Many think of Valentine’s Day as a day for men to do romantic gestures for the women in their lives, but they deserve to be celebrated too.
To help you find the perfect gift for your significant other, we’ve compiled a Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Men:
Flowers
Men like flowers too. Just because it’s traditional for men to buy women flowers, many also appreciate a vase of fresh flowers. If you’re looking for something “less feminine” try these options –
Is your man a plant dad? Give him a new plant for his collection. These Valentine’s-themed plants are perfect gifts that will last well beyond the holiday when taken care of properly.
These are just a few of the options we have in store and online to treat your guy for Valentine’s Day.
If you choose to order flowers to surprise your significant other, we have a special offer this year! Have the flowers delivered between Feb. 8-13 and your recipient will receive a coupon for a free dozen roses that is redeemable in-store from March 1-31, 2025.
Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching! If you’re still looking for that perfect gift for your special lady we’re here to help.
Women, just like everyone, want to feel special, seen and loved everyday of the year, but February 14 is a perfect time to remind them how much they mean to you. We have an array of gifts to say “I love you”.
Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Women:
Flowers
Flowers are the traditional Valentine’s gift for a reason. They are an easy, yet meaningful way to show you care. And your significant other will think of you every time they look at them. We have a full selection of Valentine’s Day arrangements to choose from which can be found on our website, cmlflowers.com , but a couple bouquets to consider are:
Give them a little bit of everything. Our gift bag includes a bag of Asher’s chocolate covered pretzels, a 10” white stuffed bear and a red heart balloon. We take care of the packaging with red tissue paper and red shred too.
And guys, don’t forget the card! We have a selection of special Valentine’s Day cards in-store only. You can also have a message sent when you place a flower order in-store, online or over the phone.
If you choose to order flowers to surprise your significant other, we have a special offer this year! Have the flowers delivered between Feb. 8-13 and your recipient will receive a coupon for a free dozen roses that is redeemable in-store from March 1-31, 2025.
We at Connells Maple Lee Flowers and Gifts work very hard to bring you the freshest flowers possible. We are diligent in our selection of only the highest quality flowers, work directly with the growers, and go to great lengths to ensure they are handled with expert care once they arrive.
However, there are some steps you can take at home to ensure that our flowers last as long as possible.
Tip #1 – Buy from a local shop that only sources the best quality flowers
If you get your flowers from us this step is already covered. But no matter where you are buying your flowers, it is important that you know where their flowers are from, how they transport them and how they care for the flowers once they receive them.
Don’t be afraid to ask. A good florist will be able to answer these questions for you without hesitation.
Buying flowers from a local florist is important because of the amount of care that is taken in the selection of flowers. While many floral retailers ship their flowers using ocean containers and ships, Connells uses air shipping to speed up the time between the flowers being cut and arriving at your doorstep.
Tip #2 – Remove low leaves
If you are purchasing a handheld bouquet, there are extra steps that need to be taken when placing the flowers in a vase to ensure flower longevity.
First, remove leaves that will be submerged in water when placed in the vase. This can lead to mold. Be careful to not remove the leaves that will be above the water line however.
Tip #3 – Choose the right vase
Don’t just pull the random vase out from under your kitchen sink and plop the flowers in. That’s a recipe for failure.
First, make sure that the vase fits your flowers. Ask yourself, will the flowers be able to stand up straight and not tip over? Will all of the leaves be underwater (remember, that’s not good)?
If the vase will fit the flowers, then make sure you clean it if it’s dusty or hasn’t been rinsed since it held its last bouquet. Make sure there is no soap residue left behind before filling the vase with water.
Tip #4 – Use the flower food
Don’t forget about the packet of flower food your florist should have given you when you purchased the flowers.
Read the instructions on the back of the packet carefully as the ratio of water to food is very important and the amount of food you should use will be different for every vase. Mix the food with the water before adding the bouquet.
Tip #5 – Cut your stems
Before placing your flowers in the vase, cut the stems at an angle. This will help with water uptake.
Tip #6 – Keep the water clean
For best results, don’t ignore your flower care after initially setting them up. As you’re admiring them, check that the water is clean. Make sure it’s not cloudy or full of debris. If you notice this, change the water immediately. The quick extra step will extend your flower’s life.
If you follow these tips, your beautiful flowers can last up to two weeks.
Tulips are back in our stores for the season, and we want to make sure that after you take them home, they last as long as possible.
We only offer the highest quality tulips available and care for them diligently while they are in our stores. However, to ensure their longevity there are some steps you can take at home.
Understanding Tulips
It is important to know that tulips are different from other cut flowers. Tulips continue to grow even after being cut. Their stems grow upwards and their flowers grow towards light sources.
Because they are active, they will droop. This does not mean they are dying or unhealthy; they are simply “moving”.
Connells Maple Lee also specifically sources tulips with larger heads, which increases the chance of the “drooping” effect while they are growing but is a higher quality flower.
They can easily be recut and shortened if they become too unruly.
It should also be noted that tulips do not require flower food like many other fresh flowers.
Tips to make tulips last longer
Cut them
As with most fresh flowers, it is recommended that you cut some of the stem off from the bottom. For tulips, cut a ½ inch off from the bottom at an angle.
This is done to increase the flowers ability to uptake water, which ensures they don’t wilt or get shocked.
Water
Even though tulips don’t need flower food, they do require a lot of water. Be sure to check the amount of water in the vase daily. It is important that at least the bottom of tulips stems are always covered. Remember, the tulips are still technically growing.
For best practices, give your tulips fresh water everyday or continue adding water as the levels decrease.
Environment
Tulips like to be cool. Keep them in a room that won’t get a lot of heat. To help them maintain their ideal temperature, drop ice cubes into their water.
Be sure to place them somewhere away from direct light, radiators, lamps, tvs, electronics and other items that could cause them to overheat.
A new year means it’s time for new plants, because you haven’t added a new one to your collection since last year. Far too long.
To start 2025 off the right way, we’ve expanded our houseplant offerings with new plants from Proven Winners. We are offering 12 new and unique plants:
Alocasia Mickey Mouse
Algaonema Cold Forest (Zebra)
Birds Nest Fern – Victoria (White Pot)
Ficus Elastica Tineke (small)
Hoya Shining Sea Star™ (Flamingo Dream)
Schismatoglottis Rivera™
Mythic Alocasia Longiloba
“Fozzie” Philodendron Nangaritense Fuzzy
Ficus Cyathistipula
To browse our full Proven Winners houseplant collection visit here: Proven Winners
Peace Lilies, which are not true lilies, are thought to bring peace to those who tend for them. Those who practice Feng Shui believe the Peace Lily harmonizes the energy whenever it is placed and gives feelings of hope to those in its presence.
Orchids are hard to take care of. According to Southern Living, it is believed that caretakers of the plant will be rewarded with good fortune. Others say Orchids are a symbol of creativity and beauty, according to Good Housekeeping.
Feng shui practitioners believe having two philodendron plants in your home helps promote the balanced partnership you hope to achieve with those you live with, according to Good Housekeeping.
The ZZ Plant is supposed to bring prosperity to its caretaker. In Feng Shui the ZZ Plant is said to elevate positive energy in relation to wealth and well-being. It is a very hardy plant and is nicknamed the “eternity plant” to symbolize endurance.
Consider adding one of these plants to your home or office to hopefully have your best year yet!
Welcome to part 2 of our Christmas Gift Guide where we’re helping you find something for everyone on your list.
Part 1, which features our first 12 categories, was posted on Dec. 16.
With just a few days left until Christmas, we hope the rest of this guide eases some of your Christmas shopping anxiety. Here’s the final 12 gift guide categories:
The Christmas Obsessed (For the one who has had their tree up since Nov. 1)
If you’re looking for Christmas gift inspiration or you’re at a loss as to what to get the person that has everything, you’ve come to the right place.
We’ve created a gift guide with 24 categories to help you find the perfect present. Because we have so many suggestions, we are splitting this guide into two parts. Check back for the next installment on December 20. For now, here’s the first 12 categories:
The Cat Parent (This is for the one who constantly has cat hair on them)
Plants are a beautiful, traditional way to celebrate the holidays.
However, some of the plants associated with Christmas are dangerous to our furry friends. If you have a pet and are planning to use live plants to decorate for the holidays, it’s important to know which plants are toxic to pets and how to keep your pets safe.
Holiday plants that are dangerous for pets
Mistletoe
According to the Pet Poison Helpline the American and European variety of mistletoe are not good for animals. Although both types can cause issues for pets, the European variety is the most toxic.
Signs that your pet has ingested mistletoe includes drooling, vomiting and diarrhea which is all caused from the polysaccharides, alkaloids and lectins in the berries on the mistletoe. If a large amount of berries are eaten there can be more serious side effects such as an abnormal heart rate, low blood pressure, ataxia, seizures, collapse and even death.
Holly
The English, Japanese and Chinese varieties of holly have toxic saponins, according to the Pet Poison Helpline.
English holly is the traditional plant used for Christmas decorating. Signs an animal has eaten holly includes vomiting and diarrhea.
Poinsettia
Arguably the most popular Christmas plant besides actual Christmas trees, poinsettias can be found in many houses during the holiday season. These plants are often used to decorate for holiday parties and grace entryways and are often given as gifts.
Contrary to myths, which are hypothesized to have started over a hundred years ago after a child was found dead next to a poinsettia, they are not deadly.
According to the National Capital Poison Center, poinsettias can cause some issues like vomiting, nausea and diarrhea when eaten by pets, but it will not kill them. Some pets may also experience skin irritation if they brush up against the plant.
Amaryllis
The ASPCA states that Amaryllis plants are toxic to dogs, cats and horses because they have lycorine. When ingested, Amaryllis can cause animals to have vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors and depression.
What to do if your pet eats any of these plants
If you even suspect your pet has eaten any parts of these holiday plants immediately seek veterinary assistance and contact either of these hotlines:
ASPCA 24/7 Poison Control Hotline: 888-426-4435
Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661
Tips for keeping pets away from dangerous plants
If you are planning on having any of the listed plants in your home and have pets, it is imperative that you take precautions to keep them away from your animals.
Keep your plants in rooms your pets are not allowed in or place them high up in areas they don’t go, such as on the kitchen table. Consider using the plants as decorations for your front porch as opposed to inside with your pets.
Make sure that even if the plants are out of reach that no debris like leaves or petals fall on the floor where a curious critter can find them.
Place the numbers for the previously listed pet poison hotlines somewhere you can immediately access, like on the fridge, just in case of an accident.
Pet safe holiday plants
Rosemary and christmas cactuses are both non-toxic holiday plant options for those with pets who find a way to get into everything.
Rosemary is often shaped to look like a mini Christmas tree for the holiday season. Christmas cactuses add a pop of color with their bright pinkish-red flowers in bloom. Both are safe and festive options for households with pets.
If preventative measures are taken and you are observant of your pet, your holiday plants and pets can safely coexist together.
“And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.”
Having a mantel in your home offers the opportunity to create a stunning Christmas scene. We’ve compiled some ideas to help you make a “Pinterest worthy” mantel for the holidays.
1. Make the Wreath the Star
Wreaths aren’t just for the front door. A wreath can act as a focal point, an anchor for a room. Placing a wreath above a mantel is the perfect festive touch. No matter what you put actually on the mantel, the look will feel complete.
2. Make a Village
Use the top of your mantel as host to your Christmas village. If you don’t want to place your whole village on the mantel, consider adding one or two houses on the ends for a whimsical feel.
3. Don’t Forget the Floor
Utilize the space around your mantel to enhance your Christmas look. Including lanterns and boxwood trees, which look like mini Christmas trees, will extend the magic.
There are also of course traditional holiday plants, like poinsettias, that when placed around the mantel will create a timeless holiday look.
4. Incorporate Flowers
If the shelf of your mantel is wide enough, consider incorporating flowers into your decor. Add a festive fresh arrangement of flowers to brighten the room or a silk arrangement that will last the entire holiday season.
5. Color Coordinate
Firstly, if your mantel is in a room with a Christmas tree make sure the mantel decor is color coordinated with the tree. For example, if you have a classic red and green Christmas tree, give your mantel a classical look too. But if your tree is pink, blue or any other unusual color combination, make sure your mantel compliments those colors.
Consider making all of the decorations on and around your mantel one color. For instance, if you appreciate the “snow day” feeling, make all of your decorations white. If you’re adding flowers to the mantel’s decor,
6. Hang Ornaments
Stockings are the traditional option to hang from the mantel, but what about including some ornaments? If you have greenery draped over the mantel adding ornaments to it creates a fun look.
