4 Reasons I Love, & Everyone Else Hates Carnations

Talk about a bad reputation!

Everyone has a favourite flower. Some like lilies, tulips, even daisies.

And of course almost everyone loves roses.

But the most misunderstood flower of all is the carnation.

I've heard all the reasons why people hate carnations:

• they're common, grocery store flowers
• they look ugly
• the petals look deformed

Always the contrarian,  as a florist I love carnations because:

1. The darn things last forever. It's not uncommon for a carnation to last 2 to 3 weeks in a vase.
2. They come in a huge variety of colours. Red, white, yellow, hot pink, soft pink, lavender, mauve, dyed green, dyed blue just to name a few.
3. The carnation still has scent. With all the cross-breeding done to increase the life of flowers, most have lost their scent in the process. In particular, roses have become subject to this phenomenon. In trying to increase longevity and colour, the scent has disappeared with most roses. The carnation still has that spicy scent which I love!
4. Preparation. Simply remove the leaves that would be below the water line in a vase, cut the bottom of the stem on an angle, and voila...the carnation is ready to use.

Next time you order your flowers, please give the carnation a second chance.

It needs your love...and like a puppy...gives you unconditional love in return!

3 Best Long Lasting Flowers

You want flowers that last a long time.

Once cut, spring flowers like tulips, iris, and daffodils have a short lifespan.

Roses need to be re-cut every day or two, and kept as cool as possible. If your house is at 34 to 38 degrees Fahrenheit or 2 to 4 degrees Celsius, that can work. Now add in 87% humidity, and your roses could last forever!

After 20 years in the industry, you have told us that the following three flower types are THE best choice for long lasting flowers:

Alstromeria

Spray or mini-carnations

Standard Carnations

A floral arrangement of carnations, mini-carnations, and alstromeria can last from 14-21 days.

This mix provides you with excellent value, in a wide range of colour themes.

For my video on what goes into a long-lasting flower mix...

To order a long-lasting floral mix, please call Simon Says Roses Florists & Gifts at 1-800-705-ROSE(7673) for Canada wide delivery.

3 How to Videos on Buying Flowers

For your viewing enjoyment, I've created three "How To" videos about buying flowers.

They address some of your major concerns as flower buyers, including:

1. How to save money buying flowers in Canada,
2. How to get long lasting flowers, and
3. How flowers suck, which is always popular.

Any comments you leave on YouTube will be answered, so please feel free to contribute!

6 Ways to Save When Ordering Flowers in Canada

It seems everyone wants to save a buck these days...and I'm one of them!

It's no different when ordering flowers in Canada.

I've compiled a list of the 6 best ways to save money when ordering flowers and gifts across the country:

1. Look for online discounts. It's faster for us to process an order online than it is by phone. At Simon Says Roses, we pass on these savings on certain items when using our online order form.
2. Order flowers that are in season. Tulips are cheaper in the spring when there is an abundant supply. They're not so cheap in December, when the only supply available may have to be shipped from Holland.
3. Order for more than one person, in different locations. Something for your wife in Toronto, your Mom in Vancouver, and you're in Victoria? We offer discounts when ordering for two or more recipients across the country.
4. Look for Promotion Codes. Although they're not always available, Social Media forums are a great place to search for discounts. Google Places, Facebook, or Twitter are great places to see if price reductions are available.
5. Send two or more items to the same location, or try sending Flowers of the Month for a year, or flowers each week for a month. Multiple purchases get discounted!
6. Send just flowers, with no vase or basket. Great for the do-it-yourself person that likes to arrange her own flowers in her own special vase. All the money goes into the flowers themselves, instead of the container.

If you have other suggestions, please leave a comment. Your suggestions may become part of a future blog post!

Mother's Day Flowers Are Not the Same Any More

Flowers at Mother's Day have a special meaning for me.

It was almost 14 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday.

You see my Mom used to live with us.

And every year, she got the leftover Mother's Day flowers at the end of day on Mother's Day.

Not that the flowers were bad.

Dale always made a very nice floral arrangement of flowers that didn't sell at our shop Simon Says Roses.

And not that Mom didn't appreciate the gesture...she was very thankful.

But 14 years ago, she took the time to point something out to me.

Every year we always arranged for my wife's Mother to receive a flower arrangement in Edmonton....BEFORE Mother's Day.

My Mom mentioned that one year....just one year...it would be nice to get fresh flowers a few days ahead.

The pick of the crop...the nicest blooms...with enough time to enjoy them THROUGH the special day.

So that year, I had my best floral designer make the most beautiful arrangement.

I took it home with me on the Wednesday before Mother's Day Sunday.

My Mom was speechless, thrilled, & exhilarated all in one!

I'll never forget it.

And I've never forgotten it since.

Because I took my Mom for granted.

She was the one raising my two daughters while Dale & I were working in the flower shop. She made the meals. Did the laundry.

And I never really thanked her...until that year.

I'm so glad I took the time.

Because later that year...14 years ago in November...my Mom passed away from cancer.

And that's why Mother's Day flowers are not the same any more.

What's with Secretary's Day?

It started in 1952.

It was a way to acknowledge the hard work done by secretaries worldwide, and was called National Secretaries Week.

Apparently that title wasn't good enough, so in 1981 it was changed to Professional Secretaries Week.

By 2000, this name was deemed politically incorrect, so the name was changed once again to Administrative Professionals Day, celebrated on the last Wednesday in April.

In my mind, this new name means absolutely nothing to most people.

I can see the results when customers are searching for flowers on the internet. There are far more people looking for Secretary's Day flowers then these other contrived phrases.

And what are we really celebrating any way?

As employers/bosses/managers, all we are trying to say thanks.

A simple "thank you" to everyone that works for us.

So why not simply call it Employee Appreciation Day?

At least most people would understand the name!

The Miracle of Same Day Flower Delivery in Canada

It seems easy enough, but it's actually a miracle.

FedEx can't do it. UPS can't do it. Not even Canada Post can do it.

Same day delivery across the country.

Let's say you are in Montreal, and you want to send a gift across the country.


You Google "flowers in Vancouver", hoping for same day flower delivery in Canada as you've ordered before noon Vancouver time.

Up pops a number of websites to choose from so you click on Simon Says Roses with a whole range of flower images.

You select a flower arrangement with red roses and stargazer lilies, knowing she will love the colour and scent of the display.

And that's where the miracle begins!

The arrangements are not simply sitting on a shelf.

Somebody has to take the order.

Somebody has to construct the arrangement.

Somebody has to deliver the flowers.

All within about a four hour window.

Here's what has to happen:

1. The staff member takes your order, including product order code, greeting card message, recipient's information, your information, and the payment method.
2. The order is printed, and an Order Confirmation Invoice is sent to you by email with full details (except credit card information) for your order.
3. A copy of this Invoice is given to the flower designer.
4. The recipient is called, to ensure someone will be at the residence to accept your gift. 
5. The designer then chooses the flowers, the vase, and then must construct the arrangement, coming as close as possible to the picture. As no two flowers are identical, no two arrangements are identical, but a close replication of your choice will be made.
6. Most delivery services have a morning and afternoon pick-up, usually at 10:00 and 2:00. Orders placed the previous day or before hit the morning run while orders received that day make the afternoon run. Each driver usually loads from 10 to15 orders on each run.
7. The delivery driver must plot his delivery run to ensure the most efficient route is taken in terms of time and mileage.
8. Voila! The delivery is made. When the drivers return, they provide their delivery logs. Your order is marked delivered, and you are emailed a Delivery Confirmation.

A custom manufactured product, ordered and delivered across the country on the same day.

Now that's a miracle!