Alfa’s Simple Guide to Sympathy Flowers

One of the many wonderful things about flowers is their fascinating ability to help us express our feelings at times in life when words are simply not enough.

We send a dozen red roses when saying “I love you” doesn’t seem strong enough. A heartfelt “thank you” goes a long way, but a handwritten thank you note attached to a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers does a much better job of conveying our appreciation.

This is especially true when we have to say, “I’m sorry.” Those words never seem like enough in any situation, especially when they are used to express feelings of sorrow instead of offering an apology. Fortunately, sympathy flowers from Alfa can help in a big way when we cannot find the words ourselves.

Things to consider when selecting sympathy flowers

The experience of grief effects everyone in different ways, and every situation is unique. So, (with a few exceptions) there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution to selecting appropriate sympathy flowers. But there are several factors that can help make the choice much easier.

Consider your relationship with the recipient(s). The size and type of flowers you choose to send for the funeral service is a visual display that plays an active role in the service for all in attendance. While most may never know who gave each individual gift, they will know that each display represents an important person, family, or group in the life being celebrated. The family will distribute the sympathy flowers after the service and will certainly acknowledge and appreciate every gift they receive.
Consider honoring the deceased in a special way, but do not worry too much about the details. Throughout history, different flowers have been considered symbolic of specific feelings such as honor, love, peace, and tranquility. But in modern times, most people will not even try reading deep enough to decipher the meanings behind each individual flower and will simply view the entire gift as a thoughtful, and beautiful gesture.
Consider the fate the sympathy gift after the service. In most circumstances the family of the deceased will distribute the gifts as they see fit to family members and friends. Sometimes, the family donates any extra flowers to local care centers or senior facilities so the flowers can later be enjoyed by others. If you wish to give a gift; a lush plant will not only look beautiful at the service but will also serve as a long-lasting memorial afterwards.

Let us take care of the details

The best advice for sympathy flowers is to give what you feel is appropriate without worrying too much about the details – because we’re here to take care of them for you. The experienced sympathy flower specialists at Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop will not only help you select an appropriate sympathy gift, but we will also confirm the delivery time with the venue prior to the service whether it takes place in Milwaukee, WI, or anywhere else in the USA.

8 Great Spring Flowers from Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop

We’re just days away from March 20 – the first official day of spring! After a long, dark winter with plenty of grays and browns, it is time once again for some springtime color! While spring’s arrival signifies the season of rebirth and growth, a few seasonal floral superstars stand head and shoulders above the rest. Here are eight of our favorite spring-blooming flowers to brighten up your world while we celebrate the first day of spring.

Peony

Loved throughout the world for their extravagant blooms, Peonies are colossal flowers that have an elegant natural beauty and a delicate, unforgettable aroma. Peonies make perfect companions for other spring flowers such as iris, alliums and roses and are a popular choice for spring and summer wedding bouquets.

The peony’s distinctive feature is its large, eye-catching flowers that have 5 to 10 petals each. Depending on the variety, their color can vary from pristine white to “bubble-gum” pink, and also bright red and gorgeous shades of yellow.

Iris

Irises are one of our favorite springtime flowers because of their incredibly colorful blooms. The name Iris was adopted from Greek goddess of the rainbow to represent the spectrum of colors of the many different species.

Throughout history, the Iris has been a symbol of power and elegance for monarchs and royal families around the world. In fact, the renowned “Fleur de Lys” symbol is a graphic representation of the Iris bloom that was known for centuries as the symbol of French royalty. Irises are also common themes in many priceless paintings by artists like da Vinci, Renoir, Cezanne, van Gogh, Gauguin, Monet, and of course, Georgia O’Keeffe.

Hyacinth

This bright and beautiful spring flower boasts a unique shape which adds the perfect floral touch to any springtime bouquet. Hyacinths are deeply fragrant flowers that are available in shades of white, blue, purple, red, and pink. The flowers grow in thick clusters on tall spikes that are filled with small, bell-shaped blooms.

Tulip

Tulips are another spring favorite with their rainbow of color options. Aside from their beauty in gardens and planters, tulips are one of the most popular types of cut flower. As one of the most popular and recognizable spring flowers, tulips are said to symbolize perfect love and can pull together a wedding, anniversary, or birthday bouquet. Tulips can make a perfect bouquet among other tulips of the same color or within a mix of other exquisite flowers.

Daffodil

With their cheerful bright yellow, orange, and white trumpet-shaped flowers, daffodils are a crowd favorite come springtime, especially since they are one of the first blooms to pop up each spring. Frequently seen growing in large clusters throughout most of the U.S., daffodils are one of the first signs that spring finally has arrived!

Lilac

Lilacs are among the most popular and most recognizable spring flowers. Their bushy elongated cluster of small blooms feature a sweet and strong fragrance and are available in in purple, blue, violet, pink, and white. The fragrance of lilacs is often used in perfumes and other aromatherapy products for its relaxation properties while the essential oil extracted from lilac plants are used to treat infections, fevers, skin problems, and stomach ailments. Lilac flowers are also edible and make beautiful garnishes on desserts and in drinks.

Gerbera Daisy

These large daisy variations are the fifth most popular flower in the world. The gerbera daisy symbolizes cheerfulness, which makes it a perfect addition to this bouquet. The flower’s yellow center adds a bright pop of color to give this bouquet the right amount of cheer. A staple in the cut flower world, gerbera daisies come in almost every color and have sturdy stems that will not hollow out like other cut flowers. They also have an exceptional vase life, usually lasting up to 10 days.

Calla Lily

The Calla Lily, which is neither a calla nor a lily, is another popular choice for spring floral bouquets. With a single petal that wraps to create a beautiful statement, these sleek, elegant blooms are both recognizable and unparalleled. But the colorful part most people think are petals is actually a leaf. The Calla Lily’s real flower is on a spike inside that leaf.

Spring flowers are the perfect way to welcome the spring sunshine as we shed our winter layers. Fresh floral bouquets from Alfa Flower and Wedding Shop make unique and thoughtful gifts to celebrate a loved one or simply send a smile. We proudly offer same-day delivery across Milwaukee, WI and surrounding areas for birthdays, anniversaries, new babies, get well soon, sympathy, or even just because. Call us today at (414) 475-7080 or shop online 24/7.

Illuminating and Ultimate Grey are Colors of the Year for 2021

For 2021, two colors – Ultimate Grey and Illuminating – have been selected as the Pantone Color of the Year. This practical color combination that was chosen for its ability to help us feel optimistic and uplifted while reflecting what is taking place in our global culture and inviting us to embrace the value of our differences. This year’s selection provides a stark contrast from last year’s Color of the Year, Classic Blue, a reflective blue tone evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky.

Illuminating and Ultimate Grey are Pantone’s 2021 Colors of the Year

As the global color authority and provider of professional color language standards, the color experts at the Pantone Color Institute comb the world looking for new color influences in order to select a new color each year. Pantone chose Illuminating as its 2021 Color of the Year first, only months later deciding to add a second hue, with the intention of them being seen and interpreted as a pair.

What difference do these color declarations make? Plenty, because they are the colors you can expect to see well-represented in 2021 across a wide range of products, from fashion to beauty to home décor and even floral design!

Hope and Optimism for the New Year

By choosing bright and soothing colors that take inspiration from natural elements, the biggest color trends of 2021 are taking a cue from this last tumultuous year and giving people a renewed sense of hope and optimism that many are looking for in the new year.

This year’s spirited and emboldening shades satisfy our quest for vitality. Illuminating is a bright and cheerful yellow shade filled with vivacity while Ultimate Gray is emblematic of solid and dependable elements which are everlasting and provide a firm foundation of composure, steadiness, and resilience.

Two colors are better than one

A marriage of strength and optimism, Ultimate Grey and Illuminating are two independent colors that come together to create an aspirational color pairing, conjoining deeper feelings of thoughtfulness with the optimistic message of sunshine and strength.

But the two colors do not have to be used in equal proportions, as either color can take precedence in design with both synchronously representing stability, hope, and unity.

Sweet Sunlight Bouquet by Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop, Milwaukee, WI

Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, explained: “The selection of two independent colors highlight how different elements come together to express a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting, conveying the idea that it’s not about one color or one person, it’s about more than one. The union of an enduring Ultimate Gray with the vibrant yellow illuminating expresses a message of positivity supported by fortitude. Practical and rock-solid but at the same time warming and optimistic, this is a color combination that gives us resilience and hope. We need to feel encouraged and uplifted; this is essential to the human spirit.”

Pantone puts a tremendous amount of thoughtful consideration into choosing their Color(s)of the Year. They arrive at their decision by pouring over trend analysis and combing the globe in search of new color influences. Their decision is ultimately based on several different factors, but the end result is typically a good indication of the state of global and political climate and the emotions that many people are feeling at the time – if that feeling can be described as a color.

This year’s selection is all about optimism and the hope that many people can use to start 2021 on the right note, but that does not mean it has to represent your year. A fresh new year means a fresh new start and now is the perfect time to begin writing your own story – and choosing your own color – that will define your world in 2021.

Do not miss out on the hottest new color trends for 2021: Illuminating and Ultimate Grey! Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop has many beautiful floral designs featuring this intriguing color combo. We offer same-day delivery in Milwaukee, WI and surrounding areas for birthdays, anniversaries, new babies, get well soon, sympathy, or even just because. Call us today at (414) 475-7080 or shop online 24/7.

What is mistletoe and why do we kiss under it at Christmas?

Greenery and plants including holly, laurel, boxwood bushes, poinsettias, pine trees and mistletoe, play important roles in many of our holiday celebrations. Kissing under the mistletoe is one Christmastime’s most romantic – and most unusual – traditions. But what is mistletoe and how did it become such a fabled part of Christmas while being mostly ignored the rest of the year?

Unlike most other holiday flowers, mistletoe isn’t exactly known for its beauty. In fact, the infamous yuletide plant is an invasive shrub that grows from the dung of birds and extracts nutrients from trees. While that may not be a glowing introduction to mistletoe, it does begin to explain why this plant has held people’s fascination for so long.

While it is true that mistletoe is semi-parasitic and could eventually kill its host plant, it is generally not considered a serious enough threat, in most cases, to warrant control measures. In fact, there is evidence that the plant could have benefits for birds as well as humans.

Several studies – including one from Billabong Creek in New South Wales, Australia and another from central Mexico have shown a significant drop in the populations of birds and other species in areas where scientists removed mistletoe from the ecosystem while populations increased or stayed the same in areas with mistletoe.

Those findings, along with other studies suggest that mistletoe is a keystone species that not only plays a critical role in its ecosystem but may also provide some promising health benefits to humans. Doctors at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine are studying mistletoe’s effects on cancer patients as a way to relieve side effects of chemotherapy, and physicians in Europe are able to prescribe mistletoe to their patients.

How did it become a holiday tradition?

Long before the internet, neighbors and relatives frequently visited each other during the holidays for fellowship. Houses were kept tidy and decorated for the holidays in order to be ready for any guests or visitors, so the decorations needed to be hearty enough to last for several weeks. Although the origins of kissing under the mistletoe are unclear, it was likely chosen in part because it stays green all winter long without being rooted in soil.

The earliest documented cases of kissing under the mistletoe date back to 16^th century England where it was a very popular custom at the time, but it likely started even earlier. One Norse myth claims people began kissing under the plant as a peace offering after the god Balder was killed with a mistletoe arrow. Early European were so enamored with mistletoe plants that they became interwoven into myths, legends, and religious beliefs.

Literature is filled with examples of different uses that range anywhere from preventing fires to scaring away demons and protecting livestock from witchcraft. Throughout the ages, mistletoe was also commonly tied to fertility, which may be where the tradition started. Washington Irving wrote that men commonly gave women a kiss for each berry hanging on the mistletoe above them – plucking one off for each kiss.

Despite mistletoe’s continued popularity in Christmas carols, songs, and tales, the plant is not nearly as common as it used to be even though nearly everyone has heard of it. And, unlike the jolly old elf, there is nothing seasonal about mistletoe – it does not disappear when the season is over, it is simply forgotten about for several months each year until it makes its appearance in doorways across the world next year.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop! Start your holiday shopping today with our incredible selection of holiday flowers, gifts, and centerpieces. We offer same-day delivery in Milwaukee, WI and surrounding areas for birthdays, anniversaries, new babies, get well soon, sympathy, or even just because. Call us today at (414) 475-7080 or shop online 24/7.

Your Container, Our Flowers with a Design that Reflects Imagination

Do you have a special container that would look even better filled with beautiful flowers? At Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop, we love bringing your containers to life!

Next time you visit Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop, bring in any container you’d like and we will fill it with flowers!

Perhaps you have a “one of a kind” container you found while cleaning your home, or maybe there is a special piece you have on display at your home or office that only gets used when you’re expecting company. Either way, our floral designers would be delighted to fill it with flowers – or better yet – set it up on a subscription plan where we fill the container every week or two to keep it looking fresh and beautiful all the time.

Tell us what you like, compact, modern, traditional, pave? Perhaps you would prefer different designs that change with the seasons or long lasting succulents. Whatever your taste, we will compliment it with beautiful flowers that you can look and see the combination of our talented designers and YOUR inspiration.

Keep this in mind next time you see these special containers or vases around your home. You may be very pleasantly surprised just what we can for you at Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

A Flower Subscription is the Gift that Keeps Giving

Not only are floral subscriptions a fantastic way to keep your home or office looking fresh and beautiful all year, but they also make excellent gift ideas for a loved one or relative – especially ones who are hard to shop for. You set the terms and let us know how often you would like new flowers and we will take care of the rest.

To make the gift extra special, you can bring in a container you plan to give, and we will deliver your unique container with our incredible flowers – two great gifts in one!

Imagination takes over when the limits are removed and that is where our floral designers shine. Flowers by subscription or just a one-time creation – it’s more than just our flowers and your container, it’s the combination of it all that truly makes it special.

The floral designers at Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop love creating customized designs to fit any kind of container you can imagine. Give us a call today at (414) 475-7080 or drop us a line here for more information about our floral subscription plans. If you’re still searching for that perfect container, we can certainly help! Don’t forget the holidays are just around the corner. We offer same-day delivery in Milwaukee, WI and surrounding areas or anywhere across the USA.

Spilling the Big Secret About Grandparents Day – Sunday, September 13

Grandparents Day takes place on the first Sunday following Labor Day. This year, Grandparents Day falls on September 13. This particular holiday is not nearly as popular as Mother’s Day or even Father’s Day, but it is still a nice chance to honor our grandparents. Unlike some holidays that can trace their origins back through centuries, Grandparents Day was first observed just over 40 years ago.

Sweet 16 by Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop, Milwaukee, WI

People often assume that Grandparents Day resulted from lobbying by greeting card companies, florists, and similar businesses, but this idea could not be further from the truth. Grandparents Day is a day dedicated to celebrating the connections between generations. Its origin was decidedly noncommercial, and the holiday has largely remained true to its roots since its inception. In fact, Grandparents Day barely even makes the top 10 list of most popular occasions for greeting card sales. It is outranked by Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, graduation, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and St. Patrick’s Day.

What started as letter to President Richard Nixon in 1969 by nine-year-old Russell Capper suggesting that a day be set aside in order to celebrate grandparents, eventually ended up with proclamation signed by President Jimmy Carter on August 3, 1978 after Congress passed the legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after labor Day as “National Grandparent’s Day.” The first official celebration took place the following year.

The Importance of Grandparents Day

This year – more than ever – should serve as a reminder that our grandparents are foundations of our family and they will not be around forever. Now is the time to cherish as many moments as we can with them and create lifelong memories. With age comes wisdom and our grandparents have seen things and lived through things we could not even imagine in our modern world. Through all that living it is not surprising that they learned some things along the way and they also serve as some of our most important resources for family history and information. That is why we should take some time to listen while we still have the chance.

Sunny Day Pitcher of Daisies by Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop, Milwaukee, WI

What is the Big Secret about Grandparents Day?

One thing that sets Grandparents Day apart from most of the other holidays is the expectations that go along with it. There are no big lists or registries and grandparents certainly do not expect grandchildren to spend much money on a gift. In fact, if you ask most grandparents what they really want, their answer will simply be spending time with loved ones. The time you spend with them will be worth far more than money could ever buy. Many grandparents have a lot more ‘free time’ on their hands than we do and often spend more time alone, so even a short visit will likely make them happy. A bit of company will certainly brighten their day and you’ll cherish that time you spent.

It is not always easy for us to visit with our grandparents, especially this year with so many travel restrictions and quarantines that make travel difficult. Since visiting in person might not be practical this year but that doesn’t mean we can’t take some time to connect with them and show them how much we care. Technology has made keeping in touch easier than ever before. Video chatting through Skype or Zoom, or even just calling on the phone and expressing love and gratitude will likely make their day because they always want to hear from you. Sending a card or brightening their home with a beautiful floral arrangement is also a fantastic idea.

Your friends at Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop are here to help you find the perfect gift for your loved ones on Grandparent’s Day. We have an incredible selection of unique hand-designed floral arrangements along with luscious plants and amazing. We even offer same day delivery to Milwaukee, WI, and surrounding areas or anywhere else in the USA.

Our Favorite Flowers of Summertime

Summertime is back again which can only mean one thing – the sun is shining bright on some of the most beautiful flowers we have seen all year! Here are some of our favorites:

Lush and Lavender with Roses by Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop

Peonies: Because of their large, soft, silky, and romantic blooms, peonies make wonderful cut flowers. They can be found in a range of soft colors – and a few brighter ones – making them ideal for weddings, as well as for the home. In many ways they are better as cut flowers than roses, but the season is very short. Peony flowers are only available from late May and through June. But, in water they will last far longer than a rose.

Lavender: Cut lavender flowers to bring indoors for making beautiful arrangements. Lavender bouquets can use fresh or dried flowers or savor the best of both worlds by arranging fresh stems and letting them air dry in the vase. The secret to success with lavender bouquets is harvesting flowers at the right stage. Lavender is an easy-to-grow herb, and it is also an easily handled cut flower. Harvest it fresh and use it fresh or dried to create pretty lavender bouquets.

Dahlias: Dahlias are one of the best garden plants for growing to use as cut flowers. They have an outstanding vase life. There’s a huge amount of different types to choose from with flowers in various forms and a spectrum of colors. While all dahlias are good for cutting, some types are particularly so, with long stems and extra-large blooms that will dazzle in any indoor posy.

Upsy Daisy by Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop

Hydrangea: The beautiful flowers produced by this plant are what makes these so popular. Most put on a showy display from early spring all the way into fall. The large flowers come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. The name hydrangea comes from the Greek words “hydor” meaning water and “angos” meaning vessel. Which together roughly translate to “water barrel.” This is because of the fact that hydrangeas are notorious for needing lots of water and the cup shaped flowers.

Daisies: As cut flowers, daisies work well in homes that have a casual, country feel. The best daisies for cutting have long vase lives, colorful flower heads and sturdy stems. White daisies are also an excellent way to accent other cut flowers in a bouquet. They may be small blooms, but they make up for their diminutive size in group volume. Daisies make up almost 10% of the world’s flowering plants.

Lilies: Cut lilies add graceful color to indoor flower arrangements. Native to the Northern Hemisphere, lilies have been seen as a flower of significance for thousands of years because of the extensive symbolism that surrounds them. The lily represents femininity, love, purity, and a sense of transience.

Sunflowers: With brilliant yellow petals, also known as “rays,” sunflowers have an unmistakable sun-like appearance that has made them a crowd favorite, especially in the summer months. Sunflowers commonly symbolize adoration, loyalty and longevity.

Be sure to check out Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop for all your summer favorites! Give us a call at (414) 475-7080 or order online 24/7. We offer same delivery across town or anywhere in the country.

Can’t Be With Your Loved Ones? Say Hello With Flowers!

Looking back, it seems hard to believe that just over two months ago we were planning our summers, booking weddings, visiting relatives, and going about our lives the same way we do every spring. That feels like such a long time ago and the world as we knew it back then has been completely turned upside down by this devastating pandemic.

Happiness Bouquet from Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop

Since then, everyone of us has been forced into a new way of working, a new way of living, and a new way of interacting with even our most intimate friends and family members. Online meetings have replaced office conference rooms and shopping for goods and services are now handled through a computer screen. Certain aspects of life have become incredibly convenient, but those conveniences come with a cost as we isolate ourselves by staying home.

As we continue to make sacrifices and search for new ways to live and work, we find ourselves missing some of life’s most precious moments – senior proms, graduation parties, spending Mother’s Day with mom, and especially the comfort of being close to those we love.

Just Because

We send flowers for wide variety of special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, new babies, weddings, and even funerals. Each of those monumental life moments has their own category of flowers to choose from on our website and those are the most popular by far.

But there is another category alongside all the rest that is simply called Just Because. It certainly isn’t utilized as much as the others, but in times like these it couldn’t be more appropriate.

You’re Golden Bouquet by Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop

“Just Because” we cannot be together does not mean we need to stop celebrating, it simply means we need to find new reasons for joy and cheer. And finding new reasons to celebrate and be happy leads to better emotional health, less stress, and overall wellness.

Coincidentally, a study of behavioral research at Rutgers University found that flowers also triggers happy emotions and have long-term positive effects on moods for both the sender and the recipient. Every participant in that study expressed true or excited smiles when they received flowers which demonstrated extraordinary delight and gratitude.

Fairy Garden by Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop

The study participants also reported feeling less anxious, depressed, or agitated after receiving flowers which researchers identified as a higher sense of enjoyment and life satisfaction – which lasted for several days after the flowers were delivered.

With the state of the world today, there are many things we cannot do, but one of the things we still can is making people happy with flowers. Now, more than ever, we really don’t need a reason for that other than “just because”!

Spread some much-needed joy and comfort to your friends and family members with the help from your friends at Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop. We not only specialize in delivering happiness and joy, but we’re also taking extra precautions to make sure your flowers are delivered with the utmost care and safety including contactless same-day delivery on every order. Give us a call today at (414) 475-7080 or shop online 24/7.

Window Shopping for Mom Has Never Been More Fun!

Are you still searching for the perfect gift for Mother’s Day? Now is the perfect time to get out for some fresh air and window shop like never before at Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop!

All week long we will be featuring special items and Mother’s Day products in our windows at 7001 W. North Ave. (at the corner of 70th and W. North) in Milwaukee.

It’s just like shopping online with a much larger screen – but without having to wait days for delivery! In addition to flowers and plants, we have tons of giftware, outdoor metal art, boutique items and so much more!

We’re constantly changing the displays so every day will be a brand new experience! We invite you to come back often and check out all the new items, or perhaps discover something that you’ve never noticed before.

Our doors may be closed, but our windows are wide open and we can’t wait for you to see what’s inside!

Goodbye April Showers – Hello May Flowers!

Early 2020 will forever be remembered for terrible pandemic that has touched nearly every part of the globe. It has forced businesses to close and most people to isolate themselves for the greater good. Because of that, days often run together and the lines on the calendar separating the dates tend to blur and run together. If you haven’t checked lately, you probably wouldn’t even realize that May is here already – and we couldn’t be happier, because April showers always bring May flowers – especially this year!

In order to get the most bang for your buck this Mother’s Day, consider a “designer’s choice” arrangement and leave the rest up to us. We promise you’ll be happy with the result!

May is the perfect time to celebrate with flowers – all month long! In fact, the very first day of the month is May Day – a celebration of spring that is traditionally celebrated by giving “May baskets” made up of flowers or sweets – or a combination of the two – that is usually left anonymously on the doorsteps of neighbors.

To many, this may seem like a strange way to celebrate a holiday, especially considering that the givers of May baskets would usually ring the doorbell and run away – leaving the recipient to open the door and find nothing but a basket of flowers!

In some communities, leaving a May basket at someone’s door was an excellent opportunity to express romantic interest because tradition called for the recipient to give chase and attempt to steal a kiss from the person who hung the basket. In other parts of the country, however, it was considered a disgrace if the flower giver was caught by the recipient.

May Day isn’t nearly as popular in this country as it was a century ago, and today the concept seems quaint and dated to many people in this era of text messages and Snapchat, but this throwback to simpler times is still an official holiday in 66 countries around the world. But with the current state of the world and social distancing protocols in place – this trend just might make a comeback!

While no longer as common in the United States, May Day celebrations still take place in some regions of the country. In Hawaii, May Day is known as Lei Day, which is a day to celebrate the culture of the island and Native Hawaiians.

Mother’s Day

Of course, the most obvious occasion for giving flowers during the month of May is Mother’s Day. This year we celebrate mom on Sunday, May 10.

Mother’s Day is one of the biggest days of the year when it comes to flowers, greeting cards, phone calls and (most years) restaurant reservations – and with good reason. It’s often hard to find appropriate ways to express gratitude to someone so important and dear to us as our mothers, but nearly everyone loves flowers!

For florists, Mother’s Day is one of our busiest times of the year, and also one of our favorites. Unlike many of the other holidays were certain colors or types of flowers tend to dominate, (like red roses on Valentine’s Day) Mother’s Day typically offers more freedom to design something special and truly unique – that mom is sure to love!

Here at Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop, we’ve been planning for this special day since the end of Valentine’s Day, and we’re ready to help you find something perfect for your mom. This year’s celebration is going to look a bit different than in years past because the worldwide pandemic has limited the types of flowers available from our distributors, so we’re encouraging everyone to consider a “designer’s choice” open order. Not only will this allow you to receive the freshest flowers available, but it will also help to eliminate any disappointment when the finished product doesn’t quite match up with the picture online due to substitutions. The great news is that our designers LOVE to freedom to design something totally custom for you so that you can truly give your mom a one-of-a-kind gift this Mother’s Day. We promise you won’t be disappointed!

But that’s not all…

Between Mother’s Day, May Day, and flowers popping up everywhere we turn, May is truly the month of flowers, but there are many more ways to celebrate with flowers this month.

Memorial Day is just around the corner – this year it falls on Monday, May 25. Traditionally observed as a day to honor those who have died in military service, this holiday also marks the unofficial start of summer. If you are attending a picnic or observance on Memorial Day, flowers are always an appropriate way to show gratitude and appreciation.

May is also the time for graduations for many students across the country, as well an excellent chance for a gift to say “thanks” to all those teachers and educators who worked so hard throughout the year. Obviously those graduation parties will be scaled back or even virtual this time around, but flowers are still an excellent congratulatory gift that will be extra appreciated.

Whatever your reason, say it with flowers this May with the help of your friends at Alfa Flower & Wedding Shop. No matter the occasion, we’re still here to help you find the perfect gift. Rest assured, our entire team – from designers to delivery drivers – are exceeding CDC guidelines for sanitation and safety to give you peace of mind knowing that you safely reach out and deliver a beautiful message to those you love and miss. Give us a call or come in and see us for all your floral needs – and we hope your May is beautiful and bright!