Best way to send flowers (or something better) out of state?

[jimbrady]

I have an elderly friend in a hospital in Worcester, Mass. Should I just use one of the big names like ProFlowers or FTD(.com???)? Find an indy florist in that city?

Any suggestions for other types of thoughtful expressions? She may be an inmate for some time, so I'd rather get something that doesn't wilt in a couple days for longer-term up-cheering.

[lost in space]

Yes, try to contact an indy. Save a pile of money.

Some florists have the big-name service and will charge accordingly, and will also do their own service.

[Robert M]

Jim,

The most convenient method will be to contact a place like proflowers.com. If you plug in Hannety (sp?), you may get a free vase to go with the flowers. I've no complaints with the service and the flowers are usually quite nice and last a long time. However, it ain't cheap.

Another method is to do a phonebook search and find a local florist. Order flowers for delivery from them over the phone. Most will handily accept a visa. Not sure if it'll be that much cheaper when all is said and done and can't vouch for the reliability.

Robert

[MacMagus]

I do a Google search for local flower shops within a couple of miles of the recipient.

It saves a lot of money and it feels good to do business with a person who knows his stock.

If the arrangement sucks then I can move on to a different florist the next time and if the arrangement is great, they've got my business for the duration.

If you're calling 1-800-generic, you're stuck with whatever anonymous florist takes the biggest chunk out of his profits for them.

[vicrock]

What MacMagus says - you will save $$ and get fresher flowers.

[Racer X]

I delivered flowers for an independant florist for about 18 months part time. They were hooked into the FTD network. They charged a $6 surcharge to cover the FTD costs on FTD orders. And they created far more creative and unique arrangements than the FTD stuff.

I would look for a local florist and call them, and tell them what you want. Some regions of the US have far different tastes in floral arangements than others, so what we might love here in Seattle, may look freakish or be too daring for someone in Georgia. That is why so many of the FTD arrangements in the book look rather alike, and use commonly available flowers/greens. What varies are the seasonal arrangements and the vases. They all feature botanicals that are readily available year-round and across the country.

Ask for something that will really last, or inquire about living plants. Those were popular for long stays with the hospitals we delivered to. And some hospitals have restrictions with regards to flowers because of pollens. No flowers in the ICU areas. Ballons and non-flowering plants were OK.

And a plant that makes it and goes home with them will be a constant reminder that you were thinking of them.

[swampy]

My son has sent me flowers via the big online dealers and since I live in the boondocks they usually come wilted, stems broken and crappy. I'm not handy with flower arranging either and they usually come bundled up in a clump and it's left to me to "arrange" them.

I finally convinced my son to call my local hometown florist and just give her a price range. She does beautiful arrangements and the flowers are always fresh and pretty. She will also perform extra services... For my birthday, my son not only ordered the flowers, but asked the florist to pick up a bottle of Riesling wine (one of my favorites) chill it down in her flower cooler and deliver it with the flowers. She did a beautiful basket arrangement!

My son tells me he not only saves money, but gets to catch up on local news when he calls our florists whose daughter graduated from high school with him :-)

[Racer X]

Swampy, that is exactly what we always tried to do. we did basket as well, as both the owners were foodies, and loved to pick up cool stuff while they were shopping to add to gift baskets.

[jimbrady]

Thanks for all the tips.