A full service floral boutique specializing in stylish and elegant arrangements for any occasion

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Dahlia is my name.

12 August 2010

Summer is almost over they say, but really, what do they know. Flowers bloom year round and some of them have not even reached their peak this summer. So summer is NOT over. Well, at least not until the Dahlias bloom. Here at Pistil Flowers we are proud to support local growers and most of our cut flowers and plants come from within Ontario. Watch this blog as we will be doing a series of features on our Speciality Growers.

PROFILE
The featured grower in this blog is Cedar Creek Farms owned and operated by The Taylor family. And they are the suppliers of our beautiful Dahlias, Delphiniums, Gladiolis and Peonies. We took a trip out to their farm and brought back with us some fabulous photos and some great growing tips for all Dahlia enthusiasts.

The farm started off in a humble mennonite community milking cows and growing food and vegetables. But about 18 years ago, due to huge competition in the food farming industry, Mr Taylor saw a better demand in growing flowers. And through trial and testing, he has created a niche in growing Dahlias (some 150-170 varietals to be exact). They also grow Peonies and a variety of Annuals for sale at local markets. For those unfamiliar with Dahlias, they are flowers native to Mexico and grow from bulbs. This means they need to be dug out every winter and replanted every year. At Cedar Creek Farms, all the flowers are handpicked daily to ensure that they harvest the blooms at their best.

DAHLIA TIPS
Plant your bulbs in the beginning of May, with ground temperatures of 60 F.
Grows well in well-drained, aerated soil. Some have known to grow Dahlias in sandy soils but they will need more watering. Avoid Clay soils. The plants take 4-6 weeks to mature, with the peak Dahlia season in mid September. They will bloom through to frost.

As our vehicle approached the farm, we were greeted by rows and rows of beautiful dahlias. Now that is another reason for switching to growing flowers .... We will let the photos speak for themselves.
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Something Old, Something New, Something Modern

02 June 2010

What comes after the bride says "Yes" ? The guys had it easy. All they had to do was pick out the perfect rock and pop the question ....

So it seems that the wedding planning begins almost immediately after that. Most brides already have a clear idea of what their wedding day would be like even before she has found her perfect partner. According to Weddingbells` Readers` Survey in 2009, couples are engaged for an average of 18 months and the average wedding size is 140, with median costs estimated at $19,274. Some would spend that budget to engage the services of wedding planners to help ease the process and all the logistical efforts on the day of the wedding. Everything is made easy with gift registries online and in-stores, big and small. The Modern Bride is spoilt for choice, but despite all that, there seems to be strong move towards Simplicity, No-fuss, Eco-friendly, and Stress-free weddings. Sometimes it takes unusual steps to achieve that and we at Pistil Flowers would simply love to help you fulfill that vision.

Pistil Flowers is all about the Modern Wedding. Our flowers tell the story: Romantic destination weddings, Small cozy backyard weddings, Large dramatic banquet weddings, Unconventional weddings, we have seen them all. Wedding bells ring loud in the months of July to September and we are busy as bees gathering honey.

Being located right in the urban fabric of downtown Toronto has really helped us connect with the best people in the industry. We have helped many couples navigate their way through local venues, from the most swanky hotels, to top restaurants and even some of the most unexpected locations. We know our way in and out of the city. Call us now to talk about your dream wedding.

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Mother Gaga at Pistil Flowers

05 May 2010

The simple act of showing mom how much we love her has become a worldwide phenomenon since Anna Jarvis delivered 500 of them at its first celebration in 1908. Gift giving is now the norm, where retailers try to jump in to get a piece of the pie. But it is interesting to note that the idea of giving flowers was what Mother`s Day started with. Carnations were the traditional flower of choice as it was the favourite flower of the founder Anna Jarvis`s mother.

So wait no longer... it`s a simple act. Give the gift of Beautiful Flowers.

Pistil Flowers will be stocked to the brim with beautiful bouquets and arrangements, featuring Rare Orchids, Peonies and Lilacs, and Carnations of course ! But we have so many options right now, you really don`t have to be limited to carnations. Place your orders for Mother`s Day today, because we are actually delivering throughout the weekend to make sure "The World`s Best Mom" gets the freshest blooms in the city !

Happy Mother`s Day to all our hardworking mother`s out there.
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Administrative Professionals Week!

14 April 2010

Though you should acknowledge your Admin’s hard work every day, the week of April 19^st to the 23^rd is specifically dedicated to showing these fabulous people how much their help and support is appreciated. From making travel arrangements, to planning meetings and remembering birthdays, each member of the support team is a valuable contributor to the overall success of any business. Many times we hear that these support workers are not only important, but absolutely integral to running a smooth and efficient business.

This week, take the opportunity to thank these people with a token of appreciation from Pistil Flowers. Especially for Administrative Professionals week, we are offering flowers and plants for every taste and budget for individuals as well as group orders. Unless you are sure your assistant has their own vase at the office, we recommend sending them something pre-arranged in a vase, or potted in a decorative pot. This allows them to enjoy their beautiful arrangement at their desk throughout the week.

Call or visit us to see our selection of fabulous floral gifts!

Pistil Flowers Celebrates Women!

06 April 2010

Pistil Flowers was pleased to support Ovarian Cancer Canada’s Celebrate Women fundraiser on March 23^rd. The event began with a champagne reception in The Room at the Bay, followed by a luncheon and fashion show at Arcadian Court.

Hosted by Jeannie Becker, Canada’s Fashion icon, the show gave lucky guests a preview of the Spring/Summer collection from some of the world’s leading luxury designers such as Gianfranco Ferre and John Galliano, while Molly Johnson performed for the crowd. A silent auction raised further funds for this worthy cause.

Our floral inspiration for the arrangements was crisp white flowers contrasting with a deep nearly-black tea leaf. Six of these fabulous bouquets were given to the night’s presenters.

For more information on this event, or to support Ovarian Cancer research and awareness, please visit www.ovariancanada.org.