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The history of Sweetest Day

Posted on by Amber

Sweetest Day is celebrated every year on the third Saturday of October, this year falling on Oct. 19. 

Not everyone celebrates Sweetest Day, but it is a prominent holiday in Ohio because it was born in Cleveland. 

According to Ohio Memory, the predecessor of Sweetest Day, “Candy Day”, was created by the National Confectioners Association in 1916. Candy Day, nicknamed “The Sweetest Day in the Year”, was only celebrated for one year because of the efforts to conserve sugar during World War I.

The holiday was revived and reimagined in 1921 when Herbert Birch Kingston, an advertising executive in Cleveland, decided to twist Candy Day into a sweet celebration encouraging people to be kind to others by giving out treats.

Eight candy makers from the Cleveland area created a committee to enact the celebration and the first Sweetest Day was held on Oct. 8, 1921.

According to Ohio Memory, 10,000 boxes of candy were passed out on the first Sweetest Day to orphanages, senior citizen homes and other in-need organizations. Silent film stars Theda Bara and Ann Pennington even came to Cleveland to pass out treats at theaters.

The holiday has now evolved into people gifting their friends and families something to show their appreciation for them, whether it’s candy or something else.

According to National Today, 80% of Sweetest Day cards given are geared towards romantic interest, showing how the holiday has evolved. The holiday is mainly observed in the midwest, with Ohio, the birthplace of the holiday, being the state with the highest participation.

Gifts for Sweetest Day

We have a variety of options to help you show your appreciation for your loved ones on Sweetest Day.

Here’s our Sweetest Day Gift Guide:

Candy:

Flowers:

Other Options:

However you are celebrating Sweetest Day, we at Connells Maple Lee hope you are surrounded by love.

How to make a boo basket

Posted on by Amber

It’s spooky season, which also means it’s boo basket season.

If you’re not familiar with the popular trend, a boo basket is when people give loved ones a gift basket filled with goodies and treats that are typically halloween themed. It is most commonly gifted from a boyfriend/husband to a girlfriend/wife.

The name “boo basket” is a double entendre that refers to the “boo” spooky element of halloween and “boo” as in the term sometimes used to refer to a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Boo baskets have also traditionally been given as anonymous presents to neighbors and many close-knit neighborhoods have traditions of “booing” each other with a basket.

These baskets make great gifts for friends, family and coworkers too. It’s a fun and seasonal way to brighten someone’s day and show you care.

To give you some inspiration for your boo basket this year, we put together our own version. Watch the video below for boo basket ideas:

Shop the items in our boo basket:

Gift ideas for Boss’s Day

Posted on by Amber

Boss’s Day, Oct. 16, is a time to show the leadership at your job your appreciation. 

One way to thank your boss for their dedication to helping you grow in your career is with a small gift. Shopping for your boss can be challenging, however, especially if you don’t know them too well outside of the workplace.

To help you find the right gift for your boss we’ve compiled a Boss’s Day Gift Guide for you. These are gifts perfect for anyone.

Boss’s Day Gift Guide:

Retro Succulents

Plants have been shown to contribute to the well-being of employees, making this a perfect gift for the boss who has to put in long hours at the office. It will give them a connection to nature. 

The Retro Succulent dish garden is a good desk plant option. Succulents are easy to care for and the stylish, minimalist container adds a zen feeling to whatever space it is placed in.

Kork Succulent

Our Kork Succulent is another modern option to brighten up an office space. The neutral colors will blend in with any style and are a nice option for those with smaller work spaces.

Happy Face Succulent Garden

Add a pop of color with this mini succulent garden. The happy container will quickly brighten up an office.

Chocolate & Mug Gift Set

Help fuel your boss’s day with a new mug for their coffee and sweet treats from Hershey’s Chocolate.

Presentation Box of Tea – Wellbeing

Gift your boss a moment of relaxation with a collection of teas focused on wellness. There are three specifically curated herbal teas in this collection and two green teas.

Asher Milk Chocolate Pretzels

Keep it simple, but thoughtful with a bag of milk chocolate covered pretzels from Asher’s Chocolates, a family-owned business based in Souderton, Pennsylvania. Perfect for a boss who keeps a stocked snack drawer.

Flowers

You can’t go wrong with flowers. For Boss’s Day, we recommend our Tuscan, Small arrangement. It features a bold vase with cheery carnations and daisy poms. 

However you choose to honor your, they will appreciate the recognition for their hard work and dedication.

Catalogs usher in new season for our brand

Posted on by Neal
Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts Fall 2024 Catalog
Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts Year-Round Catalog, Fall 2024

When you’re a fourth-generation family-owned business nearing its 90th year in operation, you cherish your company history.

But a hallmark of Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts’ enduring legacy is honoring its past while still being willing and able to change course when circumstances dictate.

That agility has made Connells Maple Lee one of the most successful florists in the United States.

Sometimes change is thrust upon you suddenly, as it was during the coronavirus pandemic, an existential threat that forced Connells Maple Lee to rethink many of the ways it functioned. At other times, Connells Maple Lee has had to respond to structural developments in society, which brings us to our latest rebranding effort.

The first glimpse of that new look and feel began arriving in customers’ mailboxes this fall in the form of our year-round and fall catalogs.

Increasingly digital world

Go Welsh, our long-time design agency, is leading the rebranding.

“Whatever we do and propose,” said agency owner Craig Welsh, “it has to live in digital, but it can’t feel digital.”

At its heart, the rebranding addresses the challenge of promoting the organic feeling of flowers in an increasingly digital world.

More than half of our sales now occur online. All those swipes, clicks and taps come at a faster pace than the turning of a printed page, making it harder to capture the public’s attention.

The new catalogs feature a reworking of our logo, distilled from the long-stemmed flower it has been for decades into a clean, contained round icon that’s more recognizable across media.

On social media, Craig noted, an “icon becomes much more prominent in the expectation” among users. And with increased awareness, that icon can become the brand’s primary mark, lending itself to many more uses.

Mid-century modern

The icon makes for a “much cleaner brand presence visually,” Craig said, but the flip side is that the mathematical representation of shapes, lines and curves in the digital realm can overpower the organic world.

That’s why Go Welsh seized on the idea of bringing organic into the mix through inks made from flower petals and stems. Jenna Flickinger, a Go Welsh designer, keeps vials of ink at her desk, with labels such as lily, lavender and pansy, and clematis.

She boils the petals herself, adding salt (to release color) and gum arabic (a stabilizer) to create ink. She brushes the ink onto watercolor paper and then scans the washes into her computer.

Some of the colors and textures have been incorporated into the new catalogs, but the learning process continues. From vial to dried paper, the ink colors aren’t always predictable.

“Even though this was a pink carnation,” Jenna said of one example, “it still [dried as] this yellow color.”

Craig described the rebranding as a “mid-century modern aesthetic,” invoking a design style known for sleek lines connected to nature and a timeless essence.

“We’re trying to find a place where we can combine this organic sensibility with the vector, screen-based digital stuff, so we started looking at mid-century modern sensibilities,” Craig said.

It starts with the new catalogs, but you can expect to see many more representations in the year ahead.

Decorating your front porch for fall

Posted on by Amber

The leaves are changing colors and falling from the trees, the air is slowly starting to cool and every coffee shop is advertising their pumpkin spice drinks – Autumn has arrived.

One of the most exciting parts about the changing of seasons is getting to change your home decor. Welcome fall, and your guest this season, by giving your front porch an autumnal makeover.

Connells Maple Lee has everything you need to achieve your dream fall curb appeal.

Watch our video below to see what we put on our porch:

If you want to recreate this look, we’ve compiled a list of products we used:

We also used hay bales and locally grown pumpkins alongside our products to complete our porch.

We’d love to see how you incorporate Connells into your autumn decor! Share you fall setup by tagging us on Instagram @cmlflowers or Connells Maple Lee Flowers and Gifts on Facebook and using #ConnellsMapleLee

Behind the scenes of our new everyday selections brochure

Posted on by Amber

The everyday selection brochure, which highlights many new products, is finally here!

The 41-page booklet features photographs of our current selection of flower bouquets, arrangements, plants, gifts and more. It’s designed to help flower lovers find the perfect arrangement for every occasion and mood.

There’s many different collections featured including the nautical-inspired “Nantucket” and “Cape May” collections, the thoughtful “Memories” rose collection, the loving and cheery “Tranquility” collection and more.

The Nantucket Deluxe featuring hydrangea, two roses, delphinium, Bells of Ireland, football mums, carnations, daisy poms, viking poms, and solidago graces the cover, evoking memories of beach days from this past Summer.

Our direct ship options, which ship anywhere in the Continental United States and include the arrangement, vase and flower food, are highlighted within the book as well as our direct ship succulent container.

Some of our snack and tea offerings are featured, including the Chocolate & Mug Gift Set and the limited edition “Jubilee” tea collection from Tea Forte featuring 20 tea infusers comprised of 10 different blends. Some of the flavors include Strawberry Hibiscus (Oolong tea), Cherry Blossom (Green tea) and Mango Citron (Herbal tea). 

Our funeral offerings and sympathy gifts are also included. There is a double urn arrangement showcased along with a red rose open heart standing wreath for funeral and celebration of life services. The double urn arrangement is in all whites including hydrangea, roses, stock, alstroemeria, carnations, and daisy poms.

There are also flowers specifically curated to be given as gifts to grieving families.

Gift arrangements for all of life’s occasions are also highlighted. The “Baby Girl” bouquet made of mini green hydrangea, charmelia alstroemeria, a football mum, carnations, daisy poms, baby’s breath is shown. The arrangement comes with a pink stuffed unicorn to help welcome the new baby girl. A “Baby Boy” version featuring a blue and white stuffed cow and a blue and white arrangement is also available.

The “Beary Happy Birthday Vase” arrangement is shown, which includes a “Happy Birthday” stick-in and a tan bear with a party hat. A general celebration arrangement is also pictured, which includes a party horn and noise maker, and is perfect for all of the happy moments.

Plant mom and dads can peruse our new plant offerings, including our vibrant Triple Orchard Planter and tropical-style Bromeliad Planter.

We hope the new look book helps you find exactly what you are looking for. These books can be picked up at your local Connells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts and are complementary.

Homecoming flower guide: learn how to attach boutonnieres and wear corsages

Posted on by Amber

Homecoming is approaching fast and to help you get ready, we’ve put together a how-to guide for placing and wearing your boutonnieres and corsages and posing with flowers.

Whatever look you are going for, Connells Maple Lee has you covered.

How to place wearable flowers

Boutonnieres

Guys, here’s a step-by-step guide to attaching your boutonniere to your suit or tuxedo. The first step is to decide whether you want the boutonniere on your jacket or your shirt.

Guide for lapel placement:

  1. First, a boutonniere is typically worn on your left lapel. It should be placed in the middle at the widest section of the lapel.
  2. To keep from damaging the flowers, angle the boutonniere so that the flowers are leaning slightly away from you. The flowers should also face you while the greenery should face away from you.
  3. Once the boutonniere is in place, lift the lapel up and push the pin through the thickest part of the arrangement, slightly diagonally and upwards toward your face.
  4. Then push the pin back into your jacket, like it’s a sewing needle. When completed properly, the beginning and end of the pin should be hidden under your lapel.
  5. To check if it’s secure, wiggle the boutonniere gently from side to side. If needed, use a second pin.

Watch our how-to video on how to place a boutonniere on a lapel below:

Guide for shirt placement:

  1. The boutonniere is traditionally placed in the top left area of a shirt (the wearer’s left). 
  2. Pinch the shirt slightly to the right of where you want the boutonniere and stick the pin through both layers.
  3. Repeat the pinching process slightly to the left of where you want the boutonniere.
  4. Slide the boutonniere behind the pin. Do not puncture the boutonniere with the pin for this method.
  5. Check that the boutonniere is secured.

Corsages

The ladies have it a bit easier. Corsages should be secured to a wrist and worn in the same fashion as a bracelet. It should be worn on the non-dominant hand as to minimize the damage it can incur during homecoming.

Opting for a bouquet?

Some homecoming attendees are opting for a bouquet instead. However you choose to incorporate flowers into your special evening, we know it will look beautiful. A bouquet will stand out and can make your photos pop. 

Here are some tips if you’re using a bouquet:

  • The flower colors do not have to match your dress and can instead compliment it. At Royer’s if you show us a picture of your look, we can help direct you to which flowers will give you your dream homecoming image.
  • Stay on the small side. The night will be busy and having a smaller bouquet to carry with you, even if you’re just using them for photos, will make your life easier.
  • If you are bringing a bouquet to the actual dance, have a game plan of where you will store it while you’re burning up the dance floor.

Posing with flowers tips

If you are wearing a boutonniere, make sure it is securely in place before the cameras start flashing. The last thing you want is to look back at the photo and see it was lopsided.

For those with corsages, consider photos that specifically highlight the details. If you had your nails done, this is a great way to show those off too. If you have a date, snap a photo of your hand with the corsage on their chest to freeze the arrangement in time.

If you have a bouquet, the most important thing to remember is how your hands look. Do not grip the bouquet with balled up fists; instead lace your fingers around the front of the bouquet for a more casual look.

The trend for bouquet images right now is to hold it out with one hand in front of a blank background, like a white or gray wall, to capture the details.

We hope these tips help you to have the most magical homecoming. Please share your homecoming pictures featuring your Connells Maple Lee flower arrangements with us on Instagram by tagging us @cmlflowers on Instagram and using the hashtags #HOCOwithConnells & #ConnellsMapleLee. We can’t wait to see them!

The history of Grandparents Day

Posted on by Amber

Grandparents Day is a time to celebrate our mom and dad’s parents and the significant impact many of them have had on us. 

On Grandparents Day people often visit their loved ones, give them a phone call or send them a card. Others use the time to reminiscence about their late grandparents, possibly remembering the days cuddled in their laps listening to their stories.

According to Reader’s Digest, Marian McQuade of West Virginia created the holiday in 1956 after realizing a lot of senior citizens in her local nursing home were not visited by family while she was trying to plan a community celebration of the elderly.

McQuade then made it her mission to ensure they were not forgotten by creating Grandparents Day. It became an official holiday in 1978 when it was signed into law by former President Jimmy Carter.

However, the purpose of the holiday is not meant just for grandchildren to celebrate grandparents, but also the reverse. The National Grandparents Day Council says that the holiday is also meant for grandparents to celebrate their grandchildren.

The holiday is always celebrated on the Sunday after Labor Day in the United States. This year the special day is on September 8. 

This year the official theme is “Grand Minds: Learn, Love, Legacy”. Generations United is encouraging people to #DoSomethingGrand this year with their grandparents and have a list of activity ideas on their website.

Grandparents Day Gift Ideas

We put together a Grandparents Day gift basket for those looking for ideas for Grandparents Day. Check out our basket below!

Here’s the items we included in our basket:

Grove City resident is runner-up in our annual name-the-arrangement contest

Posted on by Neal
Participants in Connells Maple Lee's name-the-arrangement contest in 2024 are asked to give a name to this holiday design. It features carnations, poms and a rose with noble fir and boxwood, ribbon and berries, all in a silver and red tin.

To silver and gold, jingle and jangle, add another classic holiday pairing: “Berries & Boughs”

The last one is courtesy of Joanne Beasy of Grove City, the runner-up in our annual name-the-arrangement contest.

The contest winner was Jennifer Davis of Lebanon, Pa., with the name “Merriment.” Davis entered the contest through Connells Maple Lee’s sister company Royer’s Flowers & Gifts, which has 15 stores in Pennsylvania.

Beasy and Davis each will receive the new holiday arrangement as their prize.

The arrangement features carnations, poms and a rose with noble fir and boxwood, ribbon and berries, all in a silver and red tin. It will be available for purchase after Thanksgiving.

Congratulations to Beasy and Davis and thank you to everyone who participated. We look forward to doing this again next year!

You could name Connells Maple Lee’s new holiday arrangement

Posted on by Neal
Participants in Connells Maple Lee's name-the-arrangement contest in 2024 are asked to give a name to this holiday design. It features carnations, poms and a rose with noble fir and boxwood, ribbon and berries, all in a silver and red tin.

Christmas in July is giving way to the holiday arrangement of August.

This year’s Conells Maple Lee Flowers & Gifts name-the-arrangement contest focuses on a new holiday design.

The arrangement features carnations, poms and a rose with noble fir and boxwood, ribbon and berries, all in a silver and red tin. What it lacks is a name.

To view the arrangement and enter the contest, visit cmlflowers.com/contest. Limit one entry daily per email address, through Aug. 18.

One winner and one runner-up will be selected from entries submitted to Connells Maple Lee and its sister company in Pennsylvania. Both the winner and runner-up will receive the arrangement (retail value $39.99) as their prize.