Fall Decorating Ideas with Flowers

It's officially autumn! In most of Canada, there is nip in the air and the tree leaves are starting to display their vivid colours. Most of us are thinking more about being indoors and entertaining friends and families. With Thanksgiving fast approaching, we are all looking for ideas to decorate our tables and homes with some beautiful fall looks.

Here are a few easy ways to beautify your home for fall, using any Autumn Collection bouquet. The big advantage to buying a professional bouquet is that the Bloomex florists have done most of the work for you—so you get amazing results with little guesswork or effort!

Autumn Rustic 

First, select a beautiful fall-themed bouquet. Click to check out our special Autumn Collection (starting at only $19.99) for a list of bouquets that would work perfectly with any project : Autumn Collection Bouquets.

Burst of Autumn

 Next, select your project, have fun, and enjoy the rave reviews!  

1. Pumpkin Vase 

Select a medium-sized pumpkin, and a cylindrical container of choice that is watertight. Place container on top of pumpkin, trace around it, and cut out the top. Scoop out and clean interior of pumpkin. Place container inside, add water and flower food. 

Add the bouquet of choice and presto, you have a wonderful statement piece for your table or mantle this Thanksgiving, or place outside on your porch to welcome your guests. You can add extra touches like mini scarecrows or branches if you like.

If you want to decorate for Hallowe'en, add some fun pieces from the dollar or craft store, such as bats, black cats, spider webs, or witches.








 2. Fall Wreath with Real Flowers.

Pick up a grapevine wreath and some floral wire at any craft store location, and select one of Bloomex's beautiful fall bouquets.The flowers and other natural items have been carefully selected by professionals to work together perfectly, so you have less effort for spectacular results!
Hang the wreath above your mantle or in your dining room before a special celebration, or place a medium-sized wreath on your holiday table with a glass candle holder in the centre for a natural and beautiful centerpiece.

3. Traditional Cornucopia

You can find a woven cornucopia at most craft stores this time of the season. Pick up some floral foam at the same time. Order and  receive your autumn bouquet of choice.

Cut the foam as needed and dampen it with water. Insert the foam into the cornucopia. Insert the flowers from your autumn bouquet into the foam, to help secure them and keep them moist and fresh. Place the cornucopia on a tray or a round plate if you are concerned about any water dripping from the foam.

This is sure to be a spectacular centerpiece for your table or let it occupy a place of honour on a cocktail table or mantle.

4. Twig Vase
For the more crafty types, make a vase using twigs.
Find, clean and dry a large tin can (as from canned fruits or vegetables) or other cylindrical container  that is watertight.
Collect some small sticks or twigs during your next nature walk.
Wrap the can with brown craft paper and secure it with glue, using a glue gun.
Use the glue gun to glue the twigs vertically, all around the can.
Tie a ribbon over the twigs. Fill with water and add flower food.
Set in your fall bouquet of choice, and enjoy the rave reviews!




Get your kids involved, for a fun family project! That way you will enjoy the process, as well as the results. And your guests will be raving about any of these wonderful fall flower decorations. 

Making Grandparents Happy, One Bouquet at a Time

It was Grandparents Day this past Sunday, September 7. Millions of people flocked to various retirement residences and private homes, tributes in hand, to visit their senior family members. Millions more picked up the phone for a loving phone call; others sent lovely bouquets of flowers and thoughtful gifts.

Um…maybe not.

Did you forget? If so, you’re not alone. Not everyone even knows about Grandparents Day, much less celebrates it, yet this holiday began in 1995 and honours some of our most valuable society members. In the most recent survey, Canada had over 6.7 million grandparents, with each having an average of 4.7 grandchildren (Statistics Canada 2001). Of Canadians aged sixty-five or older, 80% of women and 74% of men are grandparents. 

Today’s grandparent often ends up caring for young children while parents work or helping smooth a transition for children post divorce. The grandparent-grandchild bond is second in importance only to the parent-child bond (Kornhaber 1996). Grandparents are a repository of memory and experience for their individual family and for society as a whole. It's important to recognize them.

This year Bloomex reached out to various retirement residences across Canada with a simple offer to provide some lovely complimentary bouquets to residents for Grandparents Day. The retirement residence could either name some residents who could benefit from some added cheer this year, or use the bouquets as prizes. After scores of emails and phone calls, it was clear that the holiday was being treated with varying degrees of involvement (one home had no idea it was a holiday).

The majority of the residences did reply quickly and with enthusiasm. Some took the extra time to organize raffles to help celebrate the event, or could immediately name residents who had gone through hard times recently. It became clear that even a small tribute, and the demonstration that somebody remembered and somebody cared, made a big difference in the lives of these special seniors. 

A big thank you to the wonderful administrators and caring staff that took us up on the offer and went out of their way to organize the donation and to brighten the day of their residents. After giving so much to the next generations, these grandparents deserve some recognition and more than a little love given back. And the further good news is that you don’t have to wait for Grandparents Day to tell a family member how much they mean to you. There is never a wrong day for that.

Here are some of the highlights, generously provided by some of the participating residences:

Alta Vista Retirement Residence

“It was a wonderful donation, thank you!”

 Jenna Lacharity

Community Marketing Manager

Alta Vista Retirement Center

Ottawa, ON

 “The flowers arrived!  We had a draw amongst all the residents at breakfast and our two lucky winners were absolutely delighted!  Thank you so much for bringing a smile to the faces of our residents.”

Kind regards, Barbara

Amica at Apenwoods, Calgary, Alberta

“Yes the bouquets arrived on Friday just after lunch. I spoke with the three (designated) residents Friday afternoon, and assisted one resident with getting the flowers out of the shipper box. All residents were extremely happy (two of the residents cried; they were that happy.)

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making these three residents happy. They were full of smiles all weekend. Thank You.”

Lorne Taylor | Hospitality Manager

Atria Retirement Canada | Churchill Manor

Edmonton, AB

 

All three photos courtesy of Rutherford Heights Retirement Residence: An ALL Seniors Care Living Center

"Grandparents day was a huge success for us. We did raffle the two bouquets and the receiving residents were very thankful. Again, thank you for contributing”.

Kim Green

Rutherford Heights Retirement Residence An ALL Seniors Care Living Center

Edmonton, AB

Let's hope that next year, there are even more grandparents being remembered!