Boston Flora

Tag: Holiday Wreath

  • Holiday Wreaths 2014 – Where We Are This Week

    Holiday Wreaths 2014 – Where We Are This Week

    There are many interesting garden related events taking place in the beginning of December, but luckily, many Garden Club of the Back Bay members and friends have decided to dedicate a portion of their week to our Annual Wreath Project, taking place today, December 1 through Thursday, December 4 at The First Lutheran Church of Boston.  We’ll be decorating and delivering over 400 wreaths to friends and neighbors.  While fully decorated wreaths are only available by advance order, a simple wreath with or without one of our signature bows may be purchased on site at the Church, which is located at 299 Berkeley Street, on the corner of Berkeley Street and Marlborough Street.  Do stop by and view our operation if you are able, and put your name on our mailing list for next season.  You can choose your ribbon and walk away with a fragrant holiday treasure.

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  • Holiday Wreaths 2012 Kick Off

    Holiday Wreaths 2012 Kick Off

    Yes, we know Thanksgiving hasn’t even been celebrated yet,  but Garden Club of the Back Bay members are gearing up for our best Holiday Wreath Project ever. Incredible natural materials have been gathered all year in preparation for four days of marathon crafting at The First Lutheran Church of Boston December 3 – 6. Over the following weeks we’ll update you on what’s new, what will stay the same, how to order, what to think about, but for now, we’d just like to give you a heads up – past customers will receive a Holiday Wreath Order Form in the mail shortly. We did not send second notices last year, due to the overwhelming response to the initial mailing. We have time and volunteer limitations, and must be firm, cutting off orders for fully decorated wreaths once we reach our maximum number. We deliver over 400 wreaths in December, 225 of which are fully decorated. We just can’t do 226, so please order early. You may also download and print our order form from this website, and mail it in with payment. Don’t risk disappointment. Below is an example of a wreath we created last year. Each, as you know, is custom designed to your specifications. You will not see your wreath on another door, trust us. Have fun with the ordering, or give us “designer’s choice” leeway. Either way, we know you’ll be happy.  We feature the colors of autumn below, for a client who didn’t want an overly traditional look.

     

  • Wreath of the Day 2011 – Scheduling

    Wreath of the Day 2011 – Scheduling

    There are many timing factors for The Garden Club of the Back Bay to consider while preparing for wreath week.  Perhaps the most complex is the scheduling of our delivery personnel.  We deliver over two days, Wednesdays and Thursdays, with two hour delivery windows in the morning, afternoon and evening.  We like to have two to a car, a driver (to double park) and a runner (to carry the wreath to its destination.)  Our evening slot coincides with rush hour, and so that assignment is less popular with our members than the morning or afternoon time frames.  We need cars spacious enough to accommodate our wreaths without crushing.  Our favorite destinations are buildings with doormen, who are blessedly always there to accept delivery.  Sometimes a car goes back to a home more than once if the customer isn’t there, even though we’ve confirmed time of delivery in advance.  We know, life happens, and we just don’t feel comfortable leaving our beautiful creations on a doorstep.  Our decorators don’t sign up in advance – we welcome them at any time, and there is room for all at The First Lutheran Church.  We do have to schedule our hours with the Church personnel, the wreath and poinsettia drop off with our nursery, grocery and lunch deliveries, and trash pick up.  Somehow it all gets done.  The beautiful wreath pictured below, loaded with fragile dried flowers, was carefully hand carried home by the owner, so no scheduling was required.

  • Wreath of the Day 2011 – Special Orders

    Wreath of the Day 2011 – Special Orders

    Each holiday wreath order received by The Garden Club of the Back Bay is a special order, but some are more specific than others.  For instance, a customer may request a fully decorated indoor wreath with designer’s choice bow and accents.  This leaves the design decisions to the decorator, which of course we love.  Another customer may ask for a fully decorated indoor wreath with a deep garnet bow (not burgundy, but not red) and light gold accents with lotus pods and no grasses.  Or, we may be asked to design a fully decorated outdoor wreath with a gold bow and gold accents for a windy location on a black door.    The client for the wreath pictured below, one of a matched pair, asked for a Della Robbia inspired wreath with a burgundy and gold bow.  This is one of a few examples of our use of lots of artificial materials, which was necessary in order to pull off the “look.”  The wreaths are hung high on outdoor pillars, so, from a distance, the wreaths should look quite natural.

  • Wreath of the Day 2011 – How It Begins

    Wreath of the Day 2011 – How It Begins

    Each year, in the fall, The Garden Club of the Back Bay begins preparing for our annual Holiday Wreath Sale.  Once prices are determined, order forms are printed and mailed to everyone who purchased from us the previous year, and to those who purchased two years ago and who did not, for one reason or another, buy again.  After two years, we drop names from our mailing list, since we truly are at capacity.  Notices go out in the bulletin for The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay, and on this web site.  Word of mouth is our best advertisement.  The classic wreath shown below is designed to be hung outside, since holly is a prominent design feature.  Holly speaks to the spirit of Christmas, yet does poorly when hung indoors, drying out quickly.

     

  • Holiday Wreaths 2011 – Deadline Approaching

    November 30 is the deadline for ordering fully decorated holiday wreaths from The Garden Club of the Back Bay.  You may be able to visit our workshop at The First Lutheran Church of Boston, 299 Berkeley Street, December 5 – 8, and purchase a plain wreath, or a wreath with one of our amazing bows, but we cannot accept orders for fully decorated wreaths once we are at the Church.  This opportunity only comes once a year, people, so don’t let it slip by!  An order form may be found at https://bostonflora.com/products-page/, and you may fax your order to 617-249-1762.  Payment can follow, or we will give you instructions for paying through PayPal.

  • Garden Club of the Back Bay Holiday Wreaths – Time is Running Out

    We hate to nag.  Really.  But do you realize how close you’re cutting it if you plan to enjoy one of The Garden Club of the Back Bay’s magnificent holiday wreaths this season?  Our deadline for fully decorated wreath orders is Thursday, December 2 – we might still be able to provide you with a wreath with a bow if you order by fax or email on Sunday the 4th, or drop by The First Lutheran Church, 299 Berkeley Street (on the corner of Berkeley and Marlborough Streets) during our wreath making days, Monday December 6 – Thursday, December 9, but those exquisitely decorated, drop dead gorgeous wreaths we’re known for?  Not a chance.  We’re not just being mean – we have a limited number of decorators, and are only on site for four precious (and long) days during the month of December.  So please, don’t risk disappointment, and email (info@bostonflora.com) or fax your order form (617-249-1762) today.  The check can follow, or we’ll tell you how to pay with PayPal. You’ll find the order form here.

  • Garden Club of the Back Bay Holiday Wreaths – Natural Materials

    We are always happy to showcase beautiful natural materials on the wreaths we make during Wreath Week, December 6 – 9 this year.  Where do we find these materials, you may ask, since we live in such an urban environment?  Well, some of us are fortunate enough to have a weekend home or a summer place, or better yet, friends and relatives with a weekend home and a summer place.  We also take trips out to public parks (with permission, naturally!), and have been know to scavenge on road sides.  We walk by friends’ suburban yards with a gleam in our eye and pruners in our pockets.  Supporters have been known to mail us leaves, pods and cones when on their travels.  We buy half dead flowers in the deep discount bin at the flower market, and beg for wilting arrangements from our hairdressers’ front desks.  Even in the middle of the summer, as we sit on a beach, we’re fingering some interesting shells and wondering if we can drill a hole in it without cracking the entire piece.  Some may say we’re obsessed.  Please consider ordering one of our beautiful creations – the order form is right HERE.

  • Holiday Wreaths 2010 – Everything is Custom

    It’s that time of year again – The Garden Club of the Back Bay is accepting orders for holiday wreaths, to be created during the first full week in December, ready for delivery (where applicable) or pickup on Wednesday, December 8 and Thursday, December 9.  Order forms are just now being mailed to our loyal customer base, those of you who, during the past two seasons, have purchased from us, or who have added their names to our mailing list.  If you wish to receive an order form in the mail, send your address to info@bostonflora.com.  You will also be able to print the form from this website.

    In the coming weeks you’ll hear more about our wreaths right here, but we thought we’d start the discussion with the simplest of descriptions: Everything is Custom.  What that means is that each and every fully decorated wreath is designed to your specification.  Do you like a formal, Christmas look for an indoor space?  Are you planning to hang your wreath outside on a barn door?  Is the wreath going to a seaside cottage, or to a sleek, contemporary condominium?  We will work with you on color and accent choices, and no two wreaths (unless they’re a matched set) will be alike.  That means you won’t see “your” wreath on a neighbor’s door!  Also, while we are happy to publish pictures of wreaths from past years, don’t try to order an identical one – probably the ribbon isn’t available, or the individual decorator may not be available as a volunteer this season.  You will, however, be pleased – we guarantee it!  Below is a wreath made by Margaret Pokorny, one of a set  hung in a spacious lobby, designed for maximum impact.  The shot was taken in the workshop before delivery.

  • In The Garden Online Auction

    COGdesign announces the In The Garden Online Auction to benefit community green spaces.  Bids will be accepted through Tuesday, April 13, at www.cogdesign.org. Items include a granite compass rose by sculptor Karin Stanley (pictured below), a weekend getaway on Martha’s Vineyard, organic compost from Coast of Maine, a 7’ tall hand-crafted iron tuteur in Mediterranean blue, and many other wonderful items for bidding! Hand tools, house improvement services, garden-inspired art, personal adornments (beads), wine & food, garden consultations, museum memberships, books, ONE-OF-A-KIND treasures, and, naturally, a Garden Club of the Back Bay holiday wreath.

    In The Garden Online Auction is brought to you by COGdesign – the Community Outreach Group for Landscape Design – landscape professionals dedicated to providing pro bono planning and design services to homeless shelters, public schools, community gardens, low income housing, and neighborhood parks. Wherever people need plants, gardens, and parks, you’ll find COGdesign volunteers lending a hand.

    Celebrate the start of spring by visiting IN THE GARDEN Online Auction to invigorate your hibernating soul and satisfy your craving for sunshine and warmth! Color, crafts, and creative inspirations will be yours for the highest bid.