Adjusted Store Hours

We have adjusted our store hours in wake of the on going situation surrounding COVID-19, starting last Wednesday store hours at 40 West Cedar St in Beacon Hill have changed to 10am instead of 9am. We are still here to serve our community the best we can and for the health of our customers and employees this change made the most sense, our staff can avoid the rush hour commute on public transit with a later start time. We are monitoring the situation day by day and will update accordingly .

New Hours

Monday Through Saturday 10am - 6pm

Sunday Closed.

Happy Spring Solstice!

We get pretty excited about the spring equinox bringing us out of winter and officially starting the season of spring. But what exactly is the spring equinox? And does an equinox happen at the start of every season?

First, let’s get into the equinox, which actually occurs just twice a year. The word equinox comes from Latin and means “equality of night and day.” So, the equinox occurs at two specific moments in time when the sun is exactly above the equator (contrary to popular belief, the equinox doesn’t last for 24 hours).

What are the dates of the two equinoxes?

In the northern hemisphere, the spring, or vernal equinox happens around March 21, when the sun moves north across the celestial equator. The autumnal equinox occurs around September 22nd, when the sun crosses the celestial equator going south. But if you want to be truly egalitarian, opt for saying March equinox and September equinox instead. After all, in the southern hemisphere, March represents the beginning of autumn and spring comes along in September!

The equinox has inspired a number of interesting false beliefs, including that the event causes a massive disruption of communication satellites, or that on the equinox an egg can effortlessly be balanced on its end (egg balancing is a skill you can practice any day of the year).

What is a solstice?

So what about the beginning of summer and winter? Well, the equinox is often confused with the solstice, which is either of the two times a year when the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator. Solstice derives from the Latin solstitium, which literally means “the standing still of the sun.” The solstice occurs around June 21 and December 22.

Bringing The Retail Store To You!

During this time we are following the all standards and practices encouraged by the CDC and healthcare organizations. We are practicing social distancing and we have brought the in store retail shopping experience to the street.

We have moved a lot of our product to the sidewalk for easy viewing and purchasing. This experience can be touch free and is the easiest way to serve our community in a safe manor. Stop by today and check out the sidewalk display!

St. Patrick's Day Meaning

What Do People Do?

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in many parts of the world, especially by Irish communities and organizations. Many people wear an item of green clothing on the day. Parties featuring Irish food and drinks that are dyed in green food color are part of this celebration. It is a time when children can indulge in sweets and adults can enjoy a “pint” of beer at a local pub. Many restaurants and pubs offer Irish food or drink, which include:

• Irish brown bread.

• Corned beef and cabbage.

• Beef and Guinness pie.

• Irish cream chocolate mousse cake.

• Irish coffee.

• Irish potato champ, also known as poundies, cally or pandy.

• Irish stew.

• Irish potato soup.

Some people plan a pilgrimage to St Patrick’s Purgatory, which is commonly associated with penance and spiritual healing since the early 13th century. It is on Station Island in Lough Derg in County Donegal where St Patrick had a vision promising that all who came to the sanctuary in penitence and faith would receive a pardon for their sins.

Public Life

St Patrick's Day is a bank holiday in Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) and the Republic of Ireland. St Patrick’s Day is also a festive occasion in some parts of the world where it is not a public holiday. Therefore traffic and parking may be temporarily affected in streets and public areas where parades are held in towns and cities.

Background

St Patrick is one of the patron saints of Ireland. He is said to have died on March 17 in or around the year 493. He grew up in Roman Britain, but was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave when he was a young adult. After some years he returned to his family and entered the church, like his father and grandfather before him. He later returned to Ireland as a missionary and worked in the north and west of the country.

According to popular legend, St Patrick rid Ireland of snakes. However, it is thought that there have been no snakes in Ireland since the last ice age. The "snakes" that St Patrick banished from Ireland, may refer to the druids or pagan worshipers of snake or serpent gods. He is said to be buried under Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, Ireland. Ireland’s other patron saints are St Brigid and St Columba.

Luke Wadding, a Franciscan scholar born in 1588 in Waterford, on the south coast of Ireland, was influential in ensuring that the anniversary of St Patrick's death became a feast day in the Catholic Church. Many Catholic churches traditionally move St Patrick's Day to another date if March 17 falls during Holy Week.

Many immigrants from Ireland fled to other parts of the world, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, in the 19th and 20th centuries. Many Irish customs, including the St Patrick’s Day celebrations, became quite popular in these countries. However, much of the interest in the St Patrick’s Day events is largely commercially driven in the 21st century.

Symbols

The most common St Patrick's Day symbol is the shamrock. The shamrock is the leaf of the clover plant and a symbol of the Holy Trinity. Many people choose to wear the color green and the flag of the Republic of Ireland is often seen in St Patrick’s Day parades around the world. Irish brands of drinks are popular at St Patrick’s Day events.

Religious symbols include snakes and serpents, as well as the Celtic cross. Some say that Saint Patrick added the Sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to create what is now called a Celtic cross. Other Irish-related symbols seen on St Patrick’s Day include the harp, which was used in Ireland for centuries, as well as a mythological creature known as the leprechaun and a pot of gold that the leprechaun keeps hidden.

During COVID-19 We Are Offering Free Delivery!

We value the health and well being of our customers, employees and community and are following all standards and practices encouraged by the CDC and health care organizations.

There are still going to be birthdays to celebrate, milestones to mark, anniversaries to cherish or just a pick me up during this time. That being said we have waived our delivery fee for online orders.

Use promo code: DELIVERY at checkout!

Rouvalis Coronavirus (COVID-19) Measures.

On behalf of everyone at Rouvalis Flowers & Gardens , I want to thank you for being a loyal customer and personally let you know that your safety is our priority during these unsettling times. The coronavirus (COVID-19) represents a challenge for the hospitality & retail industry.

We know how important cleanliness is during these times. To offer you peace of mind, we have started thoroughly disinfecting every surface touched prior to opening each day.

We sincerely hope you do not let this temporary upheaval limit life’s enjoyment, and look forward to welcoming you in our Beacon Hill location & our delivery services. To stay informed about the coronavirus without hype or exaggeration I would encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website http://www.CDC.gov for up to date and accurate information.

Regards, 

Sean Murphy

Owner

Boston Flower & Garden Show 2020

The Boston Flower & Garden Show is about inspiring, educating and motivating the region’s gardeners. Whether for curb appeal, backyard, kitchen, indoor, rooftop or community gardens, this is where New England’s green lovers go to discover new ideas while having fun with family and friends.

Colorful life-sized gardens and vibrant floral designs incorporate the newest design elements, examples of the popular and healthy food gardening trend ideas for adopting sustainable gardening practices and air-cleansing indoor plants. Included will be small-space gardens, homesteading hobbies, edibles-as-ornamentals and family and pet-friendly spaces for outdoor relaxation and entertaining.

This year’s Show theme is “Garden Party: Celebrating Friends & Family”. There’s nothing more important than time spent connecting with the precious people and places in our lives!  At this year’s show, we’ll celebrate outdoor living and interior plantscapes that inspire us to spend time with the ones we love.  Explore plant families, including the beauty of “black sheep” and “everyone’s favorites”, as well as ways of connecting with each other through our love of nature and gardening.

March 11 - 15, 2020

Full Article Here

Spring Plants Every Garden Needs!

The early days of spring are a tricky time for many casual gardeners. On the one hand, the weather is nice enough to get outside and start working on your flower beds. On the other, you may have concerns about what to plant and when to plant it in case of cold weather or excess rain. To help you plan your spring gardening without fear, here are some popular spring flowers that are ideal to start planting right away. With just a little work and preparation, you will be enjoying beautiful spring flowers and be the pride of your neighborhood.

1- Pansies

Ignore those people who say pansies are short-lived. They are a colorful, eye-catching addition to your garden of spring flowers so don’t skip planting them. Pansies come in a variety of colors, including all shades of pink, purple, yellow, blue and white. Pansies also prefer being planted in cold weather, so you can plant them in early spring without fear. The ideal conditions for pansies to grow are window boxes and containers.

Scientific Name: Viola or wittrockiana
Conditions in which they grow: Full sun or partial shade
Soil: Must be well-drained but moist

2- Hellebore

Hellebore is the queen of early spring plants. The other names for hellebore are Christmas rose and Lenten rose. These spring flowers that bloom from hellebore are unique and saucer-shaped, allowing you to add a different look to your garden. Despite their delicate beauty, they are fairly hearty and can withstand light frost, making them another excellent planting for early spring.

Scientific name: Helleborus niger
Conditions in which they grow: Full shade
Soil: Must be well-drained but moist

3- Bloodroot

This white herbaceous perennial flower arrives in March and lasts until late spring. Bloodroot grows best in either a woodland or shaded garden. 

Scientific name: Sanguinaria canadensis
Conditions in which they grow: Full shade
Soil: Must be well-drained but moist

4- Snowdrops

These bright, clustered flowering plants can grow in both moderate winters and cold-winter regions. 

Scientific name: Anemone nemorosa
Conditions in which they grow: In full sun or partial shade
Soil: Must be well-drained but moist

5- Lilac   

The different shapes, sizes, and colors of lilac make them one of the best plants for spring. The flowers also have a sweet fragrance when they bloom.

Scientific name: Syringa vulgaris
Conditions in which they grow: In full sun
Soil: Must be well-drained

General tips for growing early spring flowers

Perennials typically emerge each year when the weather is warm and right. A surprise late frost might brown out some of the perennial foliage, but don’t worry too much because it won't kill the plant. The exception is if you've bought new perennials from a greenhouse and just planted them this spring. These plants might have been forced ahead of their usual schedule in the controllable conditions of the greenhouse. While they may look hearty, healthy and beautiful they may not be able to withstand a surprise spring frost.

For new spring plantings, it's good to leave perennials outside in the sunlight for about a week before you plant them. Once they are planted, if you see a sudden cold snap in the forecast you should cover the plantings overnight to be safe. But don’t cover them longer than overnight. Remove your covering once the temperature goes above freezing the next day. This is especially important if you cover with clear plastic. The sun can heat things up underneath plastic during the day, which will be harmful to your plants. Also, draping plastic over a structure above the plants is better than spreading plastic sheeting directly on top of the plants. The weight of plastic covering directly on top of the plants can break the stems.

Full Article Here

Why tulips grow best in cold weather

If you live in a cold climate and can’t wait to see your garden start to grow, you’ll probably be a big fan of tulips. Most other plants can't bear wintry weather, but tulips actually need cold conditions to prosper. Tulip bulbs, also known as modified roots, follow their own rules when it comes to growing. Unlike other flowers that will start to bloom as the days lengthen with the coming of spring, tulips will only start to flower when they are ready. Tulips also don’t like the heat given off by too much direct sunlight and usually won’t grow successfully unless the bulb is planted more than 8 inches deep in the soil. Taking all these picky preferences together, some people think that it’s almost impossible to grow tulips from the bulb at home.

The right temperature for tulips

The ideal temperature to grow tulips is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. But there is such a thing as too cold for tulips: The plant has a temperature tolerance limit of 29 degrees. A few degrees below this level will destroy the tulip buds and flowers. If it reaches freezing, the whole tulip can be damaged. Tulips begin to show signs of growth at 60 degrees. Flowers and leaves start to appear at 68 degrees. Because of these precise needs, tulip breeders tend to refrigerate the bulbs so that they can plant them at the right time. In fact, tulips can be planted as late as early December and still enjoy spring blooms.

A rare gift

There are certain species of tulip bulbs that are perennials. These include the species Tulipa batalinii, T. clusiana, T. humilis, T. kaufmanniana and T.turkestanica. But, unlike most perennials, these tulips cannot be counted on to bloom every year once planted. In fact, most of these tulips will come back only a few years at best. If tulip foliage dies too soon after they bloom, dormancy sets in before another flower can form and none will appear the following year. Also, large tulip bulbs eventually wear out and produce young offsets that take several years before they flower.cold conditions 

How the pros grow tulips

Commercial tulip growers provide ideal conditions by digging up and storing bulbs in refrigeration. This is obviously difficult to replicate for the average home gardener. After the spring bloom — and for many tulips, this means late spring — there usually isn't enough time for foliage to manufacture and store food before the days heat up and send bulbs into dormancy. Tulips grow so well in the Netherlands due to the northerly latitude and chilly sea air that brings longer, cooler springs. In most home gardens, there is no guarantee that cool weather will last long enough for tulips to get the growing conditions they need.

How to plant tulips in your garden

If you are looking for a gardening challenge, a study conducted at Cornell University revealed some best practices to help you grow tulips at home:

1. Starting as early as December, clear away snow and loosen the soil as much as possible. Try to choose an area with soil full of organic matter.

2. Scratch in bulb fertilizer. If the ground is frozen, scatter fertilizer sparingly and over a larger range than normal.

3. Place the tulip bulbs on top of the soil. Do not press them in, as this will damage the bulb base where roots form.

4. Cover the tulip bulbs with 2 to 4 inches of aged mulch or finished compost. Go for the thicker layer if planting during the height of winter. Renew mulch covering often to be sure there is at least a two-inch layer.

Tulips are hard to grow at home. They require special conditions that are different from most other plants. But if you live in cold-weather conditions and are ready for a gardening challenge, tulips offer beautiful spring flowers that are worth the trouble and make for a rare and special addition to any garden.

Article Link

Happy International Woman's Day 2020

What does it mean to be a woman in 2020? It means she is a daughter, a wife, a mother, a friend, a sister, a co-worker, a cook, a caregiver, a doctor, a journalist, and whatever else she chooses to be. Simply put, women have always been unstoppable and with changing times they have become a force to reckon with. While we certainly believe that just one day cannot encompass the spirit of womanhood and all they have done (and keep doing) for mankind, there is no harm in celebrating, isn’t it?

To celebrate the essence of all the amazing ladies out there, International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8, every year. Celebrated since the early 1900s, International Women’s Day also promotes gender equality and equal opportunities for women. So, whether she is your best friend, your mother, your daughter or your wife, there is no denying that women play a special role in all walks of life.