At Breen’s Flowers we are so thankful for our hard-working staff, both at Thanksgiving and all year round. If it weren’t for these individuals that make up our successful team we would not be able to bring you the freshest and brightest flowers around. Our hard-working growers and farmers, our industrious sales staff, artistic designers and professional delivery drivers all work hard together to make sure your floral arrangement is the freshest and most beautiful possible.
As we approach Thanksgiving, Breen’s Florist is asking ourselves, what does a modern Thanksgiving look like?
We cherish this holiday maybe more than any other. The way it captures our collective gratitude and makes an event out of it. The way it relies on family and friends gathered together, eating home-cooked food and sharing stories. These are the aspects of the holiday that will never change, even as so many of us are putting a modern spin on how it’s done overall.
There’s no better way to get excited for Fall than by immersing yourself in a project that captures its spirit. And what better project than the design of your Fall table? Whether you’re doing some autumn entertaining, updating the decor of your dining room for the season or looking ahead to how you’ll style Thanksgiving, creating a beautiful seasonal tablescape starts with the centerpiece. Read on to find Breen’s top tips for tablescaping.
Fall texture–is there anything better?
We’re talking layered, spicy scents and nubby, cozy blankets. A wreath abundant with autumn leaves, branches and pine cones, a mantel laden with candles. Breen’s Florist knows that Fall decorating is about enticing the senses, filling your home with things that not only please the eye, but that appeal to smell and touch. It’s the latter that we’re focusing on today, and in the form of a rich, organic-feeling floral design.
Halloween here at Breen’s Florist, and we hope you don’t scare easily because we’ve got some delightfully frightful designs in the shop. Care to craft a bewitching table this year? Looking to beguile that special someone? Want to give the little pretties a little something fun? Then come a little closer and take a peek, we dare you.
Put this on the company calendar: October 16 is Bosses Day, an occasion to honor those who mentor, inspire and otherwise guide us at work. Our fearless leaders are often undersung, so National Bosses Day is a unique opportunity to ensure that they know just how appreciated they are. In fact, it was an appreciative employee who first proposed the occasion in 1958, paving the way for a pleasant workplace celebration that we here at Breen’s Florist have just the thing for.
Breen’s Florist – Changing Seasons
It’s 95 degrees outside, humidity snuggles in at approximately 50% and we are just a few days away from … you guessed it …FALL!
In as much as fall is a welcomed and beloved seasonal change synonymous with football, leaves changing color and lower temperatures; in Houston and surrounding areas this season is more of an idea, or, a suggestion. Heck, it’s an outright fantasy most days! In fact, it will still be hot, sticky and sweaty well into the next weeks (and maybe months) while much of the nation settles into this wonderful the-colors-are-a-changing time of year.
So what’s a fall-lover to do if Houston is your home? Here at Breen’s Florist we have very good news for you – not so good for your overworked home and auto air conditioners per se – but good for you.
Breen’s Florist – Autumn Day
Since the season is perhaps most cherished for the leaves changing into their autumn best, we have many ways to bring fall foliage and flowers directly into your homes, offices and social events. Best of all, Breen’s Fall Collection designs are replete in the coloration and textures that only fall can claim. You and your recipients will instantly fall in love (pun intended) with the warm and earthy color palettes of rust, red, cinnamon, pumpkin, gold, cranberry and chocolate brown that are highlighted in our arrangements; Fall Brights, Warm Amber, Changing Seasons, Wild About Autumn, Fall Crock and Amber Lights, to name a few. Breen’s is already receiving bi-weekly shipments of the most gorgeous leaves, branches and fall flower varieties that sooth the soul and spark a re-energized creativity in us all.
If you long for cooler temps and changing colors outside like most, then we suggest keeping the AC on for now and treating yourself and loved ones immediately to one of our many stunning fall inspired arrangements. After all, you don’t have to travel up north to experience the powerful connection to Mother Nature this time of year when it can be simply be delivered to your own front door. Call Breen’s today and let the fall begin!
We recently took a look at some of the surprising meanings different cultures associate with flowers. Today, we’ll be continuing this series with a look at some of the most enduring flowers from over the years. With so many different subtle meanings, you can get a lot across with a gift of a bouquet. Do you have someone you’d like to send a sweet surprise to? Call Breen’s Florist in Houston today to get started!
Just about everyone has positive feelings about sunflowers. So beloved are they that it is said when Spaniards first arrived in North America, they believed sunflowers were made of pure gold. As one of the first crops grown in America, sunflowers have become a staple of classic art depicting the happiness of life on the prairie. Many people feel sunflowers symbolize longevity, adoration, and loyalty thanks to their hearty nature.
Romans were the first to introduce daffodils to Britain, as they believed they had medicinal properties. China and Wales both view daffodils as a symbol of good luck, whereas France believes they represent hope. As one of the most enduring symbols of the coming of spring, daffodils are also seen as an icon of new life and forgiveness as we shed the winter overgrowth and begin anew.
Thanks to its lush blooms, many people adore azaleas. With origins stretching back to ancient China, azaleas have become a symbol for womanhood in many different countries. They are often associated with feelings of softness and caring for someone. This makes them an ideal choice for anniversary gifts and wedding arrangements. Azaleas are also often given as a gift of gratitude.
Another one of the most enduring flowers throughout the world, lotus flowers are used in art and literature for a variety of reasons. Buddhists believe that the lotus is the representation of the purity of the body, speech, and mind. This has led to its depiction in many works of art featuring Buddha. Throughout many other Asian countries, the lotus represents elegance, beauty, grace, and perfection. If you want to give someone the gift of enlightenment, do it with lotus flowers.
With a fragrance that made them seem magical to Celtics, the lilac is a beautiful flower that has had many different meanings over the years. When a lilac was given to someone in the Victorian Age, it was meant as a reminder of old love. This led to the practice of widows wearing lilacs during their mourning period. Russians believed that holding a sprig of lilac over a newborn would bring them wisdom as they grew up. Thanks to its peak bloom time, many people heavily associate lilacs with the Easter holiday. The color of lilac will also change their meaning, as white lilacs are a sign of purity, violet lilacs represent spirituality, and light purple represents a first love. Though there are many other meanings that can change depending on the color of the lilac, they are most often connected with feelings of love and romance throughout their history.
When you want to tell someone you love them, few things get the message across better than flowers. Whether you’re shopping for a surprise, an anniversary, a wedding, or a birthday, say it with a bouquet of flowers. Not sure which flowers to pick out for your gift? That’s not a problem. Call Breen’s Florist in Houston today and we’ll be happy to help you find the perfect collection.
Over centuries of civilization, many different cultures have attributed symbolism with flowers. Depending on the country, one flower could have a meaning that is contrary to what it means somewhere else. If you’re thinking about giving someone flowers, it’s a good idea to brush up on the symbolism attached to specific flowers so you can get the perfect message across to the recipient. Today, we’re going to begin our look at the different surprising meanings associated with flowers. Want to surprise a loved one with a bouquet of their favorite flowers? Call Breen’s Florist in Houston today to learn how to give someone you care about the perfect gift.
Potentially the most versatile of all flowers, the range of meanings attached to roses is wide, connected with their color variance. Depending on the color of the rose, it will have a different hidden meaning, which may have changed over the years. One of the most enduring messages is that of a red rose, representing love and romance. White roses are often used in weddings as a symbol of innocence and purity, as well as fresh beginnings. Looking for a way to say thank you? Peach roses are a great way to express your gratitude, while pink roses are often associated with admiration and joy. You can combine different roses into a bouquet to create a more complete message, mixing and matching different colors with different meanings. In a previous blog, we went in-depth with roses.
The meanings attributed to lilies span thousands of years and countries a world apart. Stretching back to ancient Greece, Egypt, Rome, and parts of East Asia, lilies were a sign of death and sorrow, so they were used in funerals to send the departed off into the afterlife. This was different from Christianity, which used lilies as an emblem representing the Virgin Mary. While they are still thought of mostly as a sympathy flower, some have taken them to be a good symbol for life and hope for the future. How you view lilies may differ from others, but it’s sure to be said they are beautiful in their subtlety.
With their origins stretching back to China, chrysanthemums gained quite the reputation. Through their use in everything from medication to treat headaches to an ingredient in salads or drinks, they carried a connotation of the power of life. The same can’t be said for when they’re in Italy, where they’re a gift you give to an enemy as a great insult. Depending on the country, chrysanthemums could represent grief, death, friendship, love, or happiness. Be sure you know how your recipient will interpret this gift before sending over a bouquet.
A flower that has much clearer meanings across the globe, most people view them as a symbol of love. That belief is so strong that even its scientific name — Dianthus caryophyllus — is roughly translated to “flower of love.” Just like roses, carnations can mean more specific things depending on their color, with white acting as a symbol of good luck, while pink represents a mother’s love instead of romance.
Another flower that is used to show love, tulips were first harvested all the way back in the 10th century in Persia. From there, they would become a symbol of royalty, and many poets would use them as a topic of their work. In those poems, they would represent a declaration of love and feelings of passion. White tulips can symbolize forgiveness, while yellow tulips are an icon of cheerful feelings.
With so many unique flowers with varied meanings around the world, you can get a lot across in a collection of them. In fact, you could tell an entire story using a bouquet like a poet. We’re going to be continuing this look at hidden meanings of flowers in the near future, so keep an eye on this blog for more. Do you have a special someone you want to tell how you feel? Do it with flowers from Breen’s Florist in Houston! If you have questions about the message you want to get across, give us a call. We’ll be more than happy to help you pick out the perfect selection to say exactly what you want to say. We hope to hear from you soon!
Okay Houston, it’s time to fill in the blank at the end of the following sentence. The first day of school for students, teachers, administrators and parents’ alike _______s. Hint: two syllables, seven letters and rhymes with scatters – answer: matters.
OMG does it ever! This one day out of 365 sets into motion critically important transitions that impact routines, relationships, and rules for learning over the course of the next two semesters. Mathematically speaking (and with a shout out to lessons in probability), chances are you know people who are going back to school in some capacity, and therefore gearing up for day and week one.
With this in mind, have you thought of sending them a flower arrangement or blooming plant to not only commemorate their next chapter in learning or teaching, but perhaps more importantly, as an expression of encouragement or appreciation for what’s ahead? The global floral industry teaches us time and again that precious moments like these reserved for meaningful connection and heart-to-heart communications when we say “’good luck,” “I hope it’s your best year yet,” “we are so proud of you,” and “you can do this,” resonate even stronger in our hearts and minds when done so with flowers.
Flower arrangements have the unique ability to elevate our words and thoughts
Why? “Because tangible acknowledgements, like flowers and plants, of milestone moments in our academic journeys and career paths evoke multisensory reactions and memories,” explains Breen’s Florist’s owner and local business leader Marcia Wilson.
Tell a teacher “thank you for sharing your love of learning with our students” and the compliment will likely be appreciated. Tell that teacher the same thing on a card attached to one dozen red roses and she or he will enjoy that sentiment longer as it sits proudly in a desktop vase. As time passes, future visuals and scents of red roses may trigger wonderful memories of that gesture of appreciation said with the simplicity and beauty of flowers. On a deeper level, it may also conjure a memory warmly associated with a love of teaching that did not go unnoticed! Wilson adds, “Flower arrangements and plants have the unique ability to elevate our words and thoughts into something visual, symbolic and extra special that leaves an instant and lasting impression.”
If you are looking for some inspiration on what to send to a teacher or student in your life we recommend some of our back-to-school favorite designs you’ll find on the Breen’s website. Just imagine the joy to be experienced when arrangements like Making the Grade, Extra Credit or Wild About Learning is sitting on a desktop. Any of these options are a great way to send someone back to school with the power of the sentiment.
If you enjoyed reading our “Back to School 2018” blog then thank a teacher – here at Breen’s we all remain indebted and thankful for ours.