Finding that Perfect Flower Arrangement Online with BloomNation

Disclosure: Mom Central received a complimentary bouquet from BloomNation in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed here are our own.

For umpteen occasions, both celebratory and consoling, nothing works better than a beautifully designed and delivered flower arrangement. But as we’re often trying to send flowers to a loved one or friend out of town, it’s hard to know what local florists do best. The same applies to in-town florists, as we tend to have one or two we’ve used before that can conveniently be found nearby. And while you can rely on a generic national flower delivery service, the actual bouquet will be farmed out to a local florist who will deliver a very standard bouquet picked from an online assortment, and to varying degrees of competence as to flower color, duration of the blooms, and artistry of the arrangement.

So how can we discover the unique artistry and specialties of local florists in selecting the perfect bouquet for holidays or personal occasions when most women feel flowers (especially the surprise delivery to the office) speak volumes? Whenever a flower delivery comes into Mom Central headquarters, everyone jumps out of their offices to see who got what, and hear the story (often juicy) behind the flower delivery. “My boyfriend’s been off with his buddies in Las Vegas – I picked him up at the airport and he sent me THESE!!” Or “My husband’s been super-stressed lately and crabby to be around, but LOOK at what he came up with as way of apology. WOW!” Or the classic Valentine’s Day, “You must be REALLY loved!” or “You go girl!!” or “WHOA!! Would you look at that!!!! He’s smitten!”

The same goes for bouquets we often send as women, whether to our significant others, Moms, Mothers-in-law, best friends, new Mothers, long distance friends, or business colleagues. So many of my most touching friendship moments have been around sending and receiving flowers to celebrate great life milestones, to console a grieving friend, to wish someone a speedy recovery for themselves or their child, or to celebrate doing business together.

The recently launched BloomNation has come up with an exceptionally clever solution. Ask each of the local florists to share pictures and pricings of their best and unique arrangements to help us pick something truly special. So when approached them about their launch, I asked if I could try out the process to understand better how it works, as well as see the quality of the flower bouquet delivery.

When browsing the site, you start by entering the zip code for where the arrangement will end up. Then you’re given choices that from ingenious local florists, which were amazing. When you think about it, it totally makes sense that each florist has a bouquet flourish about which they feel proudest and that they feel sets them apart in the artistry of flower selection and design. I entered my zip code and up came choices of local Boston florists that delivered to my zip code. After pursuing some exquisite choices, I went with a $75 arrangement from Exotic Flowers of Boston, because of the gorgeous orchids they had woven into their design.

By showcasing the work of local florists, BloomNation celebrates the artistic talents of floral venders across the country – both large and small – and puts consumers in touch with florists they may never have discovered otherwise.

When the bouquet I selected arrived at my office, I loved that I received a round of “oohs,” as well as team members scurrying over to my office to see my flowers and to get the scoop. And the arrangement itself? Rising from a clear, sleek vase, the flowers injected jolt of color and fragrance into an otherwise gloomy winter day. The bouquet featured a sophisticated arrangement of truly fresh, vibrant blossoms that contrasted beautifully with the varying shades of green in the stems and flowers.

The arrangement really showcased the mission of BloomNation by highlighting the artistic talents of the florist behind my bouquet, Exotic Flowers of Boston. A classic American success story, Exotic Flowers boasts a melding of two floral businesses that both stretch back to the beginning of the 20^th century. After working at Lombardi Florist for more than 10 years, Arnold “Sonny” Canale became the owner in the late 1950s. When Sonny married Marie Russo of a neighboring florist, Russo’s, the two businesses became one – later named Exotic Flowers. Click here to learn more.

My experience with BloomNation offered me a go-to resource for future friendship moments I want to express through flowers – both across the country and close to home – and also introduced me to a local florist with true artistry and deep roots in the community. What more do you need?