Enter today to win a night of romance for you and your Special Valentine from Boesen The Florist!

Boesen the Florist is teaming up with some prominent Des Moines businesses to offer you the chance to be the doting hero (or heroine) this Valentine’s Day!

Starting Wednesday February 1st, through Friday February 10th, visit Boesen.com and download their FREE FloralApp™ for your smartphone.  With that download, your name is entered in a drawing to win an amazing Valentine’s Day prize package valued at over $450!

This package includes:

• One dozen gorgeous, long-stem red roses from Boesen the Florist;
• Dinner for two at the charming Café di Scala;
• An overnight stay in a suite at the beautiful Suites of 800 Locust!

You can have the roses delivered to your sweetheart anywhere in central Iowa on Valentine’s Day, and then get ready for a wonderful weekend!

A table for two is reserved at Café di Scala for 7:00 pm on Saturday February 18th, where you’ll be able to share a gourmet meal and the best wine in Des Moines.

Suites of 800 Locust will have a private whirlpool suite ready for your arrival.  This dreamy suite includes a whirlpool tub and wet bar for your enjoyment and relaxation, plus a full made-to-order hot breakfast in the morning.

With a fantastic, romantic Valentine’s Day Getaway package like this one, you’re bound to want better odds of winning!

Once you download the Free FloralApp™ and get your first entry to the drawing, be sure to use your new FloralApp™ to send flowers and gifts to everyone on your Valentine’s Day list – your mother, sister, daughter, mother-in-law, cousin – and get an additional drawing entry for EACH order made with your FloralApp™!

Everyone wins and YOU look like Superman!

*The winner will be notified by phone and email on February 12th, with an announcement on February 13th through Twitter, Facebook, and a blog post on FlowersDesMoines.com.

Reservations have been made for 7:00 pm, February 18th at Café di Scala and The Suites of 800 Locust, but the flowers can be delivered ON Valentine’s Day or picked up by the winner and delivered personally.

Thank you! And GOOD LUCK!!

Now, CLICK HERE to go to the FLORAL APP DOWNLOAD PAGE!

Our creative friends over at the Meredith Corporation in Des Moines always have great ideas when it comes to celebrating the holidays. Today’s tips are inspired by one of their latest posts on their Better Homes & Gardens blog. Why stick with a traditional vase to display those Valentine’s Day blooms this year?

Their first tip is to place roses in a compote dish

Take the bulk of your bouquet and cluster the flowers in a compote dish, anchoring the stems with pebbles, or creating a multilevel arrangement by cutting the stems to varying lengths.

We honestly weren’t quite sure what a compote dish was ourselves, but it looks to be similar to a candy dish. Some quick research on dictionary.com confirmed that a compote dish is often used for serving fruit, nuts, candy. How cute would your roses look in a compote dish anchored by some conversation candy hearts for a festive Valentine’s Day display?

Another idea is to display your roses with seashells. I never would have thought of doing this myself, but the bold red color provides such a nice contrast against the natural look of the shells. You can even fill the shell with water to keep the arrangement fresh.

Finally display those remaining blooms in your favorite stemware. Utilizing pieces from different collections and of different height will create a unique and visually appealing look for your arrangement. Don’t just stop with stemware. Your new bouquet would look lovely in a teapot or another favorite china piece as well.

Valentine’s Day is both hated and loved by many of us. Sometimes, dubbed singles-awareness day, Valentine’s Day is often viewed as a holiday for lovebirds and card makers to celebrate, but Valentine’s Day doesn’t  just have to be for couples anymore. It’s about being thankful and recognizing those who make your life that much better. Make sure you don’t forget ALL of your loved ones come February 14th. Recognize all of those close to your heart, your parents, siblings, children, friends, and grandparents! Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to be all about romantic love this year.

Here are a few gift ideas for your other loves of your life!

Send your student away at college a “Junk” Food Bucket for them to snack on during one of those late night study sessions or maybe cookies are more their forte? You can even send them a health snack with one of our Fruit Baskets.

Cheer up the dorm room, retirement home or office with a balloon bouquet to make their day.

Send a Sunshine Bouquet or Pink Roses to your mom, sister, aunt, or mother-in-law.

With so many ways to say I Love You and so many special people to remind, let us help you find the perfect gift for all of your special someone’s this Valentine’s.

Too often men are overlooked on Valentine’s Day with all the focus and attention going to the ladies in their lives. Make his Valentine’s Day just as special as yours this year with our help. Sure, shopping for your man can be hard but taking the time to really plan out something special for him will make his day.

So maybe he isn’t longing for a dozen roses on Valentine’s Day, there are many other ways to send him a little something that says “I Love You”. It truly is the thought that counts here! Perhaps your Valentine’s Day plans are heading out to your favorite restaurant, a movie or a couples massage. Make your plans more fun with the element of surprise. Whether it’s clues throughout the day or little gifts, adding a little surprise to the day will make the events that much more fun.

Send him a Valentine’s Day Balloon Bouquet at work or satisfy his sweet tooth with our “Junk” Food Bucket. Tell him he’s hot stuff with our Fire Engine Bouquet or plan a romantic night in for two with dinner featuring or lobster or delicious steak and make things extra special with some beautiful rose petals.

Sound too mushy or cheesy? Make him the most envied man at the office with the “I’d rather be golfing” gift set, a gift that is sure to get some use come Spring, if he can wait that long!

Whether he’s a tough guy or soft at heart, let the man in your life know he means the world to you with a thoughtful and unique gift from your neighborhood Boesen the Florist!

Every year you have that ONE person on your Christmas list who has everything and wants nothing.  You need to give him a gift, but you can not come up with an idea that won’t end up in the re-gift pile.  Why not a beautiful, easy-to-care-for living plant that will live for many seasons and continue to give all year?  We have some great suggestions to finish up your shopping list!

"Oh Rob, you shouldn't have!"

A potted plant or flower is a unique gift that you KNOW won’t be returned the day after Christmas.  It’s also easy to personalize it by transplanting it to a pretty pot, maybe hand-painted or decorated with glue-on designs.  Following are some of the best, easiest plants to share with your loved ones!

• Peace Lily:  Lillies are some of the most popular flowers around, and this type is no exception.  Characterized by big green leaves with a handful of sporadic, colored blooms, this easy plant requires very little light and so does well in apartments or interior rooms.  This flower also “tells” you when it needs to be watered with wilting leaves.
• Cyclamen:  One of the biggest complaints this time of year is the lack of color.  With this perennial, you can add color that blooms fall-winter-spring and goes dormant during the hot summer months.  Cyclamen doesn’t need direct light, thrives in cooler temps (preferably below 68˚), and only wants a little water to keep the roots from rotting.  Easy!
• Philodendron:  There are many different varieties, including a Philodendron tree, but the house plant is probably the most common.  With generally heart-shaped green leaves, these plants are great for apartments and smaller spaces because they grow downward, much like ivy.  They do just fine in lower light, only manifesting a less vibrant color, and they require little water.  Perfect for decoration on shelves or on top of a curio cabinet.
• Aspidistra:  Have someone on your list that has a hard time keeping a plant alive?  The Aspidistra, or “cast-iron plant” is a good idea for her!  The beautiful plant with shiny green leaves is exceptionally hearty.  It tolerates dust, heat, cold, wet conditions, drought conditions, and low light.  How can you go wrong?  This plant will survive and thrive pretty much anywhere!
• Hippeastrum:  Everyone gives poinsettia plants this time of year.  Why not give something a little different that also blooms best during the winter?  The Hippeastrum – also called Amaryllis – blooms in time for the holidays with many different color styles, ranging from deep red to pure white.  Grown from a bulb, this beauty is considered one of the easiest to get to re-bloom each year, making it a gift that keeps on giving!

If you’re looking for something non-traditional but thoughtful, something living but easy to care for, something that will last for years to come, then a plant may be the best idea yet!  Personalizing it with a decorative pot makes it unique and creative.  Take a chance and break out of boring!  Stop in to one of Boesen’s convenient locations and let our consultants help you choose the truly perfect gift this year!

Photo courtesy of TVTropes.org

When the holidays roll around it’s hard to resist picking up one or two colorful poinsettia plants to help spread Christmas cheer.  But how many of us see poinsettias as “disposable”?  The season passes and we tend to toss out the whole plant instead of recycling it for next year.  Following are some easy, useful tips to get enjoyment out of your poinsettia throughout the year!

Poinsettias are rather sensitive to temperature, water and lighting, but if you follow a few guidelines, it shouldn’t be a problem.

1. Place your potted plant in the spot with the most light.  You don’t want to set your poinsettia in a dimly-lit corner, but rather in an area of your home that gets the most natural light throughout the day.
2. Keep your poinsettia warm, but not in the hottest spot of the house, such as next to a fireplace or space heater.  Since poinsettias are tropical plants, they like the warmth, but too much heat will only harm them.
3. When watering your poinsettia, it’s important to NOT over-water it, as keeping it too wet can be as bad for it as not watering it enough.  The best gauge for moisture is to touch the soil with your finger; if it comes away wet, you don’t need to water it.  If your fingertip is still dry, add enough water to the plant to have a little overflow into the tray or dish underneath the plant.

When your poinsettia isn’t looking its best, there are some things you can do to perk it back up and help it survive the season and beyond.

1. If your plant has yellow leaves, it’s a good bet that it is getting too much water or warmth with too little light.  Make sure your placement is right, keeping the plant in bright light and moderate warmth.
2. Did you know that plants can get sunburn, too?  If you keep your poinsettia in direct sunlight and the leaves start showing white on the leaves, that’s exactly the problem.  Try to move the pot into a bright area without direct sunshine.
3. When the leaves curl, there are a few possibilities.  First, check the underneath of the leaves and the stem for signs of pests.  If there are no pests, check the root system for browning and a bad smell, in which case you may have to just throw the plant away due to root disease.  If nothing else, make sure the plant is warm enough.  Move it away from a drafty window or an outside door that get opened and closed frequently.

With a little forethought, your poinsettia can be kept alive and loved into blooming again for next Christmas!

1. In the spring, be sure to cut the stems back to about 4 inches in length.
2. Move your poinsettia outside during the summer, gradually introducing it to full sunlight to avoid sunburn.
3. Continue to water and fertilize it, keeping it trimmed to about 4 leaves on each stem.
4. At the beginning of October and for about 10 weeks, use an opaque bucket to cover your plant and keep it in complete darkness overnight, from about 5 pm until about 8 am.  Bring it inside when it starts getting too cold, and you should have the beginnings of blooms, in time for Christmas!

If you follow the easy tips listed above, you can enjoy your poinsettia for many Christmas seasons to come!

It’s time for Christmas!  Planning family gatherings, shopping for the perfect gift, and decorating our homes with garland and wreaths.  Have you ever stopped to wonder WHY we use the wreath as a holiday decoration?

It’s believed that holly wreaths were used as far back as the time of the Druids and Celts, during their “Yule”, or celebration of the Winter Solstice.  Because holly keeps its shiny green leaves and bright red berries throughout the harsh winter months, it was thought to hold magical properties.  Thus, it was worn and given for luck.

The Roman Empire had already adopted the use of the wreath, usually a laurel wreath, as a symbol of victory, importance and reverence.  When Roman travelers returned with holly and stories of its mystical powers, they incorporated the green and red plant for their Saturnalia celebrations during winter, giving holly wreaths as gifts.  They felt holly brought luck, so the more wreaths you acquired at this time, the more blessed you would be.

Early Christians originally hung wreaths on their homes in Rome to “blend in” and avoid persecution.  But along the way the line between Pagan representation and Christian meaning blurred, and it was adopted as a traditional Christmas decoration, with the prickly leaves symbolizing the thorn of crowns worn by Jesus, and the circle as a representation of eternal life.

In today’s secular usage of the holly wreath, the bright colors and elaborate decoration not only dresses up the home, but has come to signify the gathering of family and sense of community during Christmas.  This winter season is the time of year to reunite with your loved ones to show appreciation, reflect on the past year, and just enjoy each other’s company.

Making a wreath isn’t difficult and allows for a lot of individual creativity.  You can use twigs, leaves and berries from your own yard or purchase holly or evergreen boughs from your florist.  Some people incorporate colored ribbons, bright fruits, or strongly-scented herbs like rosemary, bay leaf, mint or sage.  If you are making your own wreath, it’s a good idea to use moss as a core or backing, since it will hold moisture to make your wreath stay fresh longer.  Another way to extend the life of this living decoration is to spray it with a water mist every day to avoid browning and withering.

No matter the reason you have for decorating with a wreath this holiday season, take a moment to think  about this symbol used so universally, tying everyone together at this magical time of year.

Ready for the busy holiday season?  Black Friday is an exciting day for shoppers and retail shops, alike – patrons get amazing deals and vendors can get their business back in the “black” for the year.  But don’t forget about Small Business Saturday!  How much do you think about where you shop?  Did you know that by shopping local, each of your dollars gets circulated in your community EIGHT times vs. only three with the big box stores?  That benefits your friends and neighbors instead of the fat cat corporate bigwigs.

Here at Boesen, we feel strongly about this issue, as we are a locally owned and operated business, trying to better our community.  Here is Tom Boesen talking about why it’s important to shop local and what benefits can be reaped from that simple choice.

Who’s getting excited for the Holidays?  Are you itching to put up your decorations and go get your tree?  Boesen’s is!  Tom Boesen and the Boesen Team are decking out your community this holiday season.

Have you noticed the changing of the giant planters lining Downtown?  Keep watching over the next couple of weeks to see the fantastic displays courtesy of Boesen!

On November 15-16, Boesen is decorating the Great Room of the Salisbury House for Christmas.  Take an afternoon to go check out the nostalgic charm and beauty!

Boesen and Drake University have teamed up to bring you Boesen’s Player of the Game this basketball season.  During each game – men’s and women’s – Boesen the Florist will present one lucky audience member with a complimentary bouquet!  Cheer on your Drake Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs along with Boesen!

And don’t forget the chance to have Boesen come deck out your house for the Holidays with WHO Radio!  Van & Bonnie, along with Boesen, Wright Outdoor Solutions, and Anderson Erickson will broadcast live from your house while the decorating gets done and we serve you breakfast!  For more details, check out our previous post!

Boesen cares about and participates in their community – in YOUR community!  Let us help you Make the Moment Mean More this Holiday Season!

A winter wedding can be a beautiful affair – crisp, clean colors; bright whites with brilliant color splashes.  There are many winter floral options – but do you know the meanings behind some of the most popular choices?

One popular choice is the exotic orchid.  The basis of the bouquet in Marilyn Monroe’s wedding to Joe DiMaggio, the orchid symbolizes love, luxury, beauty and strength.  Definitely a fitting selection for the union of baseball’s current hero and America’s favorite pin-up girl!

The amaryllis, with its stunning crimson red and unique petals, comes from the legend of a timid nymph trying to woo the unrequited love of a strong and beautiful shepherd by turning herself into a flower and piercing her heart with a golden arrow for 30 nights.  This flower is generally chosen for its shocking color, but also conveys pride and determination.

Tulips are another favorite for winter weddings and they come in many different colors, all with different meanings.  While yellow tulips mean cheerfulness and white tulips show forgiveness, the scarlet red tulip symbolizes perfect love.  The flower of the 11th wedding anniversary, it’s also thought that the black, velvety center of the tulip represents a lover’s heart, darkened by passion.

People generally will choose the flowers for their wedding based on the color, scent or availability in their region.  But there is so much more to flowers than meets the eye!  Let Boesen the Florist help you express the perfect message to your beloved on your winter wedding day!