Plant Profile: Fabulous Ferns
Plant Profile: Fabulous Ferns Delicate, both in appearance and temperament, ferns are a beautiful addition to any home. Their soft leaf structure and often bizarre root systems make them an interesting piece of living art. Sensitive to drought and heat, they...
Love Your Flowers
When you tell someone what you would like as a gift, you can really love your flowers. Let me explain. It was a couple of days before Christmas when a gentlemen came into our shop for a gift for his wife. He was very specific that he wanted a group of different...
Three New Plants!
We love bringing in new plants at Flowers Talk Tivoli and sharing them with you! Here’s a little bit about three special plants we have in the store. Peperomia Puteolata or “Stepladder plant” How cute are these little guys? Fleshy-leaved Peperomia...
Spring Is In Our Store!
Happy Spring! I know, you must think that I am crazy, but in the floral world we are usually working one season ahead. Gone are the amaryllis and poinsettias and out come the potted tulips, muscari and daffodils. Daffodils galore! Spring is truly my favourite...
Remembrance Day Gratitude
On November 11th of each year we honour those who have fought, sacrificed and served our country. One way we do this is by donning a little plastic poppy over our hearts. Each year, the Poppy Campaign of the Royal Canadian Legion raises millions of dollars to support...
Rosh Hashanah Flowers
Wishing you a Sweet & Happy New Year! Rosh Hashanah is a traditional Jewish holiday that celebrates the beginning of the Jewish New Year. It begins at sundown on Sunday September 9th until Tuesday September 11th. It is one of the biggest holidays in the Jewish...
Say hello to Dahlias!
When one floral season ends, another begins. As much as we hate to say goodbye to our beloved peonies, we are so happy to say hello to our lovely dahlias! Dahlias come in almost every colour of the rainbow, except for blue, and are a happy cheerful flower that can...
Homes for the Holidays 2017 – Part One
Well, that’s a wrap to another successful Homes for the Holidays,a yearly fundraisor in support of Hospice Care Ottawa. This marked the 15th year for the tour and the 15th year since Tivoli Florist has been involved. It is a fantastic opportunity for local Ottawa...
Plant Profile: Watering
While each plant type requires it’s own tailored watering schedule, there are a few general guidelines anyone can follow, at least when starting out, to help make sure your plants get all the moisture they need without risking drowning. I’ll go over some basic rules for all plants to help you acclimate any new green friend to your particular home environment.
Preserving wedding flowers
You spent months planning and pinning your dream bouquet, but when the day finally comes it can seem over in a flash! You carried it down the aisle, you glanced at it over dinner, but by the end of the night, you’re lucky to know where it is, and then what?...
Mother’s Day in Ottawa
Grey skies, high waters, chilly nights; spring in Ottawa is always a delight! The forecast this weekend may look bleak outside, but we have all the bright, spring colours to brighten your mother’s special day this Sunday! Peonies are just coming into season and...
Everyone’s a princess with floral crowns
Once a daisy-filled staple of the average hippy, the floral crown has become one of the most popular bridal accessories of the past few years. Not just for rock festivals and sit-ins anymore, the crown can be styled to any theme: bohemian and natural, delicate...
Plant Profile: Philodendron
Philodendrons are wonderful plants; lush and shiny new growth, easy care, quick to fill out. And there’s so many different kinds! Bushy, viney, trailing, climbing, some varieties can grow to be huge while others can be pruned into little bushes. They are easily...
Ask an Expert: Decorating with Plants
Here at Flowers Talk Tivoli, we have the pleasure of working with some of the best local professionals in the decor and event industries. Among our favourites are the kitchen and bath design specialists at Astro Design Center. Their amazing designers are often at the...
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Love is in the air my friends, which is a nice change from the buckets and buckets of snow we just saw! I hope wherever you are in this snowy, marshmallow world you are warm and happy and with (or will soon be with) your Valentine. I also hope you remembered to get...
A Very Special Tuesday
Buckle up, boys and girls, it’s almost here; the most romantic Tuesday of the year. Are you ready? Because we sure are! It can be a wild ride for us, that second week of February, but we sure do love making beautiful things to spread the love. We can’t...
Staff Picks: February
One of the hardest thing as a designer (especially at our shop) is trying to decide which of the copious flowers to use and where. We get so many beautiful, unusual and varied blooms in any given week it can be a challenge to choose. This time of year it gets even...
Colour Theory in Floral Design
As in any artistic practice, the use of colour in floral design is of utmost importance. It often carries the first impression and general emotion of any piece; bright and cheerful, soft and somber, eclectic and modern. Pieces with high contrast, like yellow and...
Plant Profile: Echeveria
As delicate looking as a rose and as sturdy as a cactus: the echeveria is a very fun plant to have. Echeverias are easy to grow, easy to propagate and a great addition to any house-plant collection. Native to semi-desert areas of southern North, Central, and northern...
We found spring! (It’s in the store)
Yesterday turned the roads to soup and today seems intent on blowing it all away. Anyone else ready for spring? We have it! This Thursday (that’s tomorrow, you guys) we are receiving a GIANT shipment of amazing plants. You remember plants, right? Green, calming,...
Keep the Holidays in Your Home All Year Long
The store is filled with bright, full poinsettias, tall, graceful Norfolks and adorable tiny cypress shaped like little Christmas trees. They make wonderful gifts and are sure to bring that holiday mood to any room. But what to do with them after the holidays? Many of...
You are Invited…
To Flowers Talk Tivoli’s annual Holiday open house! Come see us at 282 Richmond Rd this Wednesday, November 30th 2016 to visit with your designers, schmooze with your neighbours and partake of some delicious nibbles. You’ll enjoy 20% off all in store...
Homes for the Holidays: Take One
We just wrapped up another successful weekend of decorating, inspiring, and raising funds and awareness for the wonderful work at Hospice Care Ottawa with the 14th annual Homes for the Holidays Tour. Despite some fearsome weather, people came once again in droves to...
Winter Urns for Everyone!
The season is fast approaching; is your home ready? The week of November 22nd we will be out in the city installing our signature winter urn arrangements and outdoor decor, is your home on the list? Call us to book your front step for the personalized Flowers Talk...
Homes for the Holidays
Homes for the Holidays has been a staple of Ottawa’s holiday season for 14 years and with good reason! A stunning effort from the wonderful people at Hospice Care Ottawa to raise funds and awareness for the Hospice at May Court, it combines charity and the cheer...
Plant Profile: Pesky Pets
Cats are brats. They have a look of permanent smugness about them, as they gaze at you over the up-ended pot they just sent crashing to the floor; a look that says “I could do this all day and you’ll still clean up my poop.” They are adorable...
Let’s Give Thanks! With Flowers!
Some things change a lot; the seasons, your favourite pie flavour (right now mine is blueberry with a graham crumble crust), flower trends, and whether or not tights as pants are ok. But some things stay the same. Like the universal appeal of a freshly raked leaf...
Pretty Fall Planters
Beautiful orange and yellow leaves, a crisp breeze, depressed school kids, pumpkin spiced everything… it’s almost here! Fall: Everyone’s Favourite Season (Except for School Kids) You’ve watched your summer planters grow and flourish, your...
Different Flower Types
In floral design we are lucky to have a pretty big playground. There are so many different shapes, colours, sizes, textures, feelings of flowers there’s really no limit to what we can create. Whether you’re designing something cheerful and bright, somber...
The Stones… They’re.. ALIVE!!
Animals aren’t the only ones who evolve camouflage to escape their predators. Plants do it too! Lithops is a genus of succulents native to southern Africa. They avoid being eaten by pretending to be – wait for it – butts. No, I’m kidding, they... Offices need plants too!
Nothing brightens a place you’d rather not be than something that needs you! Like a baby, or a kitten, or a philodendron named Steve. Every office needs that extra little something to make you feel more comfy and at home and willing to be there. Since most of us...
Hydrangeas! Why do they hate me?
Hydrangea, the white fluffy marshmallow flower of which dreams are made, is one of the most popular blooms we carry. They are soft, elegant, look amazeballs on their own and can fill in a table centre piece like nobody’s business!
But they have a dark side… a sad, twisted, penchant for self-destruction.
Air Plants: Who Needs Dirt?
Popular in the 80’s as shell-dwelling fridge magnets, air plants are regaining popularity as minimalist oddities for the office or modern living room. Their striking shape and their ability to live without soil makes them a great living art installation.
Fairy Plants!
Fairy plants are miniaturized versions of common house plants and gosh-darn it they are adorable! They are wonderful for terrariums and small spaces. Because of their size they make a perfect gift for the office or as a small house-warming gift. They’re so tiny and sweet they’re great for teaching kids responsibility, they’ll love having a tiny garden of their own!
Plant Profile: The Fiddle Leaf Fig
Everyone knows the Ficus benjamina, they’ve been sitting in your Grandma’s living room and dentists waiting rooms for years. They have dainty little leaves and a slender trunk that just scream 90’s décor. But it’s time for this standard standard to move aside for it’s funny, funky, awkward but in a somehow graceful way cousin: the Lyrata!
Fall Bulb Planting! It’s never too early to think of spring!
With these tips you’ll be turning your neighbours green with envy and your garden every other colour with glorious, rapturous blooms that will come back year after year. Come into the store now to check out all the amazing new flower varieties we have on offer!
Terrariums Part Two!!
Terrariums! Part the Second: You are God Congratulations! You have decided to become an omnipotent creator of worlds! Destroyer of… hopefully nothing, but we’ll see how green that thumb is. In our second post on these pocket-sized ecosystems we’ll go over...
5 Ways to Bring Spring Into Your Home
Tired of winter yet? I know we are. It has been a long and bitterly cold start to 2015 and as the temperature hovers around the -20C mark, I think we are all anxiously awaiting the blooms of spring! Never fear. While you wait for the barbeque to thaw out, here are...
How to Prepare for a Wedding Floral Consultation
We are so blessed to be asked to provide flowers for so many of life’s BIG moments. One of our favourites, of course, are weddings! First off… it is always best to book a consultation. You could always stop by your favourite flower shop to get a feel...
Pretty in Pink and Romantic in Red
As we are getting ready for the rush of Valentine’s Day, we are looking at the flowers with special attention thinking of which ones we would like to have in our own Valentine’s bouquets! We all agree that pink ranunculus are one of our current favourites! Giving...
Creating an Indoor Garden!
Bringing the Outside In for the Winter! Someone once told me that 30 minutes of gardening per week gives you a healthier, happier and longer life. But now it’s wintertime… Oh NO! Not to worry, bring your garden indoors! It is beautiful, fun and beneficial. Indoor air...
Wedding Memories
From the very moment your man slips that ring on to your finger and you become a “Bride-to-be” everything that is routine and normal gets put on the back burner, because girl, you have a wedding to plan!!! It’s amazing to me how instantaneously we brides...
Looking Back and Thank You!
What a year it has been! If you had asked me last January what I had expected out of 2014, never in my wildest dreams would I have known. What a whirlwind it has been! From the dozens of couples that asked us to create florals for their special day, to providing the...
Staff Holiday Favourites!
Amidst the holiday madness of this week we took some time to appreciate our favourite aspects of working as a florist during this time of year. Here are just a few current and awesome favourites!! Stephanotis: the white, waxy flowers give off an amazing scent! It has...
Great Gift Ideas from Flowers Talk Tivoli
Are you running out of gift ideas? Down to the last hard-to-shop-for people on your list like clients or in-laws?! We have you covered!! Outdoor wreaths make great gifts. We have different shapes, sizes, and greenery to choose from. Boxwood, Oregonia, Magnolia, Pine...
Holiday Decorating with Plants!
Whether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, or any other special occasion (Festivus perhaps?!), plants are always a great way to add warmth, cheer, and colour to your home decor. One of our favourites is the Lemon Cypress, also known as Goldcrest. We...
New Store, Fresh Blog Posts!
As many of our loving and loyal customers may already know; Flowers Talk and Tivoli are now one! The ‘wedding’ of Elizabeth’s Flowers Talk and Michael’s Tivoli occurred this past August and we couldn’t be happier! Michael has passed over the reigns to Elizabeth while...
3 Easy Steps to Winter Urns
It is that time of year! The frost has hit and it is now time to fill those outdoor urns with winter beauty. No need to go and grab one of the those cheezy inserts from the big box stores with the floppy bow and the sad looking greenery, you can do it yourself! It...
Boutonnières Don’t Have to Be Boring
When it comes to weddings, let’s be honest, the focus is usually on the bride. So, this week I want to change it up a bit and give a little shout out to the boys! For the boutonnières for the groom, groomsmen and ring bearer, we like them to match the bouquets...
Flowers Talk is Popping Up All Over Ottawa!
Have you seen Flowers Talk bouquets around the city? We are so excited to have ‘Pop Up’ spots in several locations throughout Ottawa. You will find ready made grab and go bouquets perfect for a hostess gift, dinner party or a special surprise for...
Maria and Dom Get Married!
We count ourselves lucky to have been able to work with so many amazing couples for their wedding flowers in Ottawa. And Maria & Dom were no different! We provided the flowers for one of Maria’s sisters a couple of years ago and will be doing the flowers...
For the Love of Peonies
Everyone loves peonies…how can you not? Brides plan their wedding date around peony season. Flower enthusiast plant them all through their gardens. Florists go crazy over all the different colours and shades they come in because it is available in white, various...
What’s It Like to Do Flowers for Oprah?
That’s one of the questions I’ve heard the most over the past couple of months and it’s a tough one to answer because doing flowers for Oprah was an amazing experience that caused at least a hundred different emotions… It was wonderful,...
When to Go Antique with Flowers
Antique arrangements are making a comeback with vintage decor. The perfect way to showcase a vintage arrangement like this is to display it on a coffee table, dining room table or a entrance way table. This arrangement is also a popular idea to send to a hostess...
We are so excited to share this wedding with you! Karen & Dustin’s wedding day was filled with romance and timeless details. The colour palette of silver, creams and blush pinks complimented everything from the stationary to the dresses, the church to the...
SET THE TABLE….
When is comes to a Christmas table…I am happy to leave the food on the counter, and cover the table with flowers! The more flowers the better if you ask me….Here we will give you a variety of ideas to work with. Create a table that is welcoming, lush and...