Oncidium Twinkle Orchids

I hope everyone is enjoying the New Year! We're having a wonderful time in the shoppe (as usual) enjoying the plants of winter and gearing up for VALENTINE'S Day- which is just around the corner eek! Just a quick bit about one of the newest additions to the shoppe: Oncidium Twinkle orchids!

These little beauties have just arrived and they are an absolute delight! The lovely delicate flowering orchids gifts are twofold: not only does it look fantastic and bloom for months at a time, but they also smell heavenly! I've heard the fragrance likened to vanilla or peaches. Stop by our beacon hill shoppe and decide for yourself! 

Care for this orchid is pretty straightforward. Oncidium Twinkle varieties like to be kept in partially shaded areas. Do not put this orchid in direct sun. They prefer stable temperatures and should not be kept in spaces that go below 57°F. When watering the orchid, make sure the water fully drains from the bottom. Do not allow the orchids roots to sit in collected water-this may cause root rot. 

Follow these instructions and your little Twinkle should provide you with exquisite sight and scent during these cold winter days!

-Serena Fae 

Proper care for flowers and plants in cold weather.

Winter is here unfortunately, and its always important to remember proper care for the flowers being transported outside or arrangements and plants inside.  

Transporting

Fresh Cut Flowers: Fresh cut flowers bought at our shop are always gift wrapped, any temperature under 35 degrees we completely cover the flowers from the bottom of the stems to the top of the blossoms to make sure they do not get nipped by the cold. It's best that the flowers are transported to the destination with the least amount of time in the cold weather. Even though the flowers are completely covered it will still make a great presentation if given as a gift!  Make sure once they reach the destination they get a fresh cut with a serenaded knife and put into water.

Flower Arrangements: Most all of our flower arrangements are gift boxed for delivery, during the cold weather we typically cover the top of the arrangement with cellophane to create a pocket of warm air for the flowers during transportation. Its best that the flowers stay covered when exposed to the cold air outside. If you receive an arrangement and would like to transport it later that day or any other time just make sure the flowers are completely covered when being exposed to the cold weather.  

Plants: We typically wrap all plants when being transported in the cold. If the plants are small enough and a gift they will be packaged the same way as flower arrangement. If the plant is larger it will be completely covered in a plastic wrap to protect the plant from the cold weather. Again if being transported again outside we ask that it be re wrapped and taking to its destination asap. 

Whats ahead for 2016

As floral designers we use numerous varieties of flowers, colors of flowers, and design styles with techniques to make each of our creations beautiful for our customers in a way that is unique and special them. The flowers at a large scale event to a single birthday arrangement need to reflect the personality, style, desires and overall look or the recipient or customer. We typically combine the worlds of fashion and lifestyle that reflect the style of each arrangement. Here at Rouvalis we are always trying to stay ahead of the curve and look into the future, with the start of the New Year we have taking a look into what is ahead for us in 2016.

Garden: It’s no secret we tend to design lavish, garden style arrangements! It is sensual and tactile for us. We typically use garden flowers grouped in loose gatherings with berries, textural elements and cascading foliage. Rich in textures and filled with pinks, blushes contrasted with rich plums and crimson.

Lustre: Rich with metallic, using blends of gloss and sparkle paired with ivory flowers is a bold contrast in any arrangement. The use of copper, gold, platinum, silver, bronze and rose gold can all be mixed to deliver this stylish look. We typically design in this manner for events and weddings to really capture the variation in colors and finish.

Pastel: For years we have tried to make pastel colors more modern and lively to our customers. This color palette features shades of yellow, peach, pink while adding deep blues, vibrant coral/salmon, and a chartreuse green. Pastel doesn’t have to be pale and muted it can be lively and bubbly.

Jubilee: We wanted these arrangements to be filled with intense colors. Summer is a great time to explore with hot, vibrant, and daring combinations. Jubilee is fun and quirky using tropical and seasonal flowers to accomplish a stylish and bold work of art. Did we mention vibrant, well the colors will be bright yellow, hot pink, hues of red, dark green with touches of bi-color flowers to add to the uniqueness of the composition. As always unique textural elements and leafs will add to the dramatic look of these flowers.

As always stop by the shop to check out what we are working on and always take a look at the floral collections we have online to see what’s available. 

The meaning of rose colors!

With Valentine's Day fast  approaching we always are asked what the meaning of certain rose colors are. We have compiled a list of colors and meanings below for you. Don't forget to order you Valentine's Day flowers! 

Red: It's no secret the red rose is the symbolism of love. Valentine’s Day wouldn't exist without this dramatic and iconic bloom. This is the ultimate symbol of romance and passion, the red rose also conveys respect and the creative spirit of love. Representing true love stronger than thorns, the red rose is known throughout the world as the symbol of love. 

White: Representing, humility, purity and innocence, the white rose is associated with weddings and funerals . Also symbolizing truth and reverence, it sends a message of loyalty and says "I am worthy of you. "

Yellow: The color that represents friendship, joy and caring. An arrangement of these bright blossoms conveys warmth, gladness and affection. 

Pink: Symbolizing gentility, femininity, elegance and refinement, the pink rose also carries various meanings depending on its shade. A deeper pink expresses gratitude and appreciation, while softer/pale shades imply grace and gentleness, admiration and happiness. 

Orange: With an array of warm, vibrant tones, orange roses represents enthusiasm and desire. If you want to express admiration and attraction - with an underlying message of passion and excitement then orange is the color you would want. 

Purple/Lavender: Thought to be somewhat mystical in nature, with symbolism connected to enchantment and desire a it’s not surprising that lavender and purple roses portray a message of love at first sight. A terrific Valentine color.

 

Delivery Zone & Areas Serviced

Here at Rouvalis Flowers we have been serving the Greater Boston area for over 40 years. In that time frame we have expanded our coverage of area displayed in the image below. If you would like to have something sent out of our delivery zone please call us and give us and allow 24 hour notice for any services outside our delivery zone. If you have any question please feel free to call or email us any time.

Phone: 617.720.2266

Email: Info@rouvalisflowers.com

Winter in the Shoppe

Happy New Year everyone! It has been far to long since our last post, but all we can say is: holidays. At Rouvalis we've just completed another successful holiday season. Whether it was setting up Christmas trees,  designing the perfect centerpiece for family dinner, or wrapping up exquisite orchids, we all had a blast working with our friends and neighbors on the hill to make it the most wonderful time of the year!

The fun continues now with the beauty of winter. I love it best when Boston is blanketed in fluffy white snow for this season. Though,  after last year's winter, I'm not sure if I'm technically allowed to write that (don't tell on me).

Winter can be an exquisite time in the natural world, but  when you live in the city it can be difficult to get outdoors and appreciate it's beauty. So we've assembled for you all the best parts of being in a winter wonderland - without the frost-bitten nose! In the shoppe You'll find woodland inspired terrariums, frost covered berries and glistening silver firs to bring some of the the glamour of the season into your home!

I've pulled just a few glimpses of what we've got going on, but for the full effect you'll have to come visit us on Beacon Hill. 

Our "Garden in Glass" lantern houses this special silver mercury tree. 

A golden reindeer stands guard over a terrarium featuring a complex ladyslipper orchid  

Finally, our stately snowy trees adorn our windows and provide a great backdrop for the green flowering plants and ferns. 

Fall Bulb Planting

• In the fall, you'll find bulbs to purchase just about anywhere! Make sure you buy your bulbs from a reputable nursery or garden center,. Second-rate bulbs product second-rate flowers or don't sprout at all.
• Plant anytime before the ground freezes. For the New England area I would suggest anytime before November.
• See the chart below for type of bulbs by hardiness zone. .
• Ideally, plant your bulbs soon after you purchase them.
• Select a site with lots of sun and well-drained soil. Work a few inches of compost in the soil.
• Plant bulbs generously just in case some do not sprout. And plant them in random order and spacing for a more natural appearance. If you love groves of daffodils and blanketed landscapes of tulips, be prepared to buy and plant a large quantity of bulbs!
• In general, plant bulbs at a depth of three times the width of the bulb.
• After planting, apply fertilizer low in nitrogen, such as a 9-6-6 formulation.  If your soil's sandy, plant bulbs slightly deeper; in clay soils, slightly shallower.
• Water well after planting. Apply mulch to keep the weeds down and hold in moisture.
• Do you have voles or chipmunks? Consider planting your bulbs in a “cage” fashioned with chicken wire.

Around The Shoppe

Greetings from a very wet and rainy Rouvalis Flower Shoppe! Although we were all drenched on our way to work today we really can't complain because Beacon Hill on a rainy day is nothing but romantic. Walking down the rain-washed brick sidewalks amid the old gas-lit street lamps is like taking a stroll back in time. We're warming up in the shoppe with the  glowing pumpkins in our windows and a cut flower display that is just bursting with colors for the fall.   

West Cedar's dancing flame 

Turning straw into Gold for this window display 

a small sampling of our cuts this week 

Warm and dry inside the shoppe

If you do venture out today make Rouvalis one of your stops and bring home some sunflowers on this rainy afternoon!

-Serena Fae 

Fall Mums

Happy September everyone! We always love welcoming our friends and neighbors back to the Hill after the summer months spent away. It can be sad to think of the warm weather coming to a close, but the cooler temperatures mean its time to bring back all the fantastic fall flowers. My personal favorites are the classic Chrysanthemums (commonly called mums). Nothing says fall in New England like these lovely perennials, which can be purchased at our Boston shoppe in an array of colors. September is the best time to purchase Mums, given their preference for cooler temperatures. Keep your mums in bright sunlight and stay on top of waterings (especially when they are in full bloom) and you should be very happy with these fiery autumnal beauties!

Warty Gourd World

Can I officially say welcome back? I think it's time! I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend.  We, at Rouvalis want to also extend a warm welcome to anyone who may be new to The Hill! We've already met some great new neighbors and even sent a few home with some fresh indoor plants for their new apartments. Upon your first visit to the shoppe be sure to ask about our preferred customer card to get you started with some awesome savings!  

I'm excited today because we just got in a HUGE shipment of decorative gourds. Ornamental gourds are awesome for lots of reasons. Here are three reasons to love them! 

1. Shape- gourds are extremely versatile in shape. From long-necked swan shapes to wonky octopus shapes- no two are alike! 

2. Colors- Gourds come in a whole bunch of colors that complement a lot of other fall foliage. My personal favorite are those that come in the bi-colored orange/gold and deep forest green. 

3. Uses- we think of gourds usually as purely ornamental pieces used to decorate but this is only one of their many talents. Gourds have been used for centuries to make musical instruments, tools like ladles and water bottles, and were even used as a currency in  1800 Haiti. Oh and last but not least they are delicious!!  

Welcome to...Our Warty Gourd World!

UFO

-Serena Fae