5 Non-Traditional and Sort of Wacky Holidays to Send Flowers and Gifts For

The top special occasions to send flowers on is Valentine's Day. After that, it's Christmas and Mother's Day. But from there, it's a wide range of dates -- birthdays, anniversaries, and many more.

Why wait for some 'officially recognized' holiday
to show someone special that you care?

There seems to have been a large proliferation in the amount of "unofficial" holidays in the past decade. These dates, though not officially recognized, are celebrated in various corners of the world.

You may not have heard of them, but some of them are quite fun. Why not change things up, have some fun and celebrate one of these "not quite ready for primetime" special occasions with flowers from Bloomex.ca?

1. Festivus: "A Festivus for the Rest of Us!"
December 23
Okay, okay, it's supposed to be a rejection of the commercialization of Christmas, but still. Brought to public attention by a classic episode of Seinfeld, Festivus replaces the Christmas tree with a pole, and features such traditions as the annual "Airing of Grievences" and the "Feats of Strength," where the head of the houshold must be pinned in a wrestling match before the holiday is over. Incredibly, it was based on a real tradition by the family of a Seinfeld writer.
GIFT SUGGESTION: We feel that Frank Costanza himself would approve of this rather basic 8" planter basket.

2. International Talk Like a Pirate Day:
September 25
This day was conceived in 1995 and gained exposure through humour columnist Dave Berry's column in 2004. It's silly, but we're guessing it's kind of fun. And here at Bloomex, we support it! Even Google itself  has gotten in on the goofiness.
GIFT SUGGESTION: A Snack Lover basket, featuring packaged treats that won't spoil during a long journey apon a ship.

3. National Hug Day 
January 21
After the exhaustion provided from Christmas and New Year's, who's NOT ready for another holiday less than a month later? The day is celebrated by offering hugs to friends and family members.
GIFT SUGGESTION: We, uh, actually can't offer one since according to the always-accurate Wikipedia (wink wink), the creator of the holiday, Kevin Zaborney, holds the copyright for the day.

4. Singles' Awareness Day (S.A.D.)
February 14
You might notice that this takes place on the same day as Valentine's Day. If you've ever been single on Valentine's Day, as we all have, you know that it can seem quite lonely. Why not brighten someone's day with a little gift to remind them that even though they're single, they are not alone?
GIFT SUGGESTION: May we suggest a thoughtful Roses & Teddy special? Currently priced to go at half-off.

5. Sweetest Day
Third Saturday in October
A regional celebration popular in Rust Belt cities like Cleveland and Detroit, Sweetest Day was started by candymakers in 1921 in Cleveland, Ohio. The idea is to hand out candies, chocolates, sweets and flowers -- initially to charities and the underprivileged -- but it's gathered steam as a gift giving occasion for people of all backgrounds.
GIFT SUGGESTIONS: Take your pick from our large selection of Sweets Baskets.

As a final note, Bloomex came up with National Sorry Day in 2013, and it is set to become the latest (and greatest!) national holiday in Canada. It's celebrated August 28, and is super Canadian, eh?

In Honour of Halloween: The History of Chocolate and 7 Interesting Facts

Chocolate is delicious and probably one of the favourite snacks around the world. It has quite an amazing history as well, which stretches back thousands of years.

From bars to hot cocoa, there are so many different ways that we consume the stuff. As a whole, the industry is worth about $90 billion worldwide -- a staggering number that speaks to how regardless of culture or location, chocolate breaks down barriers.

The Chocolate Lovers gift basket
from bloomex.ca, available

for delivery throughout the

country. In fact, we have 

quite a wide range of sweets

baskets available. 

Let's take a quick look at some fascinating facts relating to chocolate.

1. The cultivation of chocolate is thought to have started before the Olmecs, and possibly as far back as 1400 BC.

2. Chocolate is derived from the cocoa bean, and upwards of two-thirds of the world's production of this plant takes place in Western Africa.

3. Why is this? Because the climate in places like Cote d'Ivoire makes it ideal for the tree to grow. The plants need roughly 200 centimetres of rain per year, and temperatures that hover between 21 and 32 degrees celcius to flourish.

4. The first European to discover chocolate? Good ol' Christopher Columbus, on his fourth voyage to the new world.

5. The conqueror Montezuma is believed to have drank 50 cups of day of xocolatl, a primitive beverage consisting of chocolate, vanilla and spices that was commonn durig those times.

6. Though we sometimes think of chocolate as being not the best for us (and like anything, moderation is key), dark chocolate, in particular, has been linked to a variety of possible positive effects on people's health.

7. Milk chocolate, the most commonly-sold type in North America, wasn't invented until 1875.

8 Reasons to Buy Flowers From Bloomex

You have lots of choices out there for spending your hard-earned cash on flowers. There's the familiarity of dropping by the grocery store on the way home from work -- but rest assured you'll be paying a premium. There's the local florist around the corner -- but again, you'll be paying a premium (more details on that later on.)

And then there's the multinational conglomerate wire services, which, hint-hint.... farm their orders out to, you guessed it, local florists. You end up paying a whole lot more than you deserve to.

A BETTER ALTERNATIVE:

Instead of all that, take a look at what Bloomex offers. Here are eight great reasons to use us for your flower delivery needs in Canada.

1. QUALITY. Our flowers arrive straight from the farm to our production facilities, which are located in eight major markets across the countries. That means fresher products.

2.  VARIETY. We have hundreds of bouquets and arrangements for you to choose from. But did you know that in addition to fresh cut flowers, we specialize in gift baskets, spa baskets, chocolate, gourmet foods and more?

Forget the rest. Go with the best.

3. CONVENIENCE. Point, click, order... it's as simple as that. Not sure exactly what you're looking for? Check out our popular Designers Collection, which puts the decision-making in the hands of our talented florists and floral arrangers.

4. PRICE. The flowers wire services and local florists get their flowers through a convoluted system of wholesalers and/or importers, and there are margins to be made at each step of the process. Cut those middlemen out, and it results in a lower cost for the consumer. We pass those savings on to you.

5. CUSTOMER SERVICE. Our operators are standing by to help. And if its the middle of the night, try our online chat system or shoot us an email. We always strive to live up to our company motto of "We care."

6. ORDER AHEAD. Hey, we're all forgetful sometimes. Take the worry out of the process by placing your order ahead of time, for delivery on a specific day.

7. WE DELIVER ALMOST ANYWHERE. Unless you're stationed in Alert, there's a pretty good chance that we can get your flowers to your loved one.

8. WE'RE CANADIAN. We were established in Ottawa in 2005 and provide quality work for Canadians in eight major markets. We really are Canada's National Florist.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK (Oct. 28 - Nov. 3): Classic Yellow & White Daisies

Bloomex's Classic Yellow & White Daisy bouquet brings warmth and light into any room.

Quick rhetorical question: is there a flower more beloved and cherished than the daisy? Daisies bring a sense of pure joy to their surroundings, and this week's product of the week is a beautiful addition to any space, regardless of the weather outside.

This arrangement includes  36 gorgeous white and yellow daisies, adorned with a variety of fresh greens. Offered at a low, unbeatable price, they make for a very affordable option for any occasion. As well, they make for a nice change-of-pace from many of the more typical bouquets that people send throughout the nation.

Whether you're saying 'thanks,' 'get well soon,' or 'I messed up,' this bouquet will send the intended message with style and fun.

Looking for other sorts of daisies? We offer a variety of options here, with bouquets starting at just $19.99. 

Price: $29.99
Size: Approximately 24" high (vase not included)
Ideal for: Saying Sorry, Gratitude, Get Well, Birthdays

The exotic and incredible Parrot Flower -- is it real?

The incredible, surprisingly true, "Parrot Flower"

Have you ever heard of the Parrot Flower?

It was brought to North America's attention sometime around 2005 or so when an email began to circulate --  maybe it showed up in your inbox one day -- which read as follows:

Subject: VERY RARE PARROT FLOWER 

A FLOWER ALL THE WAY FROM THAILAND.
THE VERY RARE PARROT FLOWER 

Thought this was too beautiful not to share.

 There are several variations on the email. Naturally, with photo manipulation software so readily available, people were skeptical, as they had every right to be. 

But amazingly, this was one chain email that was not a hoax. The flowers are in fact 100% genuine, and as the email states, grow in parts of Thailand, Myanmar and India. Accordng to popular urban legend website Snopes the flowers' scientific classification is Impatiens psittacina.

Take a moment to marvel at the beauty of these appropriately-nicknamed flowers. Just when we think we've seen it all, nature surprises us. There are more images here (on a Thai website).

Top 5 Best Selling Flowers in Australia (and where to find them in Canada)

G'day mate! One of the great things about Bloomex is that whether you're in Canada, the United States, or Australia, we're here to serve you.

Our Australian operations are growing quite quickly, and several bouquets and arrangements are proving very popular in 2013. Let's take a quick look at the top 5 countdown.

  

5. DESIGNER'S COLLECTION

Australia | Canada 

Our Designer's Collection puts the work and decision-making into the hands of our supremely talented florists and floral designers, making this a beautiful, worry-free option for customers not quite sure exactly what they're looking for.

Recipe for Romance bouquet

4. RECIPE FOR ROMANCE

Australia | Canada

A gorgeous assortment of pastel-like tones, featuring an arrangement made of roses, mini carnations, elegant Lisianthius, Waxflower and Gladioli.

3. ROSES AND TEDDY SPECIAL

Australia | Canada

It's no surprise that this combo package is very popular, as it's a perfect assortment to send to someone special.

2. DOZEN BOXED ROSES

Australia | Canada

A total classic for a price that can't be beat. Bloomex's box of dozen roses goes for half price in Australia and Canada.

Sunset Serenity bouquet, the top-selling
product on bloomex.com.au

And the number one top selling product in Australia is....

1. SUNSET SERENITY

Australia

Australians just can't get enough of this gorgeous bouquet, which has been among the best-sellers since Bloomex Australia launched in 2011. Features an assortment of fresh-cut  Daisies, Lilies, Alstromeria, and greens.

Alternatives to Halloween Candy in Canada

Beautiful Autumn Gerberas,
ideal Halloween-themed
flowers.

Looking for different ideas instead of candy this Halloween?

We know that Halloween might not have the same excitement associated with it as when you were a kid. And whether you're heading to a party, taking the kids out or handing out candy on Halloween night, it should still be a fun occasion.

Still, many of us in adulthood are over the days of binging on candy -- but that doesn't mean you don't deserve a little treat. Bloomex.ca offers a variety of great ideas for those that are past their candy days.

Flower Ideas:

How about surprising your significant other or that someone special with a bouquet delivery. We have several bouquets available that are tailored to the season with orange shades that are quite festive for Halloween.

• Autumn Glory bouquet: Sunflowers, Gerbera Daisies, Chrysanthemums and Carnations come together in a glorious fall-styled arrangement. $44.95.
• 12 Long Stemmed Orange Roses: A vibrant take on an old classic, you can't beat the value on these orange roses, priced to move at just $39.95.
• Autumn Gerberas: This fun arrangement puts the shades of the season into beautiful Gerbera Daisies, and is a steal at just $39.95.

Gourmet Collection GiftBasket I,
an amazing value at just $24.95.

Gift Baskets:

Bloomex.ca is your number one source for gift baskets in Canada. We have many different types of baskets, from delicious foods to other sorts of treats. Here a few ideas.

• Chocolate Gift Baskets: how about picking away slowly at a gorgeous gift basket rather than gorging on October 31st?
• Sweets Baskets: Our sweets baskets include all sorts of tantalizing treats, including cookies, cheeses, nuts and dried fruits and lots of other delectable snacks.
• Spa Gift Baskets: What a nice reward for the parents taking the kids out on a cold Halloween night in Canada. Pamper yourselves with these luxurious baskets, starting at just $24.99. 

Whatever you decide on, Halloween is a great time to treat yourself. Enjoy the trick-or-treating!

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK (Oct. 21 - Oct. 27): Beer and Nuts Basket

Looking for the perfect gift for the special guy in your life? Look no further than the Beer and Nuts Basket from Bloomex.ca.

This week's Product of the
Week is the Beer and Nuts Basket

With hockey season in full swing, this is the ideal basket for a night spent on the couch watching our national pastime. And once winter really hits, there's no need to trek out to the sports bar to watch the game with this basket in hand.

This arrangement includes two tall boys of Molson Canadian, and an array of nuts, pretzels, candy, sourdough nuggets, coffee candy and a Cocoa Crunch bar.

With that variety of goodies, the basket is a "great save" at just $49.99. And if beer and nuts aren't the person's thing, there are plenty of other great snack baskets available on bloomex.ca.

Purchasers must be 25+ years old and Bloomex does not profit off the price of the beer.

Price: $49.99
Ideal for: Birthday, Holidays, "Just Because."

Friday Faves: Our Top 10 Favourite Quotes About Flowers

Welcome to a new feature on the Bloomex Blog, Friday Faves, where we'll list our favourites on a given topic. This week, let's start things off by looking at some of the great quotes about flowers throughout the ages.

Beautiful Endless Love bouquet from
Bloomex.ca

What would we do without flowers? As a gorgeous part of the natural world, and as a natural metaphor, people from all walks of life have espoused on the beauty and meaning of flowers throughout history. From musicians, to painters, to authors, flowers have represented a certain gorgeous purity that increasingly feels lost in the hectic, modern world.

Spoken by the wildly famous as well as the relatively obscure, here's our list of ten favourite flower quotes, compiled largely from BrainyQuote and GoodReads:

10.

“I must have flowers, always, and always.”
― Claude Monet

9.

“The earth laughs in flowers.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

8.

"I love spring flowers: daffodils and hyacinths are the ultimate flower for me. They are the essence of spring."
- Kirsty Gallacher

7.

A weed is no more than a flower in disguise, Which is seen through at once, if love give a man eyes.
- James Russell Lowell

6.

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature.
- Gerard De Nerval

5.

"Earth is a flower and it's pollinating."
- Neil Young

4.

"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and man cannot live without love."
- Max Muller

3.

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower."
- Albert Camus

2.

“A weed is but an unloved flower.”
― Ella Wheeler Wilcox

1.

“One person's weed is another person's wildflower.”
― Susan Wittig Albert

Specialized Flower Bouquet Suggestions for Some Major Canadian Cities

From coast-to-coast, Canada is blessed with beautiful, livable cities. It's something that we pride ourselves on. Each city has some colours that are naturally associated with it.

Allow us to make some suggestions for each of Canada's largest metro areas. These arrangements speak to the history and tradition of each city's history.

Celestial Lilies Bouquet,
perfect for Vancouverites.

Vancouver - Celestial Lilies Bouquet: The orange, white and yellow pays homage to the city's sporting history. $69.95.

Calgary - Crimson Delight: Cow-town loves their red, and this delightful bouquet sums up the city's history nicely. $29.95.

Edmonton - Pure Devotion: "The City of Champions" in Northern Alberta has certainly been devoted to their hometown squads over the decades, and this blue and white bouquet with notes of cream is a tribute to the glory years. $34.99.

Regina/Saskatoon - White Blooming Planter Basket: Show your Saskatchewan pride with this green and white basket, a beautiful  arrangement evocative of the province's rich agricultural history. $45.95.

Winnipeg - Beautiful in Blue:  Blue and white, with a dash of yellow Crysanthemums perfectly sums up Winnipeg's love of their local teams, from the gridiron to the ice.

Blue and White Joy, the ideal
bouquet for Torontonians. 

Hamilton - Sunshine Sunflowers: This arrangement notes this hard-working city's long-lasting infatuation with their sporting pride, while fostering an artsier side with recent gentrification and urban development. $49.95.

Toronto - Blue and White Joy: Canada's largest city has been associated with the colours blue and white, and even the city's flag contains those colours. $84.95.

Ottawa - Signature Arrangement: With red and yellow, our Signature Arrangement perfectly sums up our Nation's Capital. $59.95.

Montreal - Endless Love:  The name of this bouquet certainly represents Montreal's loyalty and devotion to their sports heroes, and red and white carries historical connotations in the city. $84.95.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK (Oct. 14 - Oct. 20): Pink Beauty Basket

This week's Product of the Week is the Pink Beauty Basket.

Does the march to winter have you feeling a bit down? As we see less and less sun and rainy fall days become the norm, it's natural to feel that way.

Flowers can be a source of positive vibes, particularly those with bright colours -- like this week's Product of the Week. Our Pink Beauty arrangement  features an assortment of Roses, Chrysanthemums, Asters and Carnations, set in a lovely basket.

Best of all, this arrangement is very affordable at only $49.95. It makes a great, uplifting gift for anyone whose spirits are sagging. With tones of pink, purple and green, it's sure to brighten up a gloomy fall day and bring a little bit of joy into any room. And if you don't care for the look of this one, there are lots of different basket arrangements to choose from.

Price: $49.95
Size: 11 inches by 14 inches (approx.)
Ideal for: Sympathy, Corporate Gifts, Get Well Soon.

Bloomex Australia Offers Best Prices on Roses Down Under

Bloomex offers the lowest prices on red rose arrangements in Australia.

Bloomex has been a tremendous success in Australia and it's easy to see why when looking at the company's prices compared to the competition. In addition to offering only the best-quality flowers and awesome customer service, the other guys can't compete with our prices. Don't believe us? Have a look at this.

Take a simple arrangement of six long-stem red roses, with no vase included. There are three other major online florists in Australia.

Petals sells the six roses and greenery for $78.50 AUD. Interflora sells the arrangement for $77.50 AUD. And Ready Flowers sells it for $75.00 AUD.

Meanwhile, Bloomex offers six long stem red roses and greenery for $29.95 AUD, a savings of 60% over the lowest-priced competitor.

But it doesn't stop with roses. From popular Gerbera Daisy bouquets to elaborate arrangements, Bloomex's prices routinely blow away the competition.

Why is this? It comes down to the business model. We just wrote about this last week -- albeit about our North American operations -- but the same model largely applies. Have a look here if you'd like to find out more.

Uses and History of the Orchid, Nature's Largest Flower Family

Orchids are one of the more beautiful flowers in the world, though making that generalization may not quite be accurate. They have an astonishing variety of different types and variations, with new ones being cross-bred, invented and discovered all the time.

Phalaenopsis Orchid from Bloomex, and elegant,
modern and trendy decorative flower.

Orchids are able to grow in many climates, owing to their versatility and variation of types. The flowers are used in several walks of life, from food to fragrance, and date back tens of millions of years.

Here are some interesting notes about the history and uses of the orchid.

- There are between about 22,000 and 26,000 different species of orchids, and the orchid family accounts for 6 to 11% of all seed plants. It may be the largest flower family that there is.

- Vanilla, a popular flavouring, is derived from the Vanilla Orchid. While modern vanilla extract is usually derived synthetically, the natural plant is still grown and sold specifically for culinary purposes in some countries.

- The history of the Orchid is currently believed to date back to something between 76 and 100 million years ago, dating back to the Dinosaur era. (Although they may date back even further than that, given recent discoveries that flowers are now thought to have evolved 100 million years earlier than previously thought.)

- Orchids are used in perfumes and aromatherapy applications.

- They have been used for medicinal purposes throughout history, from the Ancient Greeks to modern times as a Chinese medicinal herbal remedy.

An alternative to cakes: FLORAL CAKES

For your next get together, reception, baby shower, or all-around shindig, how about a floral cake?

Bloomex has a selection of six to choose from. These are elegant arrangements that put a new spin on an old classic. While they're not edible, they sure are beautiful, and will liven up the room at any sort of gathering. Plus, they tend to be pleasantly fragrant.

While we love a good cake as much as the next person, consider changing things up with a floral cake for your next party. As we say around here, they're all the fun, and none of the calories. They range in price from $39.99 to $59.99, making them a very affordable decorative option.

Here are a few to have a look at.

 Birthday Wishes
$44.99

Blooming Wishes
$44.95

Flowery Wishes
$39.99

Flowery Wishes
$39.99

Sweet Wishes
$54.99

Scentuous Wishes
$59.99

Why do flowers cost so much? 5 Factors That Drive Up Costs for Traditional Florists

Why are flowers so expensive from local florists? They're a perishable product, and they certainly don't last forever. Flowers are often an emotional-based purchase -- whether they're for a birthday, wedding, anniversary, or 'just because,' the market in North America is just used to paying exhorbinant amounts. But people generally like to make nice gestures,

There are a number of reasons why local florists charge so much; let's explore a bit, go over some of those reasons, and show you why Bloomex is better.

1. Importers

The vast majority of fresh cut flowers sold for use in Canada and the United States are grown in Central and South America, in places like Ecuador, and especially Colombia. Importers arrange transit to North America. The cost of importation and transit means that those costs are passed on to the next step of the buying chain.

2. Wholesalers

Wholesalers (or 'buyers') buy vast amounts of flowers. They are either working on behalf of local flower shops, or have agreements in place for distribution to them. Florists buy bulk amounts of flowers from the wholesalers, but pay more than the wholesaler paid to the importer for the flowers.

3. Florists

The local mom-and-pop florist shop, in turn, needs to make a margin on the amount that they paid to the wholesaler for the flowers. And with a little bit of ribbon, and a bit of type spent on arrangement, those margins can be substantial. Florists take the raw products and turn them into bouquets and arrangements, which, as mentioned, people are used to paying a premium for.

The other consideration is that a majority of local florist operations are affiliated with wire-services -- you know, the big guys that you call on the phone to place an order. Those wire-services essentially farm out the orders to the closest local florists... and, of course, charge the florist a fee for getting the order. More costs passed on to the consumer.

4. Brick-and-mortar operations

Businesses have got to be where the people are, and for many, that means expensive leases or rents in highly populated urban areas. That doesn't come cheap: in smaller cities like Halifax, that can mean about $70 per square foot, and in bigger centres like Vancouver and Toronto, retailers in some areas pay up to $200-$300 per square foot for space. Those costs are burdensome to small businesses, who have to charge their customers more to offset the cost of being in a decent location.

5. Staffing and competition

Say a local florist has two full-time as well as a couple of part-time employees. In quieter months for buying flowers, such as July and August, for example, they're still 'responsible' for those people's livelihoods, regardless of the fact that the floral industry as a whole is prone to huge peaks and deep valleys in terms of the amount of business they see. In a small operation, with a low volume of sales, those costs add up.


So how is Bloomex better? Let's take a look at the ways:

An example of the price difference between
'wire service' florists and Bloomex.

1. Bloomex doesn't employ the use of importers or wholesalers. We buy our flowers directly from the growers, and our position as Canada's biggest florist gives us excellent buying power. There's no one else taking cuts along the way, so we're able to offer lower prices to our customers.

2. Being an online and phone-based operation, Bloomex has no need to maintain extensive storefront space. We own our own production facilities, strategically placed in urban centres throughout the nation, and ship directly to our customers' doors.

3. We have centralized sales and customer service operations, so we don't pay anyone a cut for the blessing of receiving an order. We take the order and we fulfill it, reducing the costs you'd pay through the other guys.

4. With a large volume of sales, our cost of doing business is much lower, in a relative sense, than that of local florists.

These are the reasons that Bloomex is able to offer such great value for customers in Canada, the United States and Australia. Our model is very different -- and it works.

Top 10 Gift Ideas for a Housewarming Party

When your friends or family members move into a new place, it's time to celebrate. Often folks will invite their pals over for some dinner and drinks, to show off the fresh digs. Housewarming parties can be a great way to catch up with the gang, and for the new home or condo owners to show off the results of their hard work and purchase.

It's customary in North America to bring a small gift of some sort that the hosts can either use with the dinner they're serving (if they are) or something that they can use around the house as a decorative item. Food, flowers or drinks make great choices.

Here are our top 10 gift ideas for a housewarming party.




Old Fashioned Cheesecake: 
$44.99
A delicious dessert is always appreciated.

Basket of Mixed Flowers:
$69.95
You can't go wrong with this gorgeous arrangement of multiple types of flowers.

Fruit Harvest: 
$49.95
A fruit basket is a lovely gesture and likely to actually be useful to the recipient.

Funky Bouquet:
$49.95
A vibrant way to brighten up any space, particularly if the homeowners haven't gotten around to painting the walls yet.

Peanut Butter Cookies:
$19.95
Delectable cookies are perfect for the new homeowners to snack on.

Phalaenopsis Orchid:
$59.95
A trendy, decorative piece for those whose tastes veer toward the modern.

Purely Orchids Bouquet:
$105.99
Pure elegance. 

Sweet Memories Gift Basket:
$27.49
A great, affordable gift basket that's sure to make a great impression.

White Centrepiece:
$54.99
This beautiful centrepiece is perfect for the winter season and can be used the night it's given for the dinner party.

Wine and Cheese Basket:
$59.99
The perfect housewarming gift, traditional and affordable. 

A Thanksgiving Flower Idea

Though it's still a month off in the United States, Canadians will celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend, with the big day taking place on October 14, 2013.

If you're scrambling for flower ideas, allow us to offer up the following: our Glorious Autumn Combo Special. This beautiful, rustic bouquet contains a stunning mix of Sunflowers, Gerbera Daisies, a Rose, Daisy Spray Chrysanthemums and Carnations in the colours of the season. Best of all, it includes a free vase and a greeting card.

Bloomex delivers to nearly every part of the country so you can be sure your flowers will arrive fresh and on-time. Here's a photo of the bouquet, which along with the vase and greeting card, goes for just $39.99 for a limited time.

Want to find out more? Here's a link to the Product Page where you can purchase it, if you'd like. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

5 Fanciful Facts About the Daisy

Daisies are a wildly popular flower. While we generally think of the classic white daisy when discussing this flower, it belongs to the same family as Sunflowers and Asters, and the Daisy itself has an incredible amount of variations. Gerbera Daisies have become an increasingly popular choice for fresh cut flower bouquets in recent times, particularly as part of vibrant wedding arrangements.

Classic Yellow & White Daisy Bouquet

Here are five interesting facts about the history of the much-beloved daisy.

- Daisies are traditionally used to convey a sense of innocence, or sometimes, a child-like sense of purity.

- Daisies close up in the dark (at night) and open in the morning; it's thought that the flower received its name as a shortening of "Day's Eye" in reference to this. And because of it's resemblance to an eye, it was thought to be an effective eye treatment.

- The oldest record of daisies are thought to be from stone carvings from Ancient Egypt, around 3000 BC.

- It's likely that the earliest Daisies evolved about 50-60 million years back.

- It was used for medicinal purposes by the Egyptians, as well as throughout the middle ages in England. King Henry VIII was a fan of eating them, as they were thought to cure stomach pain.

Get Ready for Fall and Thanksgiving With Bloomex

Well, it seems as if the weather is finally starting to cool off and the leaves are changing colour here, which has us excited about fall.

Autumn Glory bouquet

Canadian Thanksgiving is this coming weekend and we wanted to let you know about our array of products, flowers, centrepieces and baskets available for your big family gathering. Whatever your gathering involves -- families, friends, football, turkey (we hope!) -- a touch of decoration will help put it over the top. Using the warm rustic colours of the season is advised to add a festive flair to the proceedings, and Bloomex has plenty to offer in that regard. Let's get caught up, shall we?

First, here's a few lines from our press release from PRLog.

Bloomex has introduced specialized products in celebration of the big day in Canada. For example, there's the Burst of Autumn Centrepiece, featuring shades of rustic reds, oranges and lively yellows. Included are an assortment of Gerbera Daisies, roses, Snapdragons, Lilies and Chrysanthemums, accented with fresh greens and a pair of candles reaching out of the middle.

And Bloomex has also introduced special Designers' Collection arrangements just in time for the autumn season. The Designers' Collection puts the choices into Bloomex's talented designers hands, which could work very well for someone looking to take one more thing off their plate as Thanksgiving approaches. There are four models, priced from $25 to $75 with each containing beautiful mixes of flowers.

Bloomex has added almost 30 different products to its Thanksgiving page...

Now, from our Pinterest page:  Some Thanksgiving ideas, and some less specific Fall-styled bouquets.

Not on Pinterest yet? Don't worry, we've got a nice gallery of fall bouquets up on Facebook as well.

Meanwhile, if you're getting married, here are some lovely bridal bouquets with shades of orange and red for a classic Autumn look.

Whatever you choose, we hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving this autumn season.

PRODUCT OF THE WEEK (Oct. 7 - Oct. 13): Friday "Only" Rose Special

This week's Bloomex product of the week is our Friday "Only" Rose Special.

Roses maintain a special place in the hearts of many people, being the most consistently popular flower that we give to each other. With this gorgeous arrangement of a dozen of them, it's easy to see why.

Because roses are so popular, we offer a line of rose bouquets that are half-price for delivery on Friday. It's an ideal way to get the weekend started off on the right foot.

This particular arrangement features a dozen long-stem roses of mixed colours. And while most of our bouquets in the "Friday Special" line are half-off, this one's priced even lower, offered for $19.99 -- down from its regular price of $59.99.

It all adds up to a great deal for customers, and a thrifty and thoughtful way to work your way into the heart of that special someone.

Price: $19.99
Size: 12 mixed roses
Ideal for: Love & Romance, Saying Sorry, Birthdays, Anniversary

Bloomex Australia Is Aces!

One of the great things about Bloomex is that in addition to serving Canada, we proudly serve the United States and Australia.

Australia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and Bloomex is happy to be able to serve the great blokes and sheilas (ahem, brush up on your Australian slang) of the great nation. Bloomex's product lines in Australia include many of the same or similar gorgeous mixed bouquets and gift baskets that we feature here in North America. But Bloomex Australia also features specialty Australian flowers and other products specific to Oz, and is very popular in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Canberra.

We're working on getting the Australian site's Twitter and Facebook presences up and running, so give us a look and a follow if you're visiting us down under.

'Til then, hooroo!

Fun & Uplifting Balloon Bouquets

Balloons date back centuries. The earliest known existence of balloon-like objects are said to be medieval court jesters inflating animal entrails and twisting them into "amusing" shapes. Yuck! Thankfully, those days are long gone. In 1824, the rubber balloon was invented by Professor Michael Farraday, and a novelty revolution was born.

By the early 20th century, balloons were available to general consumers, but it wasn't until the 1930s that companies began to experiment with novelty-type balloons (prior to that, balloons were usually cigar-shaped, many of which were intended for self-assembly.)

Balloons have become a necessity at any sort of party, and Bloomex has all the options you'll need to express sentiment with our fun and fantastic balloon bouquets.

All of these 'bouquets' are $19.99 for four, and $24.99 for six. Click the bouquet names to go to the product pages:



 HAPPY BIRTHDAY

A colourful arrangement of six balloons, three of which have "Happy Birthday" with accompanying graphics printed on. A perfect play for their special day!

IT'S A BOY! / IT'S A GIRL!
What a nice gesture for the birth of a special little guy or girl. Send these blue or pink balloon bouquets for a lovely welcome to the world.


I LOVE YOU
This is an excellent way to express love by thinking outside of the box. Comes with three heart shaped balloons and three circular ones. Wonderful to send instead of chocolate and flowers, or as an accompaniment.

CONGRATULATIONS
Whether it's a job promotion, a graduation or anything else, these Congratulations balloons are sure to send a smile on to the face of the recipient. Three of the balloons feature Congratulations and a star design printed on it. 

GET WELL SOON 
If you know someone that's feeling down, or has injured themselves or is sick, send this bouquet to lift their spirits. Features three "Get Well Soon" balloons mingled with three orange-gold coloured balloons for an uplifting appearance.

HAPPY FACE
Whatever the occassion, you can't go wrong with this classic design.