What is Designer's Choice?

Today I decided to educate you on Rideau Florist’s Designer’s Choice Arrangements, give you some examples and tell you the best way to order one.

Designer’s choice is an easy way out if you have no idea what to order. All you have to do is select your budget and let the florist work her magic. Here are some of the things she previously conjured up:

Rideau Florist’s Designer’s choice also works for special requests. If you want something specific that we don’t offer on our website, designer’s choice is your best friend. Again, pick your budget and write any special requests into the comment box at checkout (it’s right below the card message when you write the delivery address).

Of course, we still offer free Standard Delivery on all orders placed online. It pays off to give the florist some creative freedom!

Prom?

Prom!

Yes, Rideau Florist does prom flowers. We do wristlet corsages, pin-on corsages and boutonnieres. Before I go on, let me wow you with some pictures.

Corsages

Most corsages can be made pin-on, or wristlet. A change of color is also possible. These are just examples, we can make anything to suit your taste, color, or flower preferences. We also have a neat rhinestone bracelet we can use for wristlet corsages instead of the usual silver elastic (see picture 1 row 2).

Boutonnieres

Available in a variety of colors and styles, our boutonnieres are both beautiful and affordable. Examples below can be altered to suit your personal needs.

Like what you see? Our prices start from $15. Best way to take advantage of customized arrangements is to call 613 288 93 15. Like something you see above? Click HERE to view our PROM section.

BBB Accredited!

Mixed in with the sweet smell of roses in the air is the sweet smell of victory. This victory was brought on to us by a shiny new certificate on the Rideau Florist’s wall which proudly states “BBB accredited”. For those of you who will walk into the shop and stare at the beautiful document wondering what it all means, I will explain what BBB is.

Better Business Bureau (or BBB) gathers information from all businesses, reporting it back to consumers to make sure that the latter get the best service possible. The ratings will bring you back to your High School days – they go from A+ to F, and take into account many things. For example, a younger business like us has an A- because we haven’t been open for long. Other things BBB considers are complaints and their resolutions – how fast a issue was resolved and whether it was resolved well (if at all).

Now, what does it mean to be accredited?

If a business has been accredited by the BBB, it means the BBB has determined that the business meets accreditation standards which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints.

To sum it all up, because we are now BBB accredited, you know that you get a higher standard of service, customer service and products. Although that has always been Rideau Florist’s promise, it now comes with a reliable certificate you can rely on.

Questions? Comments? Leave them below, write into info@rideauflorist.ca or call 613 288 9315.

Ottawa Breaking Records

Every morning I follow the same old routine of peeling my eyes open and rushing to get ready (at a snail’s pace), but today I was in for a rude awakening. When I tuned into my favorite radio station in the car, the awakening came. “Today, a record high temperature of 35 degrees”. The day before was +32C and everyone in the office felt like we were melting, not to mention the flowers.

Before you start panicking and cancelling your flower orders, rest assured that we take good care of them and feast your eyes on our personal Flower Mobile – one of our delivery vehicles.

Although not all of our cars have the fancy designs, they all have the AC blasting to make sure that not only our driver stays cool, but your flowers arrive as fresh as ever. And although it’s just as hot in the store as it is outside, the flowers are safe here too. They are kept in the fridge until they are ready to face the recipient – we treat them better than we treat ourselves.

We are dressed up in very informal gear so don’t get surprised if you come into the shop and see us in shorts. After the first 30+ degree day, we eagerly discovered the wonders of usedottawa.com, and got really crafty with installing a (very weak) air conditioner.

Until the heat wave passes, we are taking extra care to make sure your flowers don’t go tanning and turn brown, so enjoy the weather while it lasts and leave everything in our hands.

The Extraordinary Orchid

Today, Rideau Florist Ottawa will tell you about the meaning of the graceful, classic and endlessly beautiful orchid.

Orchids are a long-lasting and elegant type of flower. Their graceful beauty demands attention, and their reputation gives off a sense of refinement and innocence. There are thousands of orchid varieties and colors which can help you express your message, like happy Mother’s Day. (You can get 20% off your Mother’s Day order if you place it this week. Discount code: MD2010 )

Orchids are the largest flowering plant family. Although they are commonly thought of as tropical flowers, orchids grow naturally in almost all climates.  They are exquisitely beautiful to the everyday flower lover and are considered to be some of the world’s most luxurious flowers to specialists.

Historically the meanings of orchids have included wealth, love, and beauty. After the rise in popularity in Victorian England, the meaning of orchids moved towards being a symbol of luxury. Orchids have also been believed to carry healing and protective powers, allowing them to repel disease.

Today, they are generally regarded as a symbol of rare and delicate beauty. Orchids are the most popular houseplant. Their charm and mystique delight those who receive them, for few other flowers have the ability to impress their recipient in the same way that the orchid can. Among the many different types of flowers available, the orchid holds a special place as one of the most alluring and captivating flowers, making it a special choice for the treasured people in your life.

Click here to view Rideau Florist’s orchid arrangements

Clean-Cut Carnations

Hello again, Rideau Florist Ottawa is continuing the blog series on the meaning of flowers just in time for Mother’s Day. Today we will tell you about the Carnation – the official Mother’s Day Flower with an impressive history. Speaking of Mother’s Day, quick reminder! Get 20% off if you order this week. Discount code: MD2010

The carnation can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Roman, who used the flower as a part of the decor because of its long-lasting beauty.

With time, carnations gained a variety of both meaning and colors, making it an easy, simple and beautiful solution for any occasion. Light red carnations, are often used to convey admiration,while the dark red version expresses deeper love and affection. White carnations are associated with purity and luck, and pink carnations are often given as a sign of gratitude.

As an immediately recognizable flower, carnations possess charm to this day. By retaining its status as a floral mainstay for such a long time, the carnation has proven itself to be a lasting flower in more ways than one.

Click HERE to view all of Rideau Florist’s Carnation arrangements.

The Meaning of Lilies + Discount Code

As Mother’s day approaches, Rideau Florist Ottawa will tell you all about the flower and color meanings. Today, we will talk about the lily but first – a special offer from Rideau Florist Ottawa. Get 20% off anything on our website this week when you use the code MD2010. Happy Mother’s Day from Rideau Florist Ottawa, we hope that she loves your gift.

Now let us explore the wonderful and beautifully scented lily. Dating back to the 16th century and plays a big role in ancient mythology. The Greeks respected the lily greatly, for they thought it emits milk of the Goddess Hera, queen of the Gods.

Although we do not hold lilies in such a grand significance today, they still symbolize all good things. They represent sympathy, prosperity and virtue. They are long-lasting and enchant the recipient with  a sweet smell.

Most of our lilies come in closed or half-bloomed form to make sure that they please your eye as long as they can. The best way to take care of lilies is to place them in warm water, stems cut at an angle, with no leaves or petals touching the water. Change the liquid once every three days or so and your lilies will stay divinely beautiful for longer.

To view Rideau Florist’s breathtaking lily arrangements click here.

Best of the Best – Gerbera Daisies

To prepare you for Mother’s day Rideau Florist Ottawa  decided to make a series of blog posts about flower types and meanings. We’ll start with my favorite flower, the Gerbera, and work our way through the list. Keep reading and a discount code might pop up somewhere too! So, let’s dive right into the big, bright, and long-lasting Gerbera daisy.

Named after the German naturalist Traugott Gerber, the flower has over 30 varieties. They stand for happiness, beauty, and wonder. Because they are very bright and cheery, they can also mean innocence(white), love(red) and appreciation(orange).

This means that a bouquet of Gerberas can lift any spirit and brighten anybody’s day. Because of their variety, nearly anyone is likely to enjoy this flower. It’s perfect for both males (reds, whites, oranges, yellows) and females (pinks, whites, reds).

Although there are many flowers that carry deep meanings, Gerberas are the most bright and cheerful of all. Their bold and striking appearance will make a lasting impression on the recipient. The flowers will also stay a while, being nearly as long-lasting as a regular daisy, or a sunflower.

Click here to view our Gerbera arrangements to anyone in Ottawa and Area.

We give discounts to our friends:

Administrative week April 18 - 24

They work hard for you all year, taking your calls, scheduling your appointments and always being there when you need them. It’s time to thank them for all the hard work. April 18 – 24 is administrative week, and Rideau Florist has beautiful and affordable solutions for you. Below are some of our best-sellers. They are long-lasting and a suitable decoration for any work place. As usual, you can take advantage of our Free Standard Delivery for Online Orders. Rideau Florist is and affordable Ottawa Florist that you can rely on!


Make a Wish $44.95 –                   Brighten Your Day $44.95

10 Mixed Tulips $39.95 –                Polka Dots $44.95

Click HERE to view
All Administrative Week Arrangements


Send flowers anywhere

We give discounts to our friends

Spring Clean – Rideau Florist’s Flower tips

Spring means out with the old and in with the new. It’s time to clean up the winter mess and bring some freshness into your home and garden. Below compiled a list of friendly tips and reminders for flower-lovers everywhere.

1.  Trim or toss your winter plants

If you still have flowers from winter you’d like to keep, you have to find a way to breathe new life into them. First, examine the plant carefully and zero in on any dead branches. Carefully cut them off using a pair of secateurs. This will ensure that only the living parts of the flower get the food and the nutrients. Remove any dead leaves from the remaining branches and soil. Now, pour water in a bottle or a watering can and let it stand for a couple of day. This distills your water to make sure that the plants are getting only the best!

2. Get some Spring flowers!

While your winter plants recover, decorate your home with Spring Plants and Spring Arrangements. Follow the same watering procedure for the plants as listed above. If an arrangement is what tickles your fancy, make sure to take your flowers out of the vase and cut the ends at an angle. Put them back into the water right away. If the flowers drank most of the water, refill the vase with warm tap water. This will make the arrangement last much longer.

3. Plant a garden.

Springtime is perfect for planting a garden. Don’t know where to start? Get some seeds or outdoor plants, along with a shovel and a bucket for water. It’s better to start planting after rain, so that the soil is most and the seeds/plants have something to feed on. Make sure to plant in places where there will be lots of sunshine. After depositing the seed into the soil, bury it with the shovel and water it right away. If there is no rain for a few days, it’s better to keep watering your plants to make sure they have enough nutrients to grow and flourish.

Follow those three steps above and surround yourself with blooming and uplifting flowers, most of which will last you until the cold comes back.