Holiday HQ

This Holiday season, Tipton & Hurst is your Holiday Headquarters. We have everything you need for decor, gift-giving, entertaining. Stay tuned for some of our favorite products and brands and stop by any of our 5 Central Arkansas locations for these and much more!

 

Additionally, Tipton & Hurst Cash is back! From now until December 15, you’ll earn $10 worth of in-store cash for every $50 you spend.

You can earn Tipton & Hurst Cash on any full-priced merchandise except for Madison Monograms, parties & events, rentals, labor, deliveries, funerals, and special orders.

To redeem your Tipton & Hurst Cash, simply bring it in and exchange it for non-discounted flowers, plants, gifts, accessories, accents, jewelry, gourmet, and holiday merchandise in any of our five stores!

 

Holiday Fragrances 

Decor & Ornaments

Keepsakes & Collectables

 

China & Tablescapes

 

     

 

Tipton & Hurst Cash is back! From now until December 15, you’ll earn $10 worth of in-store cash for every $50 you spend.

You can earn Tipton & Hurst Cash on any full-priced merchandise except for Madison Monograms, parties & events, rentals, labor, deliveries, funerals, and special orders.

To redeem your Tipton & Hurst Cash, simply bring it in and exchange it for non-discounted flowers, plants, gifts, accessories, accents, jewelry, gourmet, and holiday merchandise in any of our five stores!

Tipton & Hurst Cash is Back!

Tipton & Hurst Cash is back! From now until December 15, you’ll earn $10 worth of in-store cash for every $50 you spend. 

You can earn Tipton & Hurst Cash on any full-priced merchandise except for Madison Monograms, parties & events, rentals, labor, deliveries, funerals, and special orders. 

To redeem your Tipton & Hurst Cash, simply bring it in and exchange it for non-discounted flowers, plants, gifts, accessories, accents, jewelry, gourmet, and holiday merchandise in any of our five stores!

Valentine’s Headquarters

Do you need something ASAP to save Valentine’s? Visit our Valentine’s HQ at any of our 5 Central Arkansas Locations to pick up the perfect gift and be the holiday hero!

Musee Bath Bombs starting at $7 are a fan favorite. Each one is named after a song, and most contain a small prize!

We have all kinds of baskets available and ready to go whenever you need them! Starting at $35 in store!

Does your sweetheart have a sweet-tooth? You can’t go wrong with Sweet Shop Chocolates.

We also have a great assortment of plants that are great for anyone with a green thumb!

Cocktails, anyone?

We have all of this and so much more. Come into one of our stores to shop last minute!

 

Valentine’s Week Sweet Savings Specials

Free Roses!

When you spend $75 or more on roses to be delivered on or before February 12th, you’ll receive a voucher for one FREE Dozen Cash and Carry Roses to be redeemed during the months of June, July, or August! The second dozen roses will be available in store, and to redeem them just show us your receipt from your Valentine’s Day purchase or your email confirmation. Just make sure to give us a valid email at check out!

 

Sooner is Sweeter!

Can’t wait to say Happy Valentine’s Day? Make your gift even more special and deliver early. You’ll receive ½ priced delivery when delivery is scheduled through Tuesday, February 12. All Valentine orders delivered before Valentine’s Day will receive a card saying “I Just Couldn’t Wait To Tell You Happy Valentine’s Day!”

 

Bigger is Better!

 Bigger is better, and we’ll tell you why: when you buy more roses, the arrangement will be larger, obviously, but the value increases! For instance, a half dozen roses costs $50. That’s almost $10 per rose, but when you go up to the 3 dozen roses, they’re only $5.50 each! Plus, who doesn’t want their Valentine to have the biggest and the best?

Click here to shop the Valentine’s Day Collection now!

Top 10 Holiday Gifts of 2018

The countdown to Christmas continues, and we’ve rounded up the most sought after holiday gift ideas for 2018 that everyone on your list is after!

1. Mark Roberts Fairies: These are a favorite item for collectors and Christmas fanatics alike! Whether it’s the first in the collection or you’re adding to the number of Mark Roberts characters they already have, you can’t go wrong with this memorable gift.

 

2. Ganz Blown Glass Christmas Trees With Ornaments: These beautiful trees are intricately detailed, with glitter accents and removable ornaments that allow each person to make their tree their own. It is perfect for displaying on a shelf or mantel as a decorative holiday accent piece and makes a great hostess gift!

 

3. Old World Santa Checking His List Light: Each Old World Christmas figural glass ornament is hand crafted in age-old tradition using the same techniques that originated in the 1800s. Molten glass is mouth-blown into finely carved molds available only to the Merk Family’s Old World Christmas, before a hot solution of liquid silver is poured inside.

 

4. 2019 Desk Calendar with Easel: A perfect addition to any desktop! The 2019 Desk Calendar is printed on 100lb Linen Cardstock. The cards are 5 1/2″ square with rounded corners. The package includes a brass easel.

 

5. Lux Noble Fir Pinecone Centerpiece: The aromatic Balsam fragranced pine cones and greenery come paired with a gilded deer head container that will make a statement as a lovely centerpiece.

 

6. Anne Neilson “100 Days of Scripture” Cards: Taken directly from her inspiring book Angels in Our Midst, Anne Neilson’s 100 Days of Scripture cards feature her signature angel images, each coupled with a related scripture on 4×4 cards. All 100 cards are beautifully presented in a clear lucite box that accentuates the art and allows each card to be displayed vertically or flat.

 

7. Lux Noble Fir 14 Oz Candle in Decorative Gift Box: The perfect partner to the pinecone centerpiece, this fragrance is our best seller this holiday season!

 

8. 12 Days of Christmas Pillow: The 12 Days of Christmas pillow is hand embroidered on a lightly colored cotton fabric and features all the icons that symbolize the iconic Christmas Carol! Each pillow is in such detail that it takes up to one full week to hand embroider and is signed by the artist who created this work of art. The 12 days of Christmas embroidered pillow is a great addition to this year’s Holiday decorations.

 

9. Simon Pearce Evergreen Glass Trees: The elegant and masterfully-created Evergreen Tree in glass are as inspirational in northern Wisconsin as they are in Vermont where they are created. Be inspired during the holidays, or if you are living in the forest like we are, enjoy them year round.

 

10. Custom Gift Box: Create your own perfect Chrismas gift with a gift box filled with items that either you or our team hand-pick! Everyone on your list is sure to enjoy our favorite items from ornaments, candy, books, and other gifts from Tipton & Hurst.

 

Shop with us in-store at any of our five locations across Central Arkansas or call us at 501-666-3333 to purchase any of these gifts and have them delivered locally or shipped nationwide!

2018 Holiday Gift Guide

We have gifts for everyone on your list at Tipton & Hurst, from the perfect hostess, the collector, the cook, and even the kids! Take a look at our holiday gift guide and shop in-store with us to receive $10 for every $50 you spend in Tipton & Hurst Cash!

1. Thymes Frasier Fir 

 

2. Sugarfina Bento Boxes

 

3. James Hayes ornaments

 

4. Christian Tortu Forets collection

 

5. Louis Sherry chocolates

 

6. Simon Pearce hand-blown glass

 

7. Beatriz Ball 

 

8. Musee Bath bath balms

Christmas Open House 2018

Join us for one of the South’s largest assortments of specialty holiday ornaments, gifts, and accessories during our Christmas Open House! We have over 20 fantastic trees on display and lots of giveaways and door prizes that you can enter to win!

Heights & Conway

November 11, 12-4 PM

 

Pine Bluff, North Little Rock, and Baptist Hospital

November 15-17

2018 Design Workshops with Chris Norwood

The holiday season is fast approaching, which means decorating will be in full swing soon! Get ready for the holidays with design workshops hosted by Chris Norwood!

  • Saturday, October 6: Fall Wreath – 2-4 pm in the Heights
  • Tuesday, October 23: Fall Centerpiece – 6-8 pm in the Heights
  • Saturday, November 17: Christmas Wreath – 2-4 pm in the Heights
  • Sunday, December 9: Christmas Centerpiece – 2-4 pm in the Heights

Each class costs $75 per person and all supplies are included. Sign up by calling us at (501) 666-3333 or by clicking here!

Open House featuring Herend

 

Join us for an exciting evening on August 30 from 4 pm to 7 pm as we debut our newest line, Herend, and bridal registry at Tipton & Hurst in the Heights!

There will be multiple vendors with giveaways, including a limited edition Herend figurine valued at over $2,000! The evening will be topped off with a book signing by Gayden Metcalfe, contributor to Southern Living magazine and best-selling author of Being Dead Is No Excuse: The Official Southern Ladies Guide to Hosting the Perfect Funeral and Some Day You’ll Thank Me for This: The Official Southern Ladies’ Guide to Being a “Perfect” Mother as well as champagne and other treats to enjoy as you sip and shop! Representatives from our bridal registry collections including Juliska, Vietri, Anna Weatherly, Arte Italica, Beatriz Ball, Moser, Pickard China, and more will join us to celebrate the newest additions to Tipton & Hurst.

Summer Clearance Sale

2018 has been full of exciting changes including a new bridal registry, fun times at market and the AIFD symposium with Chris Norwood, and especially our clearance sale! We recently purchased a huge inventory of home decor and gifts from a decorative accessories warehouse in Dallas, and now we get to bring it all here for our customers. The best thing about it is that it’s all on sale! In Pine Bluff and Conway, shop and get 75-90% off of all clearance sale items until we’re sold out!

Take a look at some of the items we have on sale at both locations and come shop with us in Pine Bluff and Conway!

810 4th Avenue
Conway, AR 72032
Mon-Fri: 8:00 am-6:00 pm
Sat: 9:00 am-3:00 pm

910 W 29th Ave
Pine Bluff, AR 71603
Mon-Fri: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Sat: 8:00 am-2:00 pm

 

Celebrating Our 132nd Anniversary!

Not only is June celebrated as Rose Month, but it’s also Tipton & Hurst’s 132nd anniversary!

Family owned and operated since 1886, Tipton & Hurst has spent more than a century working toward delivering customer service that exceeds customer expectations. With every sale, every customer interaction, and every plant, flower or gift that leaves our store, our goal has always been perfection.

To celebrate this milestone, we’re offering Cash & Carry roses starting at just $18.86 per dozen! We also have arranged roses on sale with one dozen starting at only $39.95! Come shop with us in the Heights, Conway, North Little Rock, Baptist Hospital, or Pine Bluff and take home beautiful roses to surprise someone special!

Our Mother’s Day Favorites

Mother's Day Collection

It’s sometimes hard to find the right gift for mom on Mother’s Day. How do you find the perfect way to say “thank you” on her big day? We have some ideas! This Mother’s Day is extra special for us because at Tipton & Hurst, our team is celebrating with our all-new Mother’s Day collection with arrangements and plants named after our own mothers. Take a look at some of our favorite floral arrangements and come visit us at any of our locations across Central Arkansas!

Valerie

Valerie: This colorful arrangement of free spirit roses, green hydrangea, orange gerbera daisies, and other seasonal favorites comes in a colorful keepsake container. This is our special and was originally $125 but is now $100!

 

Marie

Marie: This delicate and lovely arrangement has white hydrangea, pink roses, and hyacinth and comes in a white keepsake pitcher.

 

katherine

Katherine: This fragrant arrangement of Casa Blanca lilies and hydrangea comes in a blue and white stripe keepsake pitcher.

 

gernice

Gernice: This pretty pink arrangement of orange and pink roses is sure to make mom smile!

 

jean ann

Jean Ann: This very special arrangement is named after the late Mrs. Jean Ann Morris. She was known to greet everyone at the Tipton & Hurst door for 30 years. This is a strong example of her favorite phalaenopsis orchid plant in a contemporary moss-filled container.

 

mamie's blooms of hope

Mamies Blooms of Hope: We are also partnering with Mamies Poppy Plates, a donation-supported non-profit, mission is to provide tangible mementos to families who suffer stillbirth, infant & child death. This beautiful arrangement is filled with blue hydrangea, hot pink peonies, and spray roses. 20% of all proceeds from this arrangement will be donated to Mamies Poppy Plates.

 

Come visit us at any of our locations across the state at The Heights, Baptist Health, North Little Rock, Conway, or Pine Bluff or give us a call at 800-666-3333 to place your Mother’s Day order!

When One of Our Own Weds

Ann is a particularly crucial member of our team here at Tipton & Hurst. Ann’s official title here at Tipton & Hurst is ‘Controller’, but her title should be something like: ‘She Who Knows All and can Solve Any Problem’. So we definitely missed her while she was gone on her amazing honeymoon. Ann is modest and doesn’t like being in the spotlight, but we had to reflect her beautiful nature in her wedding decor. So of course, Chris Norwood and the rest of our event team, pulled out a few of Ann’s favorite stops for her big day.

Photo By: Stephanie Parsley

Ann wanted to keep her bridal party all classic and white with hints of pink. Her bridesmaids bouquets were full arrangements of white roses, garden roses, ranunculuses, lisianthus, hydrangeas, and pastel pink peonies. Her house party had elegant mini bouquets of white roses. She chose a beautiful all white and cream bridal bouquet of roses, cream peonies, ranunculuses, lisianthus, and hydrangea. We were just in love with this beautiful all white look, and it complemented all of her bridesmaids in their mix-and-match pastel blue and navy dresses.

Photo By: Stephanie Parsley

We continued this classic white with hints of pastels color pallet throughout all of Ann’s wedding decor, and complemented it with one of Ann’s favorites: greenery walls. We installed one wall in the ball room of the Capitol Hotel, where Ann had her wedding ceremony. We installed another on the second floor of the Capitol Hotel in the reception area for the band. These grand walls really make an impressive statement and set the mood for the whole room.

Photo By: Stephanie Parsley

Of course we wanted to do something even more grand in her reception area, so  Chris filled the room with this cascading floral canopy. This canopy was suspended via four clear acrylic columns to add another layer of flowers to the room. The canopy is filled with white and green hydrangeas, white roses, and smilax. We were so proud and honored to do something so special for Ann’s wedding.

A special thanks to Stephanie Parsley for letting us use her images from Ann’s wedding in this post. Check her out here: http://www.stephanieparsleyphotography.com/
Photo By: Jordan Hood

 

Photo By: Jordan Hood

4.25.17 Admin Professionals Week Is Near

Reward the hard work of your staff!

Everyone enjoys a thoughtful gift. Our Administrative Professionals’ Collection is full of affordable and attractive desktop options for every budget. Simply stop by any of our stores or order online and we will deliver on your behalf. 

Did you miss Good Morning Arkansas?

Our Chris Norwood showed Todd Yakoubian of KATV Channel 7 a few of his favorite picks for Administrative Professionals’ Day. If you missed the segment, we have all the details here on our blog! Chris and Todd Yakoubian discussed the numerous options that are available for gift-giving during Administrative Professionals’ Week. This season’s desktop favorites include colorful blooms and organic terrariums. This is a perfect gift for a small space! Terrariums are easy to care for and long lasting. These thoughtful gifts are sure to be treasured.

Terrariums are affordable and attractive. Our terrariums start at $27 for the small size and go up to $55 for the larger size. Terrariums are just a few of our current favorites for Administrative Professionals’ Week. Another gift idea that Chris showed during Good Morning Arkansas was the Got a Gerber arrangement. This arrangement is a best seller and an attractive addition to any desk. The Got a Gerber arrangement is tall and narrow, making it an ideal arrangement for a small space.

What is the Most Popular Gift?

Our most popular Administrative Professionals’ Week gift is the Tipton Hurst Delight. This gift includes a bright 4″ blooming plant, a box of cookies, and a box of tea. This joyful arrangement begins at $30 for the standard size and is also available in a Deluxe version at $40 or our Premium size at $55.

Bold n’ Beautiful is the best selling arrangement at Tipton & Hurst. This gorgeous clutch arrangement is rich with color! When you want to make a statement, go with the Bold n’ Beautiful arrangement.

We carry local products!

A local favorite in Arkansas and beyond are LUX Candles. These heavenly candles are long lasting and are famous for their decorative boxes. No need to gift wrap these beautiful candles! Our current LUX Candle fragrances include Blue Hydrangea, French Lavender, Grapefruit Candle, Orange Blossom, Veranda, White River, Cape Jasmine, Lover’s Lane, and Shine. Come in and see us at Tipton & Hurst and find your favorite!

We deliver!

We want to make gift-giving as easy as possible for our customers. Our delivery option is fast and reliable. Everything that we do at Tipton & Hurst is 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. We want our customers to know that we stand behind everything we create. Customer satisfaction is our top priority.

Where is Tipton & Hurst located?

We have four locations to serve you. We are located in the Heights area of Little Rock, Conway, Baptist Hospital, and in North Little Rock. Give us a call at 501-666-3333 and let us help you make this Administrative Professional Week memorable for you and your staff.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did You Forget Valentine’s Day?

Oh no – Valentine’s Day is on Tuesday! As the last few hours before Valentine’s Day quickly tick off the clock, now is the time when even the most hard-core procrastinators start to panic. If you still haven’t found that perfect gift, or if you simply forgot (it happens), no worries! You still have some outstanding options left, as long as you know where to look.

2 Dozen Red Roses Arranged by Tipton & Hurst

Ordering a gift online and having it shipped is just too risky of an option this late in the game. Even with costly expedited shipping fees, there is still some lingering doubt that the correct item will be sent to the correct place at the right time. With so little time left and so little room for error, this option will probably end up being even more stressful than figuring out what to get in the first place.

Your best option now is to find someone who can help – and find them fast! Time may no longer be on your side, but luckily you have friends in the business who are happy to assist you with finding the perfect gifts – and they’re only a phone call away. Want something more than just flowers? Tipton & Hurst has you covered with balloons, teddy bears, chocolates, wine, champagne, and so much more!

Bunches of Love Hand Wrapped Bouquet by Tipton & Hurst

Best of all, after you make that phone call you can rest assured, knowing that the perfect gift is already on its way to being carefully created, packaged and hand-delivered to your valentine in time for Valentine’s Day.

Our customer service representatives here at Tipton & Hurst are experts on last-minute gift ideas. Their “Yes We Can” commitment not only makes for a stress-free Valentine’s Day shopping experience but also makes you look like a hero in the eyes of your valentine for being so thoughtful and creative. It will be our little secret that you waited until the last minute!

Pictured here are a few of our most popular choices.

Do Roses Cost More on Valentine’s Day?

Is it true that roses cost more in early February than they do the rest of the year? The short answer is yes, but not just for consumers. Many people are led to believe that flower retailers artificially raise prices to stick it to desperate consumers, when if fact, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Yes, roses cost more this time of year, but they also cost more for the florist, and the wholesaler, all the way down to the grower. The main reason is that the incredible demand for long-stem red roses on a single day puts a tremendous strain on the entire industry, and that affects everyone involved in the complex process of bringing fresh flowers to your door on Valentine’s Day.

In order for growers to meet the annual demand for red roses, they must time the growth of their flowers. This is accomplished by altering the rose plants’ growth cycle to optimize the harvest for February 14. By doing so, the growers must interrupt everyday production for several weeks in order to produce a bumper crop at precisely the right time. Unfortunately, the cost of stopping everyday production comes at a price, and that gets passed on down the line.

Is that the only reason?

That’s one reason for the price increase, but many additional factors come into play before the flowers reach the consumers. For starters, the unusually large harvest of roses can swell up to three times the normal volume that is typical for other times of the year. Since roses are processed manually, this necessitates hiring temporary laborers to help harvest and package the roses. Once the roses are ready to be shipped, importers are not only forced to pay more for the extra needed cargo space, but also for the extra trucks and drivers necessary to handle the extra volume.

Valentine’s Day is one of the busiest days of the years for florists, but our preparation for this holiday begins weeks – if not months – in advance. In order to meet demand, we must hire additional help, work longer hours, and rent additional delivery vans in order to make sure all the orders are delivered on or before the 14th.

Nobody likes to see the annual price spike for roses, but unfortunately, it’s an unavoidable result of supply and demand. With an increasingly crowded marketplace dominated by online-only flower shippers, the profit margins for local florists are razor thin compared to many other times of the year.

So, what’s the good news?

The good news is that we work very hard at Tipton & Hurst to keep costs low and prices competitive while never sacrificing quality or service for our customers. We understand the importance of this holiday to our customers and their loved ones and always do our best to exceed their expectations.

Whether it’s a dozen red roses or something else you had in mind for your sweetheart, we’re here to help you find the perfect gift. Remember, the earlier you order, the better! Do yourself a favor by not waiting until the last minute when items are picked over and delivery times are full. Make this Valentine’s Day one they’ll never forget, with the help of your friends at Tipton & Hurst.

2017 Floral Forecast

2017 has arrived, and this year is already shaping up to be a hot one in the floral industry. From exciting new color palettes to creative new textures, here are some trends to watch for this year.

Color My World

Pantone recently announced their pick for the 2017 ‘Color of the Year,’ and this year’s winner is one that ties in extremely well to the floral industry. In fact, the name itself – Greenery – is something that florists use every day!

According to Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, the newly crowned Greenery is ‘nature’s neutral’ and is symbolic of new beginnings.

“Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the reassurance we year for amid a tumultuous social and political environment. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate and revitalize, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose,” Eiseman said.

Greenery is a very versatile color that is considered “trans-seasonal” and thus lends itself to many complementary floral color combinations, including last year’s co-colors of the year, Serenity, and Rose Quartz.

A Twist of Modern and Antiquity

Each fall, the Society of American Florists previews some trends in the floral industry that they think will be at the top of every fashion-forward list for the upcoming year. This time, SAF identified four trends to watch for in 2017.

  1. Photo by SAF

    The French Connection – This trend is all about the beauty and romance that surrounds the French culture. Thoughts of cobblestone streets and quaint countryside cottages were the inspiration for this trend which features a color palette of reds with hints of chocolate, burnt orange, golden yellows, sage grey-greens, charcoal and muted pink. Featured flowers include multi-petaled blooms such as garden roses and peonies combined with textured berries in aged metallic pedestal containers and distressed ceramic vases.

  2. The Force of Nature – The focus of this trend is all about our love for nature and the connection we have within in our lives. Bright teals, ocean blues, and mossy greens, blend flawlessly with muted gray undertones in this nautical-inspired palette. Natural textures such as driftwood, sea glass and shells complete the trend with featured flowers including delphinium, hyacinth, veronica, and Nigella.
  3. Modern Wonders – This dynamic trend stresses simplicity. A blend of modern, sophisticated lines with furnishings from other cultures and metallic finishes; this trend unites young and old with a fresh new approach. Featured colors of this trend include plum red, lavender, taupe, gray and copper with floral selections including bold single blooms or uniquely shaped flowers like Protea, red ginger, cymbidium orchids and muted lavender rose shades.
  4. Into the Jungle – The final trend is an untamed, wild mix of jungle-inspired colors that excites the senses in a classic departure from more formal, muted palettes. Bright shades of orange, yellow and green mix with animal prints, hand-woven baskets, and hand-carved wooden vases, highlighted with tropical flowers and foliage including bamboo, moss, and cork.

Wedding Trends

In addition to the new trends in floral design, weddings also play an instrumental role in determining what’s hot and what’s not for the upcoming year. While each wedding is unique and the design choices are ultimately determined by the wedding party and their florists, certain trends signal a preview of what brides will be asking for in 2017.

Organic and natural is one of the top wedding trends for 2017, and loose, unstructured arrangements are becoming a popular choice for many of this year’s brides as many choose cascading bouquets that appear to flow like a floral waterfall.

Those with tastes leaning in the opposite direction may opt for a simple, more traditional round bouquet with bold eye-catching colors. Some brides may elect to take that simplicity a step further with bouquets consisting of only one to three flowers for a dynamic effect.

Of course, there are also the giant, oversized statement bouquets which have been popular in recent years. That trend has been strong for a while and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Whatever your style dictates, and however your tastes decide, consider giving some of this year’s floral trends a try, or better yet, start a trend of your own! We’re here to help you find the perfect bouquet for any occasion, and our design team will be happy to work with you to help make your world beautiful in 2017!

National Poinsettia Day – December 12

Today is National Poinsettia Day. If you think this is just another one of those wacky observance days that seem to take place every single day of the year (yesterday was both National Mountain Day, and National Light a Candle Day) you’re in for a surprise. In fact, the United States has observed this official day since the mid-1800s in honor of the passing of the first American ambassador to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, and the plant he introduced to the U.S.

In 1828, Poinsett discovered the plant with vivid red leaves by the side of a road in Mexico and sent some cuttings home to his residence in South Carolina. Initially, many botanists dismissed the Poinsettia as a weed, but Poinsett’s work with the plant caused it to eventually gain acceptance as a holiday plant.

The holiday season is always a special time in the floral industry, and the star of the show is, of course, the venerable Poinsettia plant. According to a 2013 US Department of Agriculture report, Poinsettias are the highest selling potted flowering plant in America and account for nearly one-quarter of sales of all flowering potted plants throughout the entire year.

So how did the Poinsettia plant end up associated with Christmas? According to Mexican legend, a poor child who could not afford a gift for Christ on Christmas Eve was told that a humble gift, if given with love, would suffice in God’s eyes. The child carefully picked some weeds from the side of a road and brought them to church as a gift to make God happy. As she entered the church, the weeds bloomed into beautiful red and green flowers and the congregation was sure they had witnessed a Christmas miracle. From that day on, Poinsettias were known as ‘Flores de Noche Buena,’ or ‘Flowers of the Holy Night.’

Here are some Poinsettia fun facts:

  • Poinsettias are native to southern Mexico and have been used in religious ceremonies and also to decorate churches there for centuries as the red color is a symbol of purity.
  • Contrary to popular belief, Poinsettias are not poisonous to people or pets, although the plant has been known to cause stomach irritation and discomfort if ingested. The danger to pets and children comes from the choking hazard of the fibrous parts of the plant, and not the toxicity.
  • Although every state in the U.S. grows Poinsettias commercially; for much of the past 100 years, the Ecke Ranch in California has grown over 70% of all Poinsettias purchased in the United States and accounted for about 50% of the Poinsettias sold worldwide.
  • The word Poinsettia is traditionally capitalized because it was named after a person.
  • The Poinsettia has its own college football bowl game. The Poinsettia Bowl debuted in San Diego in 1952 and originally served as the military services championship game for four years before being resurrected in 2005. This year’s matchup features BYU vs. Wyoming on December 21.
  • In the wild, Poinsettias have been known to grow over 12 feet tall.

Flowers Are the Best Way to Beat the Holiday Blues

poinsettia blog flipNot surprisingly, sending flowers is a perfect way to spread some holiday cheer to others who are feeling less than joyful. Studies have proven time and again that sending flowers not only provides cheer and happiness to the recipient, but also provide an emotional boost to the sender as well.

In fact, studies by Rutgers University found that flowers are a “powerful positive emotion inducer,” and they provide a Duchene or true smile when presented to recipients. The studies also found a variety of other immediate and long-term emotional health benefits from flowers including: “Emotional reactions, mood, social behaviors and even memory.”

Your one-stop holiday shop

Here at Tipton & Hurst, we’re busy preparing for the holiday rush, but we’re never too busy to help you pick out the perfect gift for that special someone. Whether you’re shopping for a Christmas or Hanukkah gift, or just want to send a special treat to let someone know you care and that you’re thinking about them, we have the perfect gift ideas for every occasion.

Holiday Splendor by Tipton & Hurst
Holiday Splendor by Tipton & Hurst

Remember to get your orders in early to avoid the rush. Not only will you get the best value and widest selection earlier in the season, but you’ll also be able to cross one more thing off your list and reduce your own stress levels a bit. Leave the last-minute shopping to the amateurs by trusting one of our professional designers to create the perfect one-of-a-kind gift.

Not sure exactly what you’re looking for? No worries, we here to help you spread your holiday cheer! The possibilities are practically endless this time of year and we have an incredible variety to choose from. Whether you prefer a timeless classic like a festive poinsettia plant or something with a bit more flair like a beautiful hand-designed holiday floral arrangement, you’re in good hands at Tipton & Hurst.

But that’s not all!

In addition to our incredible selection of fresh flowers and plants, we also feature a fantastic variety of holiday gifts and décor that is sure to please anyone on your list! Stop in today to check out what we have in store for you this holiday season!

Ready, Set…Shop!

Cornucopia by Tipton & Hurst
Cornucopia by Tipton & Hurst

Every year it seems as though the holiday shopping season starts earlier than the last. With the elections this time around to take up some of the attention – and more importantly, the good TV commercial spots, it was practically the middle of November until the full-fledged barrage of ‘all-things-holidays’ really got a foothold.

Now with Thanksgiving just a few days away, we’re staring straight into the biggest shopping weekend of the year! That’s right, as soon as the fork hits the plate after that last bite of pumpkin pie; it’s time to shop until you drop!

Some people love lining up in front of their favorite big box stores on Black Friday hoping to score the best bargains of the season, but those hard-core shopping tactics aren’t for everyone. Most people prefer a more leisurely pace while others want absolutely nothing to do with the entire ordeal and prefer to do all of their holiday shopping in their PJs from the comfort of their own couch.

Whichever method you prefer, now’s your chance to start that shopping that you always promise yourself you won’t put off until the last minute. So where to start? Right here at Tipton & Hurst.

Thanksgiving

Time is running out fast, but it’s not too late to get those last-minute flowers for Thanksgiving. Are you hosting a big dinner for family and friends? If so, a beautiful fall-themed centerpiece is the perfect finishing touch for your table. If you were lucky enough to get invited to a dinner where someone else is doing the cooking, flowers make a terrific gift for the busy who will surely appreciate the gesture. Give us a call or stop in and let us help you find something truly special for this festive holiday.

Christmas Traditions Centerpiece by Tipton & Hurst

Christmas

The key to successful Christmas shopping is finishing early. Imagine how many people you can cross off your list by ordering your Christmas flowers at the same time as your Thanksgiving flowers! You can reduce a great deal of stress with one phone call and have nearly all your shopping done before you even hear your first Christmas song on the radio!

Party Time

When formulating a plan for your holiday shopping list, you’ll, of course, want to include the usual friends and family members, but don’t forget about the other festivities and gatherings that usually take place before the end of the year. Office parties, classroom parties, sports banquets, church services and other social events all have a habit of popping up this time of year and they usually require some sort of gift. Fortunately, flowers are always appropriate and we can help you out here too. Give us a call and let us know what you need. From centerpieces and table dressings to gifts for the host or floral décor for any room, we have you covered and we’re here to help!

Happy Thanksgiving from your friends at Tipton & Hurst!