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!
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)
“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.
They look just like miniature Christmas trees, making them great for those who wish they could have a tree in every room of their house and for those who want something small. They are also great for those who want something festive in their office at work.
Once you get a boxwood tree, you of course want it to last as long as possible, especially through the holiday season.
The best way to keep your boxwood tree looking fresh is by giving it water. To keep your boxwood tree happy, simply add water to the bottom of the container, like you would with fresh flowers.
Your cut boxwood tree won’t last forever, but by keeping it hydrated, it will last you until the holidays come to an end.
A circle has no end, which is one of the reasons why a Christmas wreath is a symbol of eternity.
One made from natural evergreen won’t last forever, of course, but you can take some simple steps to get the most out of it.
Make a noble gesture: Just as not all Christmas trees are created equal, the same holds true for wreaths. They have different characteristics, one of which has to do with needle retention.
Balsam wreaths are among the most fragrant, but they have a reputation for shedding needles. It has to do with where they are grown: Canada, northeastern states, the upper Great Lakes and Pennsylvania.
Noble fir wreaths, on the other hand, hail from the Pacific Northwest, where they are tested by high altitude, heavy rain and frost, and high winds. That makes them hearty in the face of what the holiday season throws at them.
The noble’s blue-green needles are rounded, giving them a fluffier look than the flatter balsam branches.
While noble fir might cost more than balsam because of growing time and shipping costs, it more than makes up for in longevity and construction.
Soak it: Any plant is on borrowed time once it is cut; however, keeping it moist will delay the inevitable. You can soak it in a bathtub or utility sink filled with room-temperature water for 24 hours to give it a deep hydration before you hang it.
Spray it with hairspray: You can seal in the wreath’s moisture with hairspray, which acts like glue and holds the needles on. To avoid a mess, it’s best to spray outdoors before hanging the wreath on a door, window or wall.
Mist it: Every day or every other day, lightly mist the wreath to keep it moist. To avoid getting walls wet or creating streaks on glass, remove the wreath from where it’s hanging while doing this.
Keep it shady and cool: Avoid direct sunlight and hang it on the outside of a door; otherwise, it can get cooked behind glass if hung between a main door and a storm door. The space between the doors suffers from reduced airflow, lower moisture and heat.
These steps will keep your Christmas wreath delivering joy throughout the holiday season.
The season of family and friend gatherings has arrived with Thanksgiving just around the corner.
If you’re not hosting this year and want to show your appreciation to the host of the party but don’t know where to start or what is appropriate, we’ve got you covered. Whether it’s Friendsgiving at your besties or Thanksgiving at your aunt’s house, we have something to help you say thanks to the host for their hard work.
Host/Hostess gift guide:
Flowers
A classic. It’s hard to go wrong with flowers, but how do you pick the perfect arrangement for the host? Consider going seasonal and giving them our Fall Bouquet filled with roses, sunflowers and carnations. Alternatively, you can give them a splash of color with our Garden Bouquet that features a vibrant hydrangea, daisy poms and mini carnations.
There’s a bouquet for every taste on our website, or you can stop at one of our stores and we’ll help you find just the right one for your host.
Chocolates
We know after the big holiday meal no one wants to think about eating again for a year. However, the chocolates can be stored away for your host to enjoy at a later date. It will be a perfect snack for them later when the last thing they want to think about is going into the kitchen to prepare more food.
A serving board
If your host volunteered to host the gathering, chances are they are a party planner and typically have many people visit their home throughout the year. A serving board is perfect for them to have something cute and functional to display cheese and crackers. This board features a beautiful floral design and the sentiment “the sweet comfort of home”. It will show your appreciation to them for opening their home up to you.
A plant
Plants are the perfect addition to any home and your host will be able to appreciate your gift long after the holiday season. This is also a great gift for the host who has everything, because there is no such thing as too many plants. Consider gifting this Bromeliad Planter in a seasonal orange container or the timeless Friendship Garden.
A gift basket
Everyone loves a good gift basket. Our “Movie Night” basket is perfect for the movie buff while our snack basket will offer them plenty of treats to enjoy well after the special occasion.
Tea
Hosting is fun, but stressful. Give your host some tea to calm their nerves and offer them a little caffeine boost. The Jubilee collection from Tea Forte has a little bit of everything with 10 different blends. There’s something for every taste.
A decoration
If they are a decorator or a collector of trinkets, this Willow Tree figure, “With Gratitude” is a wonderful way to say thanks. The bright yellow flowers the figure is holding invoke joy and the message on the accompanying card will show your gratitude towards them. They will always remember the special occasion whenever they glance at the gift.
Jewelry
Is your host a fashionista? Then treat them to a new piece of jewelry. Consider the Isle of Skye abstract “joy” bracelet to express how being invited to their gathering and being in their company makes you feel.
When picking out a gift for your host, just keep in mind that it truly is the thought that counts. No matter what you chose, your host will be grateful for the acknowledgement of their hard work to put together the event.
If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year you have a lot on your plate from meal planning and cooking, to coordinating schedules and setting up the pullout couch. We know you’re working hard to make it a memorable holiday.
To help ease some of the stress and make one decision easier, we’ve created a list of floral table centerpiece options. Many of these will be the star of the show, and likely the only decoration you need on the table.
There’s something for every style including smaller arrangements for intimate family gatherings and those who like simplicity and grand tablescapes that are great for larger tables and those looking to make a statement.
Floral Table centerpieces for intimate gatherings
Harvest Beauty – This small arrangement is bursting with color. It’s housed in a festive glass pumpkin container and features red roses, football mums and orange carnations. The pops of purple caspia add to the colorful, joyous effect. It’s just the right size for any small gathering.
Grateful – If you’re looking for a rustic, but bright fall look this arrangement will perfectly match the aesthetic. Orange carnations, an array of yellow flowers and dried oak leaves fill the yellow ceramic pot, creating a beautiful autumn centerpiece.
Autumn Light – This arrangement features a candle to help bring warmth and light to the table. It is contained in a dish and features red carnations, an array of poms, orange mini carnations and purple statice. It’s the perfect arrangement for those looking for a traditional centerpiece with a pop of color.
Fall Blooms – This arrangement is housed in a unique, square orange frosted vase and features bronze daisy poms, orange mini carnations, dried oak leaves and more. It’s perfect for those wanting a modern Thanksgiving look.
Thanksgiving Harvest – Another great option for those who embrace pumpkin season. The arrangement is held by an orange ceramic pumpkin and contains peach carnations, orange mini carnations, bronze daisy poms and more.
Floral Table centerpieces for grand gatherings
Autumn Meadow Deluxe – This classic bouquet featuring red roses, sunflowers and orange carnations sits in a clear vase, providing an earthy and open touch. The colors are vibrant and will catch the eye of everyone in attendance.
Autumn Warmth – This centerpiece has two orange candles and is adorned in peach roses, football mums, poms and more. It’s a great option for those looking for something traditional to fill the table.
Horn of Plenty – This showstopper is a cornucopia basket holding an arrangement with burgundy roses, sunflowers, burgundy carnations, lots of poms, dried oak leaves and more. This centerpiece will be the talk of dinner and tied in beautifully with the spread of food.
Plentiful – A white wooden turkey is the star of this centerpiece. The decorative statue is surrounded by peach roses, football mums, mini green hydrangeas, yellow carnations and more. It is a wonderful addition to your turkey day feast.
Family Gathering Centerpiece – This four-candle centerpiece has peach roses, sunflowers, burgundy carnations and more. The fall plaid ribbon embedded ties together the seasonal look.
Whatever type of gathering you are planning for Thanksgiving flowers are the perfect decoration to celebrate the special holiday.
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.
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!
If you’ve ever seen the movie “A Christmas Story,” (if not, TBS plays it 12 times in a row starting on Christmas Eve) you might recall the scene when the Parkers venture to a tree lot.
“This isn’t one of those trees that all the needles falls off, is it?” asks Mrs. Parker.
The salesman responds: “No, that’s them balsams.”
Balsam fir is one of the most fragrant of Christmas tree species, but as the line from the movie suggests, it has a warranted reputation for shedding needles.
While Connells Maple Lee doesn’t sell Christmas trees, we offer a wide range of fresh Christmas wreaths. Traditionally, they were made from balsam fir and delivered a solid value for our customers.
In recent years, however, after noticing a decline in the quality of the balsam wreaths, we switched to noble fir wreaths. They vary in size and come undecorated or adorned with the likes of pine cones, red berries and juniper. Bows and balls can be added, too.
Connells Maple Lee also offers silk balsam wreaths that are priced comparable to the old fresh balsam wreaths.
Cheryl Brill, Connells Maple Lee’s chief operating officer, said that the balsam wreaths were not constructed as well as they had been, perhaps because of a shortage of labor that required earlier and earlier production schedules.
“And there’s been an awful lot of drought,” she said. “Evergreens don’t respond well to that. When you cut them extra early to produce wreaths and then you’ve been having a drought situation, you end up with naked wreaths by the end of the season.”
‘Noble in stature’
If you aren’t familiar with noble fir, consider that it has been referred to as “the Cadillac of Christmas trees” and “the king of holiday greens.”
Here’s how The Real Christmas Tree Board, a national promotion and research organization funded by North American Christmas tree growers, describes the noble fir:
“Noble in name and stature, this stately tree features short, blue-green needles. The Noble fir has some of the best needle retention among Christmas tree species, with stiff branches and an attractive form to handle heavy ornaments. You’ll also find it used as greenery for wreaths and garland.”
To understand why noble fir is superior to balsam fir in needle retention, it helps to understand where the trees grow.
Balsam fir is grown in Canada, the northeastern states, the upper Great Lakes and Pennsylvania, according to The Real Christmas Tree Board; most noble fir is grown in the Pacific Northwest, at a significantly higher altitude than balsam. Continental Floral Greens, the maker of our noble wreaths, harvests the trees on the slopes of Mount St. Helens.
Nobles must be sturdy enough to withstand high winds. They also face 60 inches of rain annually and plenty of frost, which are key factors in their superior moisture and needle retention.
The noble wreaths are more expensive than the balsam wreaths, which reflects the longer growing time for noble and the shipping distance from Washington State.
While switching from traditional balsam wasn’t an easy decision, Brill noted that it was motivated by a desire to offer a better-constructed, longer-lasting option to customers.
“The main thing is their longevity,” she said of the noble. “And they are a very pretty wreath. The fir is fluffier because the needles are kind of rounded. It’s not a flat branch like a balsam is. So it has more dimension to it. They’ve always been my favorite.”
