Clare Florist Blog

Thankfully the weather is hotting up again!
It's so great to come to work and everyone be in such a good mood because they have been out in the sunshine in the evening.
Endorphins are natures free feel good drug!.
The number one way to release endorphins is exercise which we have all being doing as we are all avid cyclists.
Certain foods can release endorphins, these are usually stimulating foods such as hot peppers and wasabi.
Sending or receiving flowers makes both people feel great, it's nice to give but its great to receive. Why not send some Summer Cheer to make you both feel happy.

It goes without saying that life is what we make of it. Endorphins are natures way of letting us know how life is supposed to feel.
By choosing lifestyles and attitudes that carry opportunity for positive endorphins release we can bring more good feelings into daily lives.
Feel good, get out, be active, eat well, have fun but most of all be HAPPY !!!!

At Clare Florist we are always trying to give you what you want on our website. One of the things you keep asking us for is an easy way to send a greeting card without flowers.
So we now have a great range of floral cards that you can select and have your own personal message handwritten inside.
Great for all those times you suddenly remember an anniversary or birthday and don't have time to pop out of the office.
You can place your order up till 5pm and your card will be sent out that evening by Royal Mail first class post, so it should arrive the next day along with your regular post.
Here are a couple of designs, if there are anymore your think we need please don't hesitate to let the team know.
Just drop us an email at queries@clareflorist.co.uk

Birthday Greetings - blank inside for your own message.

Lavender Fields - blank inside for your own message.

Wild Flowers - blank inside for your own message.

Last week we successfully launched our new Beautiful British Bouquet. We have spent a lot of time early on this year speaking to small growers throughout England that we can source some pretty garden blooms.
We have created a bouquet that will change throughout the summer season as different flowers come into season.

This week the bouquet will include delphiniums, sweet scented stocks and chrysanthemums.
This weekend is Midsummers day - already I know! So we will be attending the annual late night opening at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh where you can enjoy the gardens late in the evening whilst listening to music and some magical storytelling!

As you can imagine we always have a steady flow of flower orders for new babies. But what has amazed us recently is the volume of special request bouquets we have had for twin babies!
One of my own friends has also had baby twin boys last month. Amazingly Arran (the little one) and Dylan were born either side of midnight so even have different birthdays!
So we had to send two bouquets of blue flowers and two perfect little teddies for them both to cuddle into.

New baby boy flower bouquet

Along with two perfectly soft cuddly teddy bears!

We have had another two lucky winners that entered our free prize draw who were delighted to receive a fabulous bouquet worth £50.00
The lucky winner in April was June Bird from Cullompton in Devon and in May Ellen Sparkes from Exmouth.
Both ladies received bouquets similar to our new Cottage Garden bouquet from our recently launched Summer Flowers.

The annual Taste festival is doing it's rounds around the country. We went at the weekend and had a fabulous day out in the glorious sunshine.
There were loads of mouth watering dishes to choose from and I noticed lots of the chefs were using edible flowers as garnish.
Here we have compiled a list of flowers that are available just now either in the garden, forrest or even amongst our own bouquets.
So once you have looked at the flowers you can eat them!
Aliums - The flowers are stronger flavoured than the leaves, great in egg dishes such as omelette's.

Carnations - sweetish spice flavour suitable for desserts and salads.

Chervil - Anise flavour, suitable for fish dishes.

Chrysanthemums - slightly bitter, peppery flavour. Suitable for salads and infusions. Blanch petals before use.

Gladiolus - Very bland flavour. Suitable for sweet and savoury stuffing's and petals in salads.

Honeysuckle - Sweet honey flavour suitable as a garnish for desserts.

Lavender - Sweet flavour as a garnish with custards and cakes.

Lilac - Highly floral, slightly bitter lemony flavour suitable for salads.

Nasturtiums - Sweet, peppery flavour great for salads.

Roses - The flavour depends on the type and colour, but generally fruity. All roses are edible. Suitable for garnishing desserts and salads, excellent in syrups and jellies.
 
Sunflower - Bitter-sweet flavour. Use like chrysanthemums. Can also be picked before the flower bud opens and steamed when they are reminiscent of artichokes.

Being the last holiday weekend I thought it would be a good idea to get out and about.
Here are some great photos that we took whilst on a trip up north.
The amazing Eilean Donan Castle on the main road up to the Isle of Skye, perhaps one of the most photographed castles in the country, not a bad shot I think!
 
What a fantastic sunset looking over to the Island of Harris.

There are seven main energy centres (chakras) of the body. These chakras are like spirals of energy, each one relating to the others.
Colour therapy aims to balance and enhance our body's energy centres/chakras and stimulate our body's own healing process.
We can use colours in many different ways throughout our life.
Colours in our homes and offices, in the fashions we wear or even a small piece of jewellery.
Adding just a splash of colour with a vase of flowers could even bring that sparkle of colour to your living area.
If you need to improve a certain chakra why not try adding a vase of flowers to your desk so you can look at it all day and see if things improve?
I have listed the seven main chakras along with their meaning and a suitable bouquet that would enhance that particular energy.
Violet / Purple - Governs the CROWN chakra at the top of the head.
Problems can be depression, dizziness, confusion and many mental disorders.
We recommend our Cool Shades bouquet of fresh lime greens, purple lilies and summer purple album's.
 
Indigo - The third eye, the brow in the centre of the forehead.
Problems can be tension headaches, migraine, visual defects, sinus problems and ear problems.
We recommend our Cottage Garden bouquet of soft shades of purple, blues and limes.

Blue - The throat chakra.
Problems can be thyroid, anorexia, asthma, bronchitis and sore throats.
We recommend our Blue Flower Collection which will be a selection of the most seasonal fresh blue flowers available on the day.

Green - The Heart Chakra
Problems with the heart or even emotional problems of the heart.
Our Lime Flower Collection will have an interesting collection fresh lime blooms.

Yellow - Solar Plexus, situated below the ribs.
Problems associated with diabetes, liver disease and gall stones.
Our vibrant Sunflower bouquet may the perfect antidote!

Orange - Sacral Chakra in the lower abdomen.
Problems can be pre-menstrual, Irritable bowel syndrome and prostrate.
Our fabulous Rose and Freesia bouquet is packed full of visual vitamin C!

Red - The base chakra at the base of the spine.
Problems can be constipation, cold fingers and toes, hip problems and feet.
Go on Love yourself and send yourself our amazing bouquet of twenty lush red roses.

Summer is almost here - we hope!

Here at Clare Florist we have been working on a new vibrant Summer collection to tone with all the new bright colours that are available in fashion and interior designs.

To tone with the classical palette of more vivid saturated colours that remind us of warm sunsets and beach blues we have our Summer Cheer bouquet.

For a chic Summer look we have Twist of Lime, reminding us of hot Summer days and a refreshing glass of Rum Mojito enjoyed whilst sitting in the garden.

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Tomorrow is the 1st of May and marks the beginning of Summer.
In Edinburgh we celebrate with the Beltane Fire Festival at Calton Hill with over 12,000 people attending to watch the dancers, drummers and fire eaters to name a few.
The name derives from the Gaelic-Celtic word meaning bright / sacred fire. It was held to mark the blossoming of spring and the pastoral event of moving livestock to their summer grazing.
It was a celebration of the fertility of the land and their animals. The main traditional element which was common to all Beltane festivals was the fire which gave it its name.
All the fires in the community would be put out and new. sacred "need Fire" was lit by the village head or spiritual leader. The animals would be driven through or between them.
It was believed that the smoke and flame of the fires would purify the herd, protecting them in the year to come and ensuring a good number of offspring.
The villagers would then take pieces of the fire to their homes and relight their hearths, dance clockwise around the bonfires to ensure good portents for them and their families.

Celebrations begin at sundown on 30th April , if it's possible stay up all night long with your partner or lover and face the sunrise with a smile. Beltain dew is traditionally perfect for making people (women) beautiful; it's said to be particularly potent if gathered from an oak tree. Pause for a moment and enjoy the sounds of the birds, enjoy the morning scents and feel the new Summer's energy flow through you brightening your spirit - even dance together.

Sunrise is 5.25am Friday morning so you will have to set your alarm early !

Here are some images from last years Beltane Fire Festival in Edinburgh.