Lavender-Honey Ice Cream Recipe

Summer is a time for two of my absolute favorite things: the blooming of fragrant purple lavender and  ice cream! So naturally I've looked for ways to combine them and what I've found is a recipe that will have you as delighted as a honey bee in a lavender patch.  It truly is the best flower flavor I've tasted in an ice cream, though I must say the Rose and Mint cone  I had one summer in New Orleans was a close second. Flower flavored treats are nothing new- around the world  blossoms have been used to flavor anything from tea to chewing gum for years. Give this recipe a try and see if it doesn't become one of your favorites!

 Below I've shared a recipe for Lavender Honey Ice cream that is simply divine. From the one and only Martha Stewart.

INGREDIENTS      

• 2 cups whole milk
• 1/4 cup dried lavender
• 1/3 cup honey
• 5 large egg yolks
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup heavy cream

     

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium saucepan, combine milk, lavender, and honey. Bring to a gentle boil, cover, and remove from heat. Let steep for 5 minutes. Strain mixture, reserving milk and discarding lavender.

2. Combine egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until very thick and pale yellow, 3 to 5 minutes. Meanwhile, return milk to a medium saucepan, and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat.

3. Add half the milk to egg-yolk mixture, and whisk until blended. Stir mixture into remaining milk, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.

4. Remove from heat, and immediately stir in cream. Strain mixture into a medium mixing bowl set in an ice-water bath, and let stand until chilled, stirring from time to time. Freeze in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Store in an airtight plastic container up to 2 weeks

-Serena Fae

Hinged Vase Collection

Our Hinged Vases finally came in and let me tell you they were definitely worth the wait! We absolutely love their unusual shape and style, and have had a lot of fun filling the slender glass tubes with the boldest blossoms and sharpest textures.  From color gradients, to single stem varieties, to a wildflower mix- there's no wrong way to arrange in these beauties!  This vessel makes a notable centerpiece or would look stunning on a mantle. It's also a fantastic way to make even a few stems go a long, long way! 

We find that using traditional "gardeny" cut flowers such as garden roses and veronica provide a lovely soft contrast to the smart metal angles of the frame. 

A traditional rainbow of colors looks great in this short hinged vase. 

-Serena Fae 

Summer Wreaths

                                                                 Succulent summer wreath 

Think hanging a wreath on your door is strictly for the holidays? Think again! Summer wreaths are a lovely way to celebrate the warm weather, while making your home more welcoming to family and friends. At Rouvalis, we're big, big fans of outdoor decorating and just cant restrict ourselves to adorning our front doors but once a year. We highly recommend finding a preserved summer wreath for decor that will stay looking colorful and last all summer long! We have a small number of enchanting wreaths left for the season and would be more than happy to help you pick the right one for your home! 

  Below you'll find a collection of summer wreaths we love for home decorating and celebrating the season. 

Summer greens and purple give this lovely wreath a natural, earthy feel

We love the simplicity of this bud wreath, which easily works well for both spring and summer 

This shabby chic wreath has an antique yet festive feel 

-Serena Fae

In The Shoppe: Bromeliads!

Summer is in full swing! and that means one thing: VACATION! We can't think of many downsides to packin' up and getting out of the city for awhile, but we can think of at least one: Plant Killer's Guilt. You know- that feeling you get walking in the door from a week on the cape, only to find your beloved little fern has suffered a painfully parched death? Somewhere between remembering the sunscreen and your passport you forgot your pothos.   If this sounds at all familiar don't worry, we've got you covered! New to our shoppe this week we have bold, beautiful and resilient Bromeliads.  Bromeliads are vividly colorful low-maintenance  tropical plants that are native to the Americas. They work wonderfully as indoor houseplants, especially if you have a bright sunlit room or windowsill. Bromiliads boast a large array of unique colors, ranging from coral and royal blue, to hot pink to bright yellow and many more. The foliage is equally impressive, with many varieties featuring natural patterns such as stripes, spots and color splotches.  They are extremely forgiving in terms of care, only needing to be watered about once every 3 weeks. The infrequent waterings and temperature adaptability make Bromeliads our top choice for vacation-proof houseplants.  Head in to our Boston location to check out our impressive selection of Bromeliads and enjoy a vibrant houseplant that wont be pushing up daisy's by the time you get back from the islands. 

-Serena Fae 

How To: Mounted Staghorn Fern

We all know how much fun living in the heart of Boston is, but we also know city living doesn’t come without its drawbacks namely - that tiny apartment. Many times our customers come to us with the desire to “greenifiy” their homes, but with limited space to do so. Our advice to them- get creative! Challenge yourself to see seemingly unusable space as a place for plant life. For example, your wall! We know what you’re thinking, a plant on a flat vertical surface? Yes! Allow us to introduce to you the Mounted Staghorn Fern. Unique, hip and wildly imaginative- a mounted staghorn fern will not only save on space but add an impressive statement to your interior decor. 

Making a mounted staghorn fern is easy! We'll show you in just 5 steps:

                                                                          Mise en Place 

You will need:

Wall Mount- a large piece of hard wood to be the back mount for the fern.  Here, we've used this weathered piece of salvaged driftwood. 

Wire- a good amount of strong bind-wire or twine to hang the mount and to bind on the fern. 

Moss- we've used a gray Spanish moss for a touch of mystery,  but you could also use a green sheet moss for a splash of color.  

Cloth- a sturdy breathable material, we recommend burlap.  

Step 1:

                                                                    wire is nice and snug 

 Use the bind-wire to string up the wall-mount, leaving a loop in the back to hang it by. Be sure to tie the bide-wire as tightly as possible- this will be the only material holding the entire mount to the wall. 

Step 2:

                                                                      Swaddle the fern 

Remove your staghorn fern from its grow pot. You can remove a good amount of the soil from the ferns base, it will only need a clump of soil around its roots. Next, wrap the soil and roots with your cloth and tie off the top with the bind-wire. 

Step 3:

                                                           place the fern wherever you like 

Bind the staghorn bundle to the wall mount. Again, make sure you are binding the material as tightly as possible, however do not squeeze the roots of the plant so hard that they are cut. 

Step 4:

                                                                                 Voila! 

Hang up your mounted staghorn fern and enjoy! Remember to fully soak your fern once a week in the sink to keep it hangin' happy!  

Serena Fae

Fall Floral Fashion Trend

From New York to Paris blooms continue to flourish in the clothing and accessories world for fall. But this season, they are taking on a darker mood, blossoming from black-as-night backgrounds in a riot of vintage-inspired greens, deep pinks, and creams giving the look a late 70's vibe. Take a look at some examples below!

A Nontraditional take on a Fourth of July Arrangement

We've all seen the red, white, and blue floral arrangements that come with one of our favorite summer holidays. White mums, red roses, and blue carnations are forced together and wrapped with a checkered ribbon to be sold to the masses. Here at Rouvalis, we are just as excited as anyone to bring flowers to this summer holiday, but even more excited to exhibit a different take on it. Whether you're having a casual summer barbecue or a family dinner in Nantucket, here are some inspirational arrangements that take a more understated approach for this Fourth of July. 

We love this arrangement with a variety of thistles and astilbe that is reminiscent of fireworks. 

The simplicity of these single stemmed bud vases highlighted by the ombre glass is a tasteful modern take on the red, white, and blue theme.

Finally, we have a unique combination of reds, whites, and blushes complemented by a vintage Patriotic container. 

Whatever your vision may be for this summer holiday, the designers at Rouvalis Flowers are ready to help. We love all the fresh, new, creative ideas that our customers bring in, but if you need a little inspiration, we're here for that too! We have beautiful, fresh, premium flowers,plants and containers awaiting your next party or event. 

Introducing Our Summer Collection!

Here at Rouvalis, we are excited to introduce our new Summer Seasonal Collection. The season’s colors are bright and vibrant! This time of year at Rouvalis we are excited to exhibit summer flowers that parade vivacious oranges, royal blues, spirited greens, and cheerful yellows.  Our arrangements are filled with interesting textures that exaggerate the wonderful colors.  High contrasting color schemes such as blue with orange, fuschia with yellow, and lime green with violet embellish our arrangements.  

Some highlights from our collection include "Avenue," an arrangement we created that showcases one of our favorite flowers for the summer, pincushion protea. The warm mango calla lillies with orange roses are balanced against a contrasting blue gentian and highlighted with a bright lime green hydrangea. 

We also love "Maui," a tropical toned arrangement filled with rich purple mokara orchids, allium, and hydrangea, then accented with bright yellow roses and peach hypericum. 

All of our arrangements for this season include unique, premium flowers with colors and textures to excite and brighten one's day. A showcase of beautiful blooms that you won't find at your average florist, we hope you'll enjoy this season's collection as much as we did creating it!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

The Mayor's Rose Garden Party

The Mayor’s Rose Garden Party is an annual fundraiser which benefits year-round programs in City of Boston parks and allows thousands of children and families to enjoy arts, science, and fitness programs as well as special events in their neighborhoods. This will be its 19th year and Rouvalis has been in connection with this event for much of that time, We create the flowers for events as well as auction items to benefit the Boston area programs.  

Care Free Succulents

 Amongst the sweltering summer sun and last minute vacations, it's probably not a surprise when your outdoor plants start looking like they need a little love. Instead neglecting your plants of hydration every time you hit the waves, reconsider your landscape scheme to require lower maintenance and be more sun tolerant that is in line with your carefree summer attitude. 

The right plant picks can stand extended sunlight and a little neglect. For extra-hot outdoor conditions, extended vacations or people who don’t have a green thumb, succulents are a excellent choice. Most survive relatively well in full sun and require at a couple hours per day of full sun. For larger planters or spaces that call for a taller plant, consider using  aloe or agave.

. Remember, a majority of succulents flourish on neglect. Always hydrate on the side of under watering, not overwatering. If they look a little wilted, then it's time to water!.