Our blog post this week covers the meaning of Memorial Day, local San Diego Memorial Day celebrations, and ideas for remembering loved ones with Memorial Day wreaths or patriotic flowers.

The Meaning of Memorial Day

The first Memorial Day was celebrated in 1868 by its creator, General John Logan, who also started the tradition of laying flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers in Arlington National Cemetery.

Since then, it has become a Federal holiday where the country celebrates with local Memorial Day parades and remembrance ceremonies as well as the Moment of Remembrance that occurs at 3pm local time in your city. It’s a moment to stop and quietly reflect on what all soldiers who have died fighting for freedom have done for us and our country.

Memorial Day Celebrations in San Diego

In San Diego, there are a number of ways to join in Memorial Day celebrations:

• Memorial Day at Embarcadero – Visit the Maritime Museum of San Diego and take a cruise on the bay.
• The USS MidwayLegacy Week –The USS Midway will be hosting a variety of events to honor our military, including a Veterans Wreath Ceremony and two concerts.  Military heroes will also be honored and remembered on the flight deck hosted by American Legion Post.
• Memorial Day Observances Day Ceremony – The Veterans Museum & Memorial Center will be holding a special service event in Balboa Park.
• The Vietnam Veterans of America – The Vietnam Veterans of America will be hosting a memorial service at the San Diego Vietnam Peace Memorial.

Memorial Day Flowers and Wreaths

Whether you have a personal connection to Memorial Day and you will be purchasing a Memorial Day wreath or Memorial Day flowers to place at a grave site or you are buying some patriotic flowers to decorate for a Memorial Day picnic or Memorial Day barbecue, remember those who have given their lives as well as their families who supported their decision to enter the armed forces.

On behalf of all of us at Allen’s Flowers and Plants, we want to send our heartfelt thanks to all who participate in the Armed Forces to keep our freedoms and protect our country.

At Allen’s Flowers and Plants, all of our San Diego locations are ready to help you celebrate with graduation leis, graduation flowers, graduation plants and graduation gifts not to mention graduation balloons, graduation stuffed animals, and graduation greeting cards.

Graduation Leis

One of the more recent traditions is to give the graduate a graduation lei like the ones you receive if you visit Hawaii or some of the Polynesian Islands. They are available in single or double strands.

We have a beautiful selection of graduation leis in a variety of colors and sizes. Our orchid leis come in some brilliant colors like bright blue, burgundy, purple and white.

Be sure to order your graduation lei early as we sell out quickly at all our locations. And, remember we can deliver these to your home for added convenience!

Graduation Flowers

We also have a wide range of graduation flowers, flower baskets, and hand-wrapped graduation bouquets available to give your grad at the graduation ceremony or later on after the excitement is over.

Our graduation flower selection comes in many sizes, prices, and flower choices to suit your grad’s individual flower preference as well as your budget!

Graduation Gifts

We also have a wide range of gift baskets for the graduate, including fresh, locally sourced fruit baskets, gourmet food baskets, and perhaps the student favorite – the junk food gift basket full of candies and chocolates!

Graduation Ordering and Delivery

This is a very busy time of year for us as there are many colleges and universities in the area as well as high schools with many orders coming in for graduation in addition to wedding season and Father’s Day just around the corner.

Our best advice is to get your graduation order in as early as possible by phone, online, or visit to any of our San Diego flower store locations. This will help to guarantee the graduation lei, graduation flowers, or graduation gift of choice is available and ready for delivery on your date.

Congratulations to all of our San Diego students on their graduation and a job well done!

While there is a lot to plan for, including dresses, tuxes, and a limo just to name a few – another important aspect of prom is the prom corsage and the prom boutonniere.

At Allen’s Flowers and Plants, we are getting ready at all our locations for prom with a wide selection of prom flowers for all budgets and all preferences, including an array of flowers and add-ons that address this year’s trends.

This blog offers a look at some of our special prom corsages and prom boutonnieres that you can consider for this year’s prom.

Our Prom Flowers

We have some beautiful prom flowers this year that are truly unique alongside our traditional favorites.

All of our prom corsages and prom boutonnieres can be “blinged” out with rhinestones, jewels, and other beautiful add-ons – one of this year’s hottest trends.

Of course, you can still personalize your prom corsage other ways, including your choice of tie-on ribbons in black, gold, silver or iridescent ribbon.

Some of our favorite prom flowers this year include:

• Dendrobirum purple orchid corsage
• Dendrobirum white orchid corsage
• White rose corsage
• Red rose corsage

All these prom corsages have matching prom boutonnieres available so you and your date can coordinate.

Why Buy Prom Flowers from Us

There are many reasons to buy prom flowers from us:

• We have been voted the Best San Diego Florist four years in a row – 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.
• We have multiple locations to serve you.
• We use the freshest flowers available thanks to long-standing partnerships with local flower farms.
• We have a wide variety to fit exactly what you are looking for whether it is a prom corsage that complements your dress or is something exotic that stands out in the prom crowd.

Prom Flower Delivery Service

Our same-day service is available for prom flowers delivered in the San Diego area at any of our locations. While we recommend you don’t wait for the last minute to get your prom corsage or prom boutonniere, it is good to know that we can deliver the same day to help you with that part of prom so you can focus on the fun instead!

As the busiest day we have all year with well-thought out delivery plans and late nights preparing all the Mother’s Day flowers and Mother’s Day gifts, we’re ready. We’ve stocked up at all of our San Diego flower shop locations with fresh flowers and plants as well as great gifts to suit all moms this Mother’s Day.  

Mother’s Day Flowers and Gift Ideas

For this Mother’s Day, we have put together some wonderful choices for Mother’s Day flower arrangements and Mother’s Day gifts. We have even decided to put many of our Mother’s Day flower arrangements and Mother’s Day bouquets on sale with special prices on the freshet flowers available.

To help you start thinking about what Mom might like this year, here are some great ideas that are bound to suit what Mom likes plus fit your budget:

• White Elegance includes white hydrangea, white spray roses and peach roses surrounded by eucalyptus and other greenery in a tall glass vase.
• Mom Knows Best is a stunning Mother’s Day special arrangement of roses arranged simply but offering plenty of sophistication for the discerning mom.
• There is a wide selection of roses and tulips in many colors and sizes all on sale during the San Diego florist’s Mother’s Day event. These are on sale and ready to go for the mom who likes to keep it simple, yet beautiful.

We’ve also got fresh green plants, flowering plants, and flower garden cubes and garden flower baskets. Additionally, we have these other gift ideas for Mom:

• Locally sourced, fresh fruit baskets
• Gourmet baskets
• Custom gift baskets
• Balloon arrangements
• Mother’s Day greeting cards
• Mother’s Day collectibles

Mother’s Day Flower and Gift Delivery Service

The florist delivers throughout San Diego County and across the nation for Mother’s Day. Call now to ensure flowers and gifts desired for Mother’s Day and to ensure timely delivery. 

Connect with Allen’s Flowers and Plants by calling 1-800-460-5501 or http://www.allensflowers.com/. Also, please visit any of our florist locations throughout San Diego County to place your order for Mother’s Day!

Thank You!

We are proud to have been voted the Best Florist in San Diego for the last three years by the readers of the San Diego Union-Tribune, and we are focused on maintaining the level of service, value, and quality that made us your favorite.

On behalf of the Allen’s Flowers and Plants team at all of our locations, we would like to wish our own moms and all the other moms out there a very Happy Mother’s Day!

May 7^th is National Teacher’s Day, which is part of an entire week that recognizes teachers around the United States, including San Diego.

This is always the first full week of May, which is May 6-May 10 this year. We’ve put together some ideas for this year’s celebration, including flowers for teachers, plants for teachers, and gifts for teachers that fit all budgets and tastes.

Flowers and Gifts for San Diego Teachers

We have got a selection of flowers, plants, and gifts that are a great way to show your appreciation for a teacher or a group of teachers. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking about how you are going to complete your homework:

• Give a teacher a bright, cheerful flower arrangement with some of the freshest flowers available, including those that may include some of their favorite flowers in their favorite colors. This includes a wide range of roses, tulips, carnations, daisies and other San Diego favorite flowers.
• Our selection for teachers also includes an assortment of flowering plants and flower garden baskets that can last weeks, months, and even longer if your teacher has a green thumb. These are nice to enjoy in the classroom or take home to remind them of their students.
• Green plants are another option we have for teachers, including indoor and outdoor green plants that add a bit of nature to the classroom or home.
• Don’t forget to pick up the teacher something extra to go with any of these ideas, including a bouquet of balloons or Mylar balloons, a stuffed animal, or a greeting card.
• Take the teacher out to lunch or bring them lunch to their classroom.
• Gift baskets are another nice idea for a teacher or a bunch of teachers. You can make a gift basket with fruit, gourmet food, sweet treats or even non-food gift baskets with spa items or even a sports-themed set if it is for a coach.

Thank You to Teachers

Most importantly, tell teachers, thank you, for their service and the time they are investing in you or your kids. They may not hear those words often enough and while it may seem simple, it is one of the best things you can do!

We’re Ready to Help!

All of our locations throughout San Diego are stocking up on special flower arrangements, plants, and gift baskets for administrative professionals, secretaries, and virtual assistants so we can have what you want and hand deliver it the same day within San Diego or around the country.

Whether you are located in San Diego, La Jolla, Encinitas or Coronado, Downtown San Diego, or Solana Beach, Allen’s Flowers and Plants has put together some gorgeous flower bouquets, flower arrangements, flowering plants and plants to let your right hand know just how much they mean:

• The Sunny San Diego arrangement offers a wide range of flowers and greenery displayed in a cube vase, making it perfect for a desk or to take home and enjoy.
• Keeping the staff healthy while gifting them with delicious, organic fruit is a great idea. Our bountiful gift basket of fruit features locally sourced apples, pears, oranges and grapes as well as other juicy delights.
• We offer a range of exotic flowers and plants, including Orchids in a Vase, which combines stunning white orchids with pink blossoms and greenery.

If flowers are not what your secretary or admin likes, we have other ideas from our shops:

• Spa gift baskets
• Fresh fruit gift baskets
• Gourmet goody baskets
• Balloons and stuffed animals
• Brownies and cookies
• Greeting cards

Other Ideas for Secretary’s Day

Whether you plan to just celebrate the day or do a bit more to recognize Administrative Professional’s Week, here are some other ideas to let them know you couldn’t do it without them:

• Lunch out or in
• Office spa day
• Gift cards for a spa day, restaurant, or department store
• A bonus
• A day off

The possibilities are endless and are tied to knowing what your secretary personally likes and deciding on a budget. Whatever you do, just make sure they know how much you value them – often, a few words or a thoughtful card make the biggest impact!

In-Store Ordering of Flowers, Plants, and Gifts

One of the best ways to order from us is to come into one of our locations listed below. Each store is staffed with trained and seasoned professionals who understand how to match you with the flowers, plants, and gifts you are looking for and that are within your budget.

Whether you are ordering a flower bouquet or you are planning a wedding, our locations can handle all your requests with friendly, personable service.

So, come see us at:

La Mesa

5609 Lake Murray Blvd.

La Mesa, CA 91942

(619) 460-3192

El Cajon

107 Jamacha Rd.

El Cajon, CA 92019

(619) 579-6720

Downtown San Diego

620 Market St.

San Diego, CA 92101

(619) 233-7673

The beauty of coming into our shop is that you will see a wide selection of the fresh flowers we use as well as enjoy the many events and incentives we offer for stopping in to place your order with us. Of course, we still take phone orders as well. But, we would love to see you!

Online Ordering of Flowers, Plants, and Gifts

Maybe you can’t come in to one of our shops. We know you have busy schedules. But, that’s okay because you can order through our website whether it is from your desktop computer or it is your tablet or smartphone.

Our online ordering system has a member log-in that helps keep it simple when ordering. We store your information so you simply pick and go and we’ll do the rest by hand-delivering the order to anywhere in San Diego or throughout the United States. You can even track your order through our online tracking page.

The online ordering process even keeps track of your reward points if you are in our loyalty program and offers a way to redeem points when you place your order so you can save money on every order you make with Allen’s Flowers and Plants.

While it may seem that supermarket flowers or fly-by-night Internet florist websites are your only choice if you are on a budget and want to send loved ones a flower arrangement, bouquet of roses, or green plant, you do have a choice!

Freshness and Local Sourcing Make the Cost Difference

Allen’s Flowers and Plants makes it more affordable than ever to send flowers and plants whenever you want for birthdays, get well pick-me-ups, anniversaries, thank you flowers, new baby flowers and those just because flower arrangements.

And, for those great prices, we also offer the only the freshest plants and flowers that are hand-arranged and then hand-delivered just how they were arranged.

The reason we can offer such great value at all of our San Diego locations as well as across the United States is because we have developed great relationships with local growers and farmers, negotiating the best prices possible so we can pass the savings onto you.

Ways to Save

There are many ways to save your hard-earned money and still walk away with stunning flower gifts, plant gifts, and gift baskets for your loved ones:

• Our online store has a page devoted to searching by price so you can see what is available within your budget range. For example, on our Under $50 page, we currently have 48 products available to choose from, including flower arrangements, bouquets, plants and gift.
• We feature regular sales on our flowers and plants, including sales that feature 50% of our roses or special value arrangements available during holidays and special occasions.
• Follow us on Facebook and get access to special deals for our loyal fans. This includes special discounts for ordering in-store or special discounts for local clients in the San Diego area.
• Join our Petal Rewards Program. For every dollar you spend, you earn petal points that you can apply toward future orders of flowers or plants to save more money or you can redeem them for other types of merchandise. That way, the money you spend comes back to you in the form of future discounts or other types of rewards, helping you get more for your budget.

For those of you who know someone in the San Diego who has recently had a baby or even if you live here and want to use your local, favorite, and top-rated San Diego florist to send flowers to new parents somewhere around the country, you might want to consider these highlights from our website that offer some of our favorite new baby flower arrangements and new baby gift baskets.

Baby-Themed Flower Arrangements

First, there are our flower arrangements to celebrate the new arrival:

• For new baby flower arrangements, we have arrangements that highlight a boy or a girl by matching hues of blue or pink flowers along with coordinating ribbons. During this spring season that includes some beautiful flower choices, including roses, tulips, gerbera daisies, calla lilies and orchids to name just a few.
• If you are not sure if it is a boy or a girl or there are both, you might consider sending a bright flower arrangement with sunny yellow flower choices, including sunflowers or yellow tulips or yellow roses.
• Flowers can be arranged in adorable, baby-themed holders, including those designed to look like baby’s first block.
• Many of our flower arrangements can be enhanced with Mylar balloons as well as cuddly stuffed animals.
• If flowers are not the thing for mom and dad, maybe you can stand out in the crowd of gifts with a flowering plant, green plant, or dish garden that will brighten their home and welcome the arrival of the family.

Gift Baskets for Mom (and Dad)

Amongst all the flowers and excitement, the new mom and dad are sure to be tired and often forget to eat over all the anxiety of feedings, diapers, and naps.

One way to keep mom and dad well taken care of is to gift them with a gift basket full of goodies. Here are some ideas that make great gift baskets for mom and dad:

• A coffee, tea, and breakfast goodies basket – of course, the goodies don’t have to be just for breakfast but could be cookies and other items to enjoy throughout the day – and night!
• A fresh fruit basket with other gourmet items like cheese and crackers – fruit is a great source of energy and vitamins needed to keep going, especially during those first few weeks of little sleep.
• A pampering spa basket for mom with a robe, bubble bath, candles and more to treat mom to some relaxation. Just remember, dad, to take over baby duty so mom can catch up on some ‘me’ time!
• A survival basket with coupons to help with housework or vouchers for babysitting so mom and dad can get some alone time.

All it takes is some creativity and lots of love to show the new parents just how much you want to celebrate their new life and the new addition to the family circle.

Meaning and Tradition

According to FaithShare.com, Palm Sunday is one of the most important days in the Christian calendar alongside Christmas and Easter. It is always the Sunday before Easter and starts the Holy Week, which remembers the week of events leading up to Jesus’ death. 

Typically, those that celebrate Palm Sunday attend mass and participate in the blessing of the palm fronds, which was what was used to pave the road as Jesus passed on a donkey.

Easter Sunday is a celebration of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. It is the critical belief in Christianity as it means everything in terms of salvation and redemption for Christians in terms of Jesus’ sacrifice for human sin. Those that celebrate Easter Sunday do so at church as well as at home or with a meal with others.

Celebration and Décor

Easter has become a commercial celebration as well with many fun activities for children, including hunting for Easter eggs, decorating Easter eggs, and enjoying Easter baskets full of goodies. The Easter brunch and dinner has also become a favorite way to celebrate.

Along with these celebrations, flowers and Easter gift baskets are given as gifts or purchased to decorate the Easter table with Easter centerpieces being a favorite.

Incorporating flowers into the Easter celebration and Easter décor means having a wide range of colorful spring flowers to choose from, including tulips, daisies, roses and carnations.

When featuring a flower centerpiece on the Easter table, think about filling vases with colorful, plastic Easter eggs. Or, you could put whimsical Easter cutouts on sticks and inserting them into the Easter flower arrangements or Easter centerpieces.

Other touches could include bowls of delicious Easter favorites like jelly beans and Robin’s chocolate eggs or even those delicious Cadbury crème eggs around the table. Both little ones and adults alike will be tempted by these treats on the Easter table.

When you add flowers to your Easter décor, try to complement the colors of the table cloth or table runner and serving ware with the flowers. This might be pastel shades often seen with Easter or you could use bursts of color or even go monochromatic with traditional Easter lilies and other stunning white flowers.

Whatever you decide, remember the reason for Easter and Palm Sunday and be sure to enjoy it to the fullest with your family and friends.