POSTED: Thursday, February 10, 2011, 6:00 PM
Filed Under: Critical Mass
Just in time for Valentine's Day, here's where to find fabulous, totally giveable flora — from the traditional to the truly unique. And while you're at it, check our round-up of Valentine's Day haps in this week's Arts section.
Poppy: This flower shop (616 S. 6th St.) encourages its customers to "experience the English garden." Just by walking into the cozy shop, one truly gets the vibe of an English green thumb's backyard. Simple glass vases of vibrant pink tulips and bright orange dandelions grace weathered wooden tables, and hand-painted Union Jack mugs sit next to floral-patterned galoshes on a shelf. What makes Poppy truly unique, according to co-owner Anne Gould, is not just the English atmosphere, but the preparation. Hand-tied bouquets of blooms sans vase are a staple, and have what she calls "a very English look." Many bunches also include unusual touches, like branches, herbs, and berries. Gould buys all her flowers directly from Holland fresh each week, and to avoid wasted materials, she only orders what customers need. "People are concerned with being 'green,' and this is as green as a luxury business like flowers can get," says store designer Carolyn Rizzo.
For Valentine's Day, Poppy is offering its Valentine spring mix, which includes spray roses, tulips, heather, and ranunculus. Another stunner is the large, dark red Black Magic rose bouquet. Present it to your significant other using a posh English accent, and you'll really complete the picture.
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Sullivan Owen Floral & Event Design: Shop
owner Sullivan Owen touts her brand new floral studio (510 Bainbridge St.) as "not your grandma's flower arranging." With her dark and rich red and purple bouquets, as well as her use of one of her favorite flowers, the anemone (think sea creature), she couldn't be more right. Owen's business, she says, is more like a customized art studio than a standard walk-in flower shop. She believes each design should be based on the client's most specific preferences, and likes to have a face-to-face conversation to get to the bottom of what each customer needs. "I shop every day at different markets, and try to get less-traditional types of flowers," says Owen. "I don't use standard American florist staples, and I try to do a little bit of everything." The anemone in particular, with which Owen says she's "obsessed," comes in a dizzying variety of colors, and the white variety with its large black center is particular striking.
While you can't just walk into Sullivan Owen and pick up a baby-pink bouquet for your sweetie, this is surely the place to customize a bunch that goes above and beyond for V-day (and scores you major brownie points.)
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Cedrone's Flowers: This shop (800 Lombard St.) is what you might imagine a mom-and-pop corner store would be —after all, husband and wife team Janet and Carlos Alvarez have been running it for almost 21 years. They're offering traditional Valentine's fare — roses and other pink or red bouquets, complete with love-themed decorations like glittering hearts or a box of chocolates. Custom orders are no problem at Cedrone's, but owner Janet Alvarez says they also carry easy paper-wrapped "pick me up" bouquets for that last-minute rush (read: panicked husbands). They also offer flowering plants and exotic flowers like calla lilies and orchids.
For a cheeky touch, throw in one of Cedrone's plush animals along with your flowers. Nothing says "I love you" like synthetic fibers.
Market Blooms: Located in the Reading Terminal, this shop
(1100 Filbert St.) has an impressive display of flowers in every imaginable hue, the color they really want you to remember is green-environmentally green, that is. All their flowers are organically grown in South Jersey, and they only use compost and other all-natural organic fertilizers, and you can be sure no chemicals have touched your bouquet. Manager Sydney Poor says that because the store is located in the Reading Terminal Market, it's more like a "grocery store grab-and-go" than a traditional florist's shop. You can also easily run in and pick a few different individual flowers right out of a container to make your own custom bunch.
For Valentine's, they of course have roses in ready-made bouquets, as well as other pre-done bouquets and bunches.If you're a real go-getter, start planting your own Valentine's flowers for next year—Market Blooms has a fully-equipped garden store as well.
Flowers & Company: Owner Jonathan Makar moved into his business space (119 South 19th St.)because he loved the neighborhood. To give back just in time for Valentine's, he's offering 15 percent off V-Day bouquets to customers who bring in a receipt from business around his, like Joan Shepp, Kiehl's, or Boyd's. Walk-in customers also receive 10 percent off. It seems to be a continuation of his effort to bring beauty and color to the area. For the holiday, Flowers & Company is offering about ten special arrangement offers in vases, with flowers like amaryllis, red Gerber daisies, and pink tulips. Some are simple yet adorable, like the "Be My Valentine" red daisy bouquet in a pink vase, while others are more dramatic, like the bright red rose bouquet arranged in the shape of a heart. He says it's easy for customers to run in and get a customized bouquet in five minutes. So easy, in fact, that
Philadelphia Magazine named the shop the best place for a bouquet to-go. Quick flowers and a neighborly discount? Like you needed another reason to shop.
