top wedding flower shop when it comes to Bridal Flowers, Boutonnières, Corsages, Hair Flowers, Wedding Cake Flowers, Wedding Table Centerpieces, Church and Hall Flowers. As one of Ontario's most trusted wedding florists, we have been designing wedding flowers for brides in the Burlington weddings, Oakville weddings, Hamilton weddings and Niagara Falls weddings for over 40 years! We take great pride in helping brides on their special day. We do everything we can to make your wedding flowers everything you imagine. We appreciate that your wedding flowers are a special part of your wedding day and we want them to be perfect for you.

We are a full service wedding florist - we do it all - from engagement party flowers, rehearsal dinner flowers to wedding and reception flowers. We have worked with thousands of brides and their families and strive to make your wedding day exceptional and beyond your expectations. Working with other wedding professionals - we service a large part of the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe, and we work at the most popular wedding locations in the area.

We custom design all your wedding flowers - corsages to match your wedding colours. Hair flowers to suit your hair and bridal veil, wedding cake flowers to compliment your wedding cake, boutinieres for grooms men. We want your wedding flowers to be as unique as you are.

Same with wedding decorations and wedding flowers - wedding flowers for the ceremony, church flowers, pew bows, hoopah, balloons and other wedding ceremony decorations decorations. We design wedding reception flowers that compliment your wedding colours and style. Beautiful and custom designed table centrepieces for every style and budget.

Because of the personal nature we do not accept Internet orders for wedding flowers or bridal bouquets. However, we are happy to help you with your wedding flowers. Please phone us at 1-877-545-5535 or email us at inquiries@brantflorist.com for all wedding flower inquiries. We would be pleased to discuss your wedding flower and bridal bouquet plans and ideas.
You are also welcome to come into our shop located in Burlington. Because of the time involved we prefer you schedule an appointment by calling or emailing us, and start making your wedding day dreams come true!

Sending Sympathy Flowers or Floral Tribute

Sending sympathy flowers or floral tribute to funeral home or memorial service or sending sympathy flowers or planter to a home are appropriate ways of expressing condolences to the family of the deceased. Flowers can express a feeling of life and beauty and are the traditional way of expressing sympathy to a friend or family member  who has lost a loved one.

Send Sympathy Fruit Basket

An popular alternative to flowers is to send sympathy fruit basket or a gourmet basket. This is a tasteful and appropriate way to show your condolences. Send sympathy fruit basket to residence.

Floral Tribute

A floral tribute is a flower arrangement that is sent to a funeral home. Standing Sprays, Flower Crosses and Floral wreaths are also sent to funeral home. If you send sympathy flowers to a residence then typically a flowering plant, planter or a small vase of fresh flowers is suggested. When you send sympathy flowers or floral tribute to funeral home an identification card with personal message can be placed on the floral tribute. At the funeral home the cards are removed from the floral tributes and given to the family.

Sympathy Cards

Expressing sympathy with a card is always appropriate. It will mean a great deal to the family. Include a personal note with your card- such as: "I'm sorry to learn of your personal loss"

Making a Memorial Donation

A memorial contribution, to charity or specific cause is an alternative to sympathy flowers. There a several memorial funds available and most families will express a preference. If in doubt you can call the funeral home handling arrangements. If recognized as a charitable institution, some gifts may be deductible for tax purposes. The funeral director will be familiar with these and can explain each option.

Black Flowers: Introducing the Rarest of Colors

Black flowers have long had a mystical and alluring appeal that has attracted noble and commoner alike, and been the subject of search of many explorers. Botanists and gardeners strive for centuries to breed the perfect black flower, with any success however remote usually fetching a considerably-high price on the market.

Whether black flowers were considered to have ties with the occult, with faith or with merely looking impressive, the popularity that they once enjoyed has remained to this day at full force. They show no sign of becoming less-so, especially since botanists and scientists are able to come up with new and beautiful varieties at a rapid pace.

It may interest you to know, then, that despite the popularity and great effort put into growing black flowers that they don't actually exist. That's right, there is no such thing as a truly black flower. Instead, what we call a flower is actually the result of a high concentration of pigmentation in the blossoms. A black rose is in fact a very dark red rose. A black tulip, dark purple.

Growing a flower from the seed with the intent of making it black is a technique that even master gardeners find it difficult to excel at, with much trial and error being required to produce results. Geneticists have more luck manipulating the genes of the plant themselves to coax the creation of black flowers, but they remain mere concentrations of pigment and aren't truly black at all.

Where to Buy Black Flowers

Since, unless you are a master botanist with great experience, it is nearly impossible to grow black flowers, it is necessary instead to purchase them from a florist or garden center if you desire them for your home or garden.

The garden center won't offer many varieties of black flowers, and indeed you may have to settle with a dark purple that is still visibly purple from up close. The effect of extremely dark blossoms will still be had, however, and can make a worthy addition to any garden.

Your local florist may carry certain varieties, although they are not the most common types to have around. You may need to order them specifically, especially if at short notice. Fortunately, online ordering can let you do this without having to stop by their shop, and can save you some time if you are pressed for it.

Where to Enjoy Black Flowers

The best place to enjoy black flowers is in your home or in your garden. Whether alone or combined with other colors and varieties, they will add a touch of elegance and mystery to whichever room or garden they are placed in.

We recommend a vase for the coffee table in your living or sitting room, or perhaps matching ones for the end tables if you have them. A mantelpiece bouquet is a popular creation as well, and one definitely worth considering.

Black flowers, specifically fresh tulips or roses, can be great in the bedroom to create a certain sensual ambiance that won't be lost on you or your spouse or partner. Always use a white vase to complement the striking vibrancy of the blossoms, although black also works well if required.

Artificial silk flowers are a great option if you have difficulty finding live specimens. The fact that they neither age nor wilt means that your purchase will be around as long as you are, and won't require frequent replacement.

In your garden it is best to keep black flowers in highly-visible sunny areas (so long as their species is not of a shade-loving variety). They will likely be the highlight of everything you've planted, so arranging other colors and species to enhance the presence and appearance will help to draw and keep the eyes of friends, family and anyone who stops by for a neighborly chat over the fence.

One additional place to view black flowers is a botanical garden, if your city happens to have one. You will more than likely find at least one display featuring them, and can enjoy the fact that they have been arranged in a professional manner to create patterns and combinations everyone will love.

Black Flowers: Concluding Information

Black flowers, with their historical appeal and dark, mysterious beauty, are perfect for both the home and garden. If you are wondering what species to choose for your home based on geographical location, or would merely like to look at various blooms for enjoyment, the Internet or local library are excellent resources.

If you are interested in growing black flowers yourself, there are many botany courses that you can take which would arm you with the ability to do so. To engineer them, you'll probably need a degree in genetic biology, which is unfortunately a little harder to come by... although greatly rewarding.

If you're looking to add some color to your life - check out the different types of flowers Brant Florist sells.

Artificial flowers have been around for a lot longer than one might think. They were first made out of silk and other delicate materials that artisans found easy to work with. These substitutes were used as decorations where live flowers might be unsuitable or impossible to maintain. The benefits persist into the modern day, and for even more reasons.

Of course, you might be wondering why else we suggest artificial flowers when live ones are potentially superior. They are not meant to entirely replace real ones for decorative purposes - instead they are intended to compliment existing displays and to allow you greater versatility in planning your rooms. This combination can save time and money, which makes it a popular choice amongst many homeowners.

Artificial flowers require zero maintenance aside from the occasional dusting with a damp cloth. Watering and fertilization are non-issues, and you'll never have to change the soil. There are no sunlight requirements for artificial flowers, which means you can decorate your basement or any poorly-lit room without worrying about your new acquisitions dying on you.

Other Options

Artificial flowers are also great at work. There are many occasions where people suffer from allergies to plants and flowers, and in an office the liabilities of one tend to affect everyone. As a result, many offices ban live plants to prevent any issues. You can over come this with artificial flowers, which produce no allergens. You'll still enjoy the same motivational and inspiration benefits as well, which can increase productivity.

Artificial flowers make great outdoor decorations. You can include them with your real flowers to generate a desired combination. This can be a huge benefit if you desire a rare flower that can't be found or grown in your climate, as it is often possible to obtain artificial replicas.

You can decorate your patio, porch, or a backyard picnic area to enhance the overall look and feel of your garden. This landscaping benefit makes them quite popular. You can also line walkways with pot or planter displays that have been cleverly crafted to look real. This is a great idea for winter when real plants might not be able to grow.

Elegant Art

Flower artists have developed talents and skills that allow them to engineer replicas of real plants with such intensive detail that it becomes quite difficulty to tell the difference between artificial flowers and their living counterparts. Patterned leaf veins, opening blossoms, and newly-formed buds are all possible, and give your arrangement a special fresh look.

As a result of their efforts, you are able to enjoy recreations of wonderfully beautiful plants and flowers that you would not normally be able to have around. Exotic tropical flowers that require specific environmental conditions to thrive can be replicated, and the new replacements can proudly take their place on your coffee table or mantelpiece.

Holiday Recommendations

The holidays give us a perfect opportunity to enjoy artificial flowers. Many holidays have traditional plants and flowers that go along with the event. One suggestion is to acquire fabricated variants that will last for many years. This way you can store them in the basement for easy access, and won't need to replace them with expensive live displays.

At Christmas we recommend fabricated versions of the holly plant, mistletoe and poinsettia. Poinsettias are a perfect choice because real ones are fairly strongly toxic when eaten, and can be consequently dangerous to pets and children. Fabricated ivy garlands and wreaths for your door are another good example of what you can create for your home.

Easter arrangements, designed to be pleasant and visually soothing, are another chief use for fabricated plants. You can combine them with just about anything, including an Easter nativity display or a child's egg basket. Such creations make excellent gifts that everyone can enjoy, adding another level of versatility to these creations.

Valentine's Day offers another potential for the use of fabricated plants. You can decorate for a themed party at home, at school or at a community center using tasteful displays custom-made for you. Arranging for delivery to the site of the party frees up your time for other endeavors as well, which really helps round out the convenience.

Say Goodbye to Allergens

There are two big safety benefits to using artificial flowers in your home or office. A complete lack of pollen and potential poisons or toxins means you can fully enjoy your favorite flower, even if you might not normally have that chance.

Artificial flowers reduce the risk of a curious pet or child chowing down on their demise should the plant happen to be dangerous. This makes them a favored choice amongst new parents, and definitely worth considering for just that very reason.

If you're looking for some REAL flowers, check out what Brant Florist has in store.

Their Traditional Significance

Anniversary flowers are an integral component of the gift-giving tradition surrounding this annual celebration of matrimony. The natural beauty and appeal of anniversary flowers, combined with their standard association with relationships, friendship and courtship in general, make them the perfect compliment to other gifts.
Anniversary flowers, much like other gifts, tend to have specific association with milestone years. Much like how a diamond ring is suitable for the 10th anniversary, so too are certain flowers suitable to each year. Although not necessary, it is certainly interesting, enjoyable and advisable to stick with the common anniversary flowers when buying gifts. This shows a touch of class that can really impress.

The Milestones

We've put together this list of milestone anniversary flowers to help you come up with unique and suitable gifts for your spouse or partner. By combining these with your year's appropriate gift, you can create some potent and impressive gifts that your significant other will be sure to love.

1st - Pansy
Pansies are popular garden flowers, often in vibrant purples and violets, that, when bunched into bouquets and arrangements, are extremely attractive.

2nd - Cosmos
These attractive ornamental plants come in many colors and varieties, and are popular for use in home gardens.

3rd - Fuchsia
Fuchsia is the anniversary flower associated with your third year. They are the blossoms of flowering shrubs, and are very decorative. They have a distinct pendulous eardrop shape, and come in many colors, from white through to red, blue and orange.

4th - Geranium
Geraniums are attractive plants with bright and colorful blossoms that are popular in gardens and floral arrangements both.

5th - Daisy
Common daisies are well-known for their bright yellow centers and white petals, and are the traditional flower of the old maiden's game “he loves me, he loves me not.” These white anniversary flowers represent peace, purity and innocence.

6th - Calla lily
These hardy plants sport attractive blossoms that make them a great addition to a bouquet.

7th - Jack-in-the-Pulpit
These unusual-yet-attractive flowers had an interesting use employed by the Meskwaki Indians, who would grind the root of this plant into meat and leave it for their enemies. It would often cause death to those who consumed it.

8th - Clematis
These are attractively-blossomed climbing plants. Their blooms make worthy additions to a gift arrangement.

9th - Poppy
Poppies are often associated with remembrance, as they would commonly spring up on battlefields. Nevertheless, the attractive red and white varieties are perfect anniversary flowers.

10th - Daffodil
Daffodils, more properly known as narcissus, are spring-flowering bulb plants common in gardens. Their attractive yellow blossoms are well-liked around the world.

15th - Rose
Roses are the traditional flowers of love and romance, and fitting for this important milestone. A bouquet of fresh-cut red roses is the ultimate floral expression of love, and will be well-received by your partner.

20th - Day Lily
Although not true lilies, these anniversary flowers are striking and attractive plants nevertheless. Their large and showy blossoms have made them popular around the world.

25th - Iris
Irises are showy flowering plants named after the Greek word for rainbow, due to the very wide variety of colors that they are known to come in.

30th - Sweet pea
These annual climbing plants sport flowers that are often purple, but can be of many other colors as well. Unlike most peas, the seeds of these are poisonous when eaten.

40th - Nasturtium
These 40th anniversary flowers have blooms so showy and bright that it can often be difficult to photograph them up close. They make a great addition to a gift arrangement.

50th - Violet
Violets are attractive purple flowers that are widely used in gardens. An interesting feature is that they release a ketone compound called ionone, which desensitizes the receptors of the nose so that you can only briefly smell the flower.

Gift Ideas

When designing a bouquet or arrangement of anniversary flowers, be sure to follow this list for the most common milestones so that you can create something appropriate and classy, and easy to enjoy. If you are celebrating a milestone not shown, your local florist is the best person to ask for a more detailed list. They'll know exactly which anniversary flowers are appropriate for each year.