Affordable Getaways
Destination weddings are definitely rising in status. During this slow economy, brides are getting creative when planning their weddings. Besides having the venue and accommodations tied into one, a destination wedding is a perfect way to get a luxury wedding on a tight budget.

While many still follow traditional settings, popularity is growing in how destination weddings are bringing new styles and traditions.  Depending on where you want to go, having a destination can help with choosing colors, themes and food for your reception.

Things to Consider

• Do you want only immediate family and friends to come with you, or a bigger wedding party?
• Can all of your guests manage to pay for the traveling costs?
• Do you want to give a second reception back home for friends and family who could not travel with you?

In Iowa, there are several beautiful and unique venues for outdoor weddings or places for a unique reception while creating that “getaway” feel:

• Living History Farms
• Prairie Meadows
• Blank Park Zoo
• White Oak Vineyards
• Des Moines Botanical Center

For more helpful tips in planning your wedding day (and shower), make sure to download our free Wedding Days ebook – only from Boesen the Florist.

Billy Balls

Billy Balls aka Billy Buttons or Craspedia are fun trendy new addition to add to your Wedding day floral arrangements. These unexpected blooms add pop and flair with their brilliant yellow color, round shape and texture. They can be incorporated into a rustic or mod theme. Recently, it has become very popular to use Billy Ball flowers in the groom and groomsmen boutonnieres especially when paired with a softer colored vest or flower.

These flowers are a great addition to your wedding day, especially for all those brides planning a grey and yellow color scheme or something different with the sunshiny hue.

Arrangement Additions 

Don’t be surprised to see some bouquets made up of more than flowers. Brides will continue to add bling to their blooms by incorporating brooches into their bouquets.  You’ll also see a lot of pearls and lace as well as feathers, natural earthy greens, fruit, grasses, ferns and herbs.

Very Vintage

The vintage look and feel is continuing to inspire everything wedding from rings to dresses, photos, centerpieces, and flowers. Brides are pairing rustic and feminine by choosing soft colors like ivory, cream, white, and light pink in big, full blooms such as hydrangeas, anemones, gardenias, and peonies. Many are incorporating the trend through use of burlap and mason jars.

Royally Inspired

Brides across the globe are still in awe of Kate and Will’s big day. No doubt their royal celebration will be a huge influence for many brides for years to come.  The royal couple’s neutral/natural wedding color scheming is also be emulated. Some brides are giving a special nod to Kate and her royal style by choosing dresses for their big day with long sleeves and lace detailing. The latest edition of the Twilight film has also inspired many brides to choose long sleeves for their big day.  Who would of thought brides would be getting inspired by a vampire movie?

Color Combos and Popular Patterns

• Black and White
• Gray and Yellow
• Aqua and Orange
• Tangerine
• Grapefruit
• Neutrals (including rustic detailing such as burlap)
• Bright Color Combinations
• Ombre
• Chevron

Mother’s Day is traditionally a beautiful Spring Sunday when we take the time to focus on Mom, taking her out for a nice brunch or dinner, giving her gifts and flowers, and letting her “take it easy” for the day.  But in the over 40 foreign countries who also observe some sort of “Mother’s Day”, the traditions can be very different!

• Argentina – While “Dia de la Madre” is observed in most of South America in May, it’s celebrated the second Sunday of October in this southern-hemisphere country, most likely so it coincides with the traditional springtime ‘motherhood’ festivities.  Argentinian mothers are lavished with dinners, cards poems written in school by the children, and a day of their husbands cleaning, cooking and looking after the family.
• Japan – “Haha no hi” was very popular by the 1930′s in Japan, but was banned during World War II, along with most every western custom.  In about 1949 that the celebration started again, mostly to comfort those who had lost their sons in the War.  Children entered drawings of their mothers into a contest.  Today, Mother’s Day is held the second Sunday of May, with children giving their moms red carnations, scarves, handbags and handkerchiefs, and making traditional dishes their mothers taught them to cook.
• Yugoslavia – Mother’s Day here is tied to a three-day series of holidays for the whole family.  Children’s Day (Dechiyi Dan) is the first, three days before Christmas.  The Sunday after this holiday is Mother’s Day (Materitse) and the Sunday following that is Father’s Day (Ochichi).  While these sound like sweet holidays, on each day the “honoree” is bound until they provide something; the children must promise to be good, the mother must give the family treats and candy, and the father much promise more lavish gifts and clothing that are usually the family’s Christmas gifts.
• France – With the birthrate at an alarmingly low rate in the late 1800s and early 1900s, France implemented La Fete de Meres on December 19, 1920.  Medals were awarded to mothers of large families, with the coveted gold medal going to those with 8 or more children!  Inspired by American soldiers in World War II and their immense outpouring of love – and letters! – for their Mother’s Day, the government established the National Day of Mothers on May 25, 1945.  Today, traditional gifts include flower-shaped cakes, candies, perfumes, cards and flowers.

However you choose to honor your mother, let Boesen the Florist be part of your Mother’s Day celebrations!

Your Mother:  The woman who soothed your nightmares, washed your smelly socks, baked you a cake for your birthday, and eased you through your traumatic teenage years.  Buying her flowers and taking her out for brunch never seems sufficient – and yet, she’s perfectly tickled and happy with that show of affection!

Where did Mother’s Day start?  Originally, “Mother’s Day” wasn’t focused on human mothers, but rather was a celebration of goddesses. The earliest historical record of worshiping a “mother” deity is the Egyptian goddess Isis, who was considered the mother of all pharaohs.

Europe adopted a different kind of observation in later years.  The fourth Sunday of Lent honored “Mother Church”, or the church in which one was baptized.  By a clerical decree in the 1600s, England included mothers in the observance, calling it “Mothering Day.”  Household servants and track workers got to go home to visit their families, giving all a one-day reprieve from Lenten fasting, as it was traditional to have a family feast with Mom as the guest of honor.  She was showered with cakes and flowers with all of her children around her.

The first traditional American Mother’s Day was celebrated May 10, 1908, in Grafton, West Virginia.  Anna M. Jarvis was carrying on the work of her mother, who used Mother’s Day as a way to reunite families and neighbors who had been estranged by the Civil War.  Carnations were handed out to all the mothers attending the 1908 celebration, and even today white carnations are used to honor deceased mothers, while pink or red ones pay tribute to those still living.

No matter what type of flower you give or how you honor YOUR mother this Mother’s Day, Boesen the Florist has a design that will truly make Mom feel your love and appreciation!

Like many brides to be you may feel lost or overwhelmed when it comes to picking flowers for your special day. No need to worry we are here to help! Things to consider when picking your blooms include when and where you are getting married (including season and location) as well as the color scheme you have picked for your special day. Here are some popular choices to help you navigate the field of flowers and narrow down your choices or at least get a feel for what you like!

Anemones

These flowers are available in spring and fall and come in red, pink, purple and white. They are

thought to mean fragile.

Calla Lillies

These beautiful flowers are available year round and come in large as well as small varities.

The large blooms are available in white and green but the small blooms are available in every

color but blue.

Carnations

These flowers are available year around in every color except blue. The different colors have

different meanings. They are great for use in kissing balls or pomanders.

Chrysanthemums

These flowers are most abundant in the fall but available year round and come in every color but blue. They carrying the special meaning of love and are sturdy so they work great in fancy arrangements with pearls and crystals.

Daffodils

Daffodils represent chivalry and are available in yellow, white, and orange/yellow.

Dahlias

Available summer through fall, Dahlias come in red, orange, burgundy, yellow, white, and pink.

Daisies

Daisies are said to be the flower of innocence and are available year round.

Delphinum

Delphinum come in blue, purple, lavender, pink and white and are available all year long.

Freesia

The freesia symbolizes a strong spirit and is found in cream, lavender, yellow, white, pink and red/orange year round.

Forget-Me-Nots

Forget-me-nots symbolize true love and remembrance forever. Available in blue, pink, and white with yellow centers these flowers are abundant in the spring.

Gardenias

Gardenias, which symbolize secret love, are prominent in the summer and spring in both white and pink.

Hyacinth

Hyacinth flowers symbolize sincerity and are available winter through spring. Hyacinth are available in pink, white, purple, yellow, red, lavender, and orange.

Hydrangea

Hydrangeas are said to mean perseverance and come in white, pink, blue, green as well as a mix of green/red and purple/blue.

Irises

Irises symbolize affection and are a blue color.

Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley blooms are a sign of happiness and joy. They are available in white in the spring.

Orchid

Orchids mean delicate beauty and are available year round in every color but blue.

Peonies

Peonies symbolize healing and are available in May and June in red, yellow, peach, pink, and white.

Roses

Roses symbolize romance and are available year round in all shades except blue.

Snapdragons

Snapdragons work well in tall arrangements and are available year round in pink, orange, burgundy, yellow and white.

Sunflower

Sunflowers are said to mean adoration and are available summer through fall in yellow.

Sweet Peas

Sweet peas symbolize shyness and are available winter through spring in white, pink, purple, peach, red and yellow.

Tulips

Tulips are available year round in every color except for blue.

Violet

Violets resemble modesty and come in violet, blue, cream, white, and yellow.

The giving and receiving of flowers has been a tradition for many generations.  It used to be that your local florist knew your name, your wife’s name, and her favorite flower – so YOU didn’t have to worry about remembering!  But as time has progressed, local brick-and-mortar flower shops have become more and more scarce.  People are turning, instead, to 1-800 and online “warehouse” ordering to send flowers to their loved ones.

The lure of what seems to be a larger selection is what sucks people in to these call centers.  They think they are calling a HUGE floral warehouse with dozens of people standing around, just waiting for their order to come in so they can build it and send it immediately!

The reality, of course, is much different.  When you call these “warehouse” florists, you are getting a call center.  ONLY a call center.  There is no flower warehouse.  Just lines of cubicles filled with people answering the phone all day.  Most of them probably couldn’t tell you the difference between a daffodil and a daisy.  Once they get your order and your money, whoever you spoke with has nothing to do with you or your order again.

What happens when that order doesn’t get to the right place or at the right time?  What if that order gets lost in the shuffle and doesn’t end up anywhere?  Who carries the responsibility to make it right?

When you call your local florist, you KNOW you are talking to a knowledgeable person who knows plants and flowers and values YOU, the customer!  If you aren’t sure what type to send or what colors to use or what’s in season, you can rest assured that the person on the other end of the line will have the perfect suggestion!  Your local florist is just that – a florist who cares about your satisfaction!  A florist who recirculates your dollar in your community 8 times as opposed to only a possible 4 times with a call center.  YOUR money goes back to work in YOUR community to help keep other local businesses – run by your friends, family, and neighbors – in business!

Next time you need to send flowers, call your local Boesen the Florist!  Local florists work and live in your community and CARE about the reason you’re sending the flowers in the first place!  You can rest assured that if anything goes wrong and you aren’t completely satisfied with the quality of your order, Tom Boesen will stand behind his work and will do everything in his power to make it right for you!

Gone are the days where flower girls are expected to skip down the aisle tossing flower petals all about. In fact, some churches and venues are no longer permitting flower girls to throw petals. Many venues with hard flooring instead of carpet view the petals as a hazard that may cause someone to slip, trip and fall. While tossing petals is still very common for flower girls these days there are other options both floral and non for your special attendant.

A popular and lovely way to incorporate flowers into the girls look is with a floral crown or some other form of headpiece. What girl doesn’t like a crown?

Some brides are upset when they realize their flower girls won’t be able to throw petals down the aisle. A fun alternative is to have them carry pomanders or balls made out of flowers with a ribbon string. Also think about seeing if there is another area perhaps at your reception were it may be permitted for the little ones to toss a few petals, after all it is tradition right?

Some other non floral options include having your flower girl cary a sign announcing “Here comes the bride” or “Please turn off your cell phones”. These are both fun ideas but if you ask me a flower girl needs her flowers whether they be in her hair, on her wrists, or carried in a basket.

It’s Prom season!  Undoubtedly, your teen (especially teen daughter) has been thinking about and planning for Prom since, oh, the day after Homecoming!  Most boys will have a date already lined up and most girls already have a dress picked out, if not hanging in their closets.

Boesen the Florist has teamed up with The Bloomin’ Blog to answer some important and frequently-asked questions regarding Prom corsages and boutonnieres!

1. What is a prom corsage?  The corsage is a small floral design typically worn by a girl on her wrist or close to her collar as an accessory to accent or match her prom dress.  The girl’s date will usually bring the flowers for her and there is much production around the pinning on or placement of the arrangement.
2. What is a boutonniere?  This is the small flower arrangement worn by the guys on the lapel of their tuxedo or suit coat.  Again, his date usually will get the boutonniere for him and it typically matches the style and colors of the girl’s corsage.
3. Do the corsage and boutonniere have to match?  Not necessarily.  Although it is common practice for the guy’s tie and/or cummerbund to match his date’s dress, there is no rule about this.  Usually the couple will match colors and styles, as it looks more stylish and put-together that way.
4. What wrist do you wear your corsage on?  Like wearing a watch, it’s commonly recognized as proper etiquette to wear it on the left wrist, although comfort is most important.
5. When do I need to order my prom flowers?  You can order your flowers any time!  It’s probably the best idea to order earlier rather than later, to make sure you will get what you really want.  Common practice – and courtesy – says at least two weeks before the event.
6. What do I need before I visit my local florist?  First – and most important – is a picture of your dress.  You can try to describe the color and style, but it’s best just to show it to your florist.  Be sure to bring along any pictures from the internet or magazines of styles you like and would like to use.

Your LOCAL florists at Boesen’s will work with you, personally, to create the perfect flower arrangement for your personality, your dress, your dancing style, and your dreams!  Call today to talk to one of our consultants!

A friend or loved one is under the weather.  You want to do something to make them feel better, but feel that there’s nothing you can do.  But that’s not necessarily true!

Sending flowers to an ailing sweetie has long been common practice, although you may think there’s no point and that it won’t help.  But think again!  While the thoughtfulness and beauty of flowers can be enough to uplift us, each flower has its own unique “energy” that can truly heal.  There is growing evidence that chromotherapy, the therapeutic use of color, actually affects people physiologically, mentally and emotionally.

So when you want to help someone feel better, what color should you send for the best results?  An article in The Bloomin’ Blog helped Boesen the Florist lay it out for you!

• Red – promotes feelings of energy and excitement, and gives a sense of protection.  The color red can pump your adrenaline, raise your blood pressure and heart rate, and make you want to MOVE.
• Orange – stimulates appetite and energizes nerves.  This color can encourage feelings of eagerness and happiness – and we all want that!
• Yellow – activates memory, purifies the body.  Sunshiny yellow brings on feelings of warmth and uplifts the spirit.
• Green – relieves tension, lowers blood pressure, helps alleviate depression. Green soothes and relaxes, brings on feelings of harmony and self-control.
• Blue – slows respiration and heart rate.  Blue promotes feelings of security, calm and soothing.
• Purple – encourages creativity and calms the mind and nerves.  Encourages feelings of spirituality and luxury.
• Brown – invokes a sense of order.  This color is earthy, wholesome and dependable.
• White – encourages mental clarity, purity, peace and enables fresh beginnings.
• Black – invokes a sense of potential and feelings of power, elegance and mystery.

Go ahead and send get well flowers!  Think of the situation or illness and what you want to bestow on your loved one, using this handy guide before you make your choice.  And for best results and satisfaction, call Boesen the Florist, your LOCAL florist!

Boesen the Florist wants to extend a great big THANK YOU for voting us “BEST LOCAL FLOWER SHOP” by Cityview readers once again!  Tom and Frank Boesen and the team at Boesen the Florist are very proud and humbled to have won this honor for 20 years running!  It means the most because it’s voted on by YOU, the people of Des Moines.

When words can’t say it, flowers often can, and our readers realize that.  When searching for the words, they continue to choose Boesen year after year.  This is a local shop with national accolades, as well as a wall full of Best Of awards.
~ Cityview

Boesen the Florist has been a family-owned and -operated flower shop in Beaverdale since 1923, with love of the business being passed down through FOUR Generations of Boesens.  The shops, expanded to include locations on Ingersoll and in the Downtown skywalk, are run by employees who are trusted as family and who care as much about the business and customer satisfaction as any one of the Boesens.

Throughout its operation, Boesen The Florist has always, and continues to invest in the most advanced technology available to the floral industry. Currently, a state-of-the-art floral online order entry and customer service system is in place to insure order accuracy. Boesen’s houses a 22-line call center, so customers can call and speak directly with a Boesen employee actually in the flower shop, rather than a faceless order-taker who isn’t even in our city.  Boesen’s stands behind its satisfaction guarantee – if you ever have a question, don’t hesitate to call the shop and speak directly with Tom Boesen himself and he will make it right for you.

In addition, Boesen’s is one of a handful of florists utilizing the most recent revelation in CO2 technology, the FloralKeeper™, to enhance respiration, refrigeration, bacteria control and ethylene displacement in all their floral coolers, increasing flower longevity and performance. As a result, Boesen the Florist is as well equipped as any florist in the nation to give customers the best possible product.

So thank you, Des Moines, for bestowing your trust in Boesen the Florist once again!  We hope to serve your flower and garden needs for generations to come!