The Dog Days of Floral Summer and Five Tips that Make Ordering Flowers a Breeze

The “Dog Days of Summer” are upon us. Have you ever heard that phrase, and wondered what it means? I did, so I decided to find out. It turns out calling the hottest part of the year “Dog Days” dates back to ancient Roman and Greek astronomy. Sirius, the “Dog Star” rises just before the sun. In those days they thought Sirius added its heat to the sun, resulting in oppressive hot weather. Perfect for growing things like flowers, and also perfect for ruminating to acquaintances about how hot the weather is. I.e. "The dog days, amiright??"

In the flower business, the dog days means spring flowers have come and gone, and a lot of great local summer flowers are now in season or will be soon. Dahlia, zinnia, montbretia crocosmia, sunflowers, allium, amaranth and more. Lots of warm bright oranges, deep reds, burgundies and purples abound.

Summer is sort of the middle of our flower calendar and a reminder that flowers are seasonal in nature. Flower varieties and often color palettes are connected to a certain time of year. Such as Easter and pastels mean Spring, and gold, auburn, rusty tones symbolize fall. In fact, the other day a friend asked me about buying some tulips. I explained to them tulips are spring. Which brings me to the reason for blogging today.

A Novice’s Guide to Ordering Flowers

Have you ever stood in front of your computer or stared into your phone trying to figure out exactly what flowers to send for a specific occasion. Do you send roses for a birthday or is that just for romance? What do you give someone who's going through a loss? And honestly, is there really a right or wrong answer?

Here's the good news—It's not that complicated. The biggest thing to remember is that the florist is on your side. They are invested in making the transaction as smooth as possible and conveying the correct message to recipient of the flowers. Once you understand a few basics, ordering the perfect bouquet becomes simple, stress-free, and a slam dunk.

Step by Step guide to Ordering Flowers

Step 1: Plan Ahead

Choose Your Delivery Date. Important: Order ahead for major holidays at least 10 days to two weeks to ensure your flower choice and delivery slot is available. For spontaneous occasions (just because, congrats, etc) same day turnaround is okay. But the more notice and flexibility the better your flower options will be.

Pro tip: Mark these dates in your calendar right now. Set a reminder for 2 weeks before Valentine's Day, or 7 days before your partner's birthday. Make it a habit, and you'll never scramble again.

Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

This helps guide your flower selection. Bouquets and arrangements range widely in size and price, so set a budget that works for you. A smaller bouquet can be just as meaningful when to say I'm thinking of you. Or a larger arrangement can deliver that "wow" factor on very special occasions.

Step 3: Have your "facts" straight

Are you ordering a delivery? Important details to get exactly correct

- Will the recipient be home or in the office that day?

- Is there a specific day or time that works best for them to receive flowers?

- Earlier in the week can be better for office deliveries

- If it's a home delivery, will someone be there to answer the door?

These details matter. Confirm the address as well as the recipient's name spelling and we'll get it right the first time.

Step 4: Choose Your Flowers and Style

Have a preference for flower type, color or arrangement style and feel? Ask us about which flowers are in season, or what arrangement style sends the correct tone for this occasion. This is where ordering ahead pays off. If you're not totally sure just ask us, we love helping you find the perfect combination. You can order online through our website, call us, or stop by the shop in person at 704 SW Jefferson St in downtown Portland. We're open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

*Weekend delivery available when scheduled in advance.

(Weddings, Events, Special Occasions, Funerals)

Step 5: Know Your Enclosure Card Message

This is a step people often aren't prepared for. Before you hit "order," take a moment and write out what you want to say. Don't leave it blank, and don't overthink it. And remember to sign your name. A few genuine words mean more than you think:

- "Happy Birthday, here's to another year of debauchery and adventure

- "I'm so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you and your family during this difficult time"

- "Congratulations on this promotion/graduation/birth/achievement etc."

- "Hope these flowers brighten your day the way you brighten mine"

Have your message ready to go when you order. It only takes a minute, but it transforms flowers into a heartfelt experience.

And that's all there is to it. Double check your details are all correct then sit back and let us handle it. We'll create a fresh, beautiful arrangement and deliver it on time. Stay tuned to the blog for posts about ordering for special times like birthdays, sympathy, holidays and other often overlooked flower occasions.