Inside the Flower Shop

Valentine's Day countdown

2012-02-01T21:09:00.000-08:00

So, today is February 1st. I took my first Valentine's order today. I sometimes forget how fun it is after having 17 years in this floral industry. He was nervous, didn't quite know what he wanted, like most you guys out there. With so many choices out there, it's hard to choose.

With roses, orchids, lilies, tulips, gerbera daisies, chocolates, balloons, stuffed animals, crystal vases, plain vases..it's no wonder that you guys get overwhelmed. Well, worry not. We here at Capitol Hill Flowers are here to help.

Step one, find out your sweeties' favorite flowers. You can never go wrong if you build a bouquet with her favorite flowers. Step two, find out her favorite color. If the flowers she loves aren't available, chances are, we've got her favorite color covered. Step three, does she like sweets? What woman doesn't! We've got some amazing gourmet chocolates. So if she loves her sweets (besides you), then attach some to your order. Step four, cuddly bears? We've got those too! Step five, are you having this delivered to her at work? then attach some balloons! This will ensure that everybody in her office knows that someone (you) love her and wanted to make this Valentine's Day special. Plus, she'll be easy to spot in a crowd with some balloons attached to a gorgeous bouquet, chocolates that she's savoring and a teddy bear that is a great reminder of this holiday after the flowers and chocolates are long gone.

So, give us a call: 206-325-5068 or look online: www.flower4gift.com . If you want to hand pick your flowers to make this extra special, we can help you over the phone or you can come on in. I encourage you to order early! Valentine's Day is Tuesday, February 14th!!! Make this a memorable day for you and your sweetie.

Valentine's Day and Flowers

2011-12-29T22:37:00.000-08:00

You may or may not be interested in knowing how Valentine's day came into existence. Long story short, a young priest name Valentine, lived during the 3rd century in Rome, was imprisoned by the ruler, Claudius. While he was imprisoned, he fell in love with his jailer's daughter. He was executed on Feb 14, 270 AD. Valentine sent a letter to his love, signed it "From your Valentine...." an expression we still use today. Valentine later became a saint and the day to honor him was declared to be Feb 14.

Today, we continue to honor St. Valentine and recall the history of Valentine's Day each year on February 14 by celebrating our love for significant others, friends, and family. For thousands of years, the middle of February has been a time for fertility festival celebrations, so it is no wonder Valentine's Day flowers are often the Valentine's Day gift of choice around this time of year. For centuries, flowers have symbolized fertility, love, marriage, and romance.

The tradition of sending flowers, most notably red roses gained popularity in the 1600s. But the red rose as a symbol of love dates back much further. This again can be attributed to the Romans as it was believed to be the favorite flower of Venus, the Goddess of Love. Red is the preferred color, standing for love, passion, and respect.

We here at Capitol Hill Flowers in Seattle, can have flowers delivered around the corner or around the world. We have a team of dedicated floral designers that cannot wait to help make this Valentine's Day a memorable one for you. You can call us 206-325-5068 or order online http://www.flower4gift.com/ and we will ensure that your floral order is very well taken care of. With over 50 years experience in the floral industry we can guarantee that you will be happy.

From roses to gerbera daisies, orchids to calla lilies, stargazer lilies to plants, chocolates, balloons and cards, your Valentine's Day will be awesome. It's on a Tuesday this year...so order Early!! Want flowers delivered to your sweetheart at work? Order Early!! We look forward to hearing from you.

New Year Celebrations

2011-12-29T22:13:00.000-08:00

With Christmas over and the New Year just days away, I know we are all full of new hopes and dreams for the year to come. 2011 and the small locally owned businesses, like ours, it was a very trying year, full of ups and downs. In this post, we would like to thank all of our patrons that made it a successful one.

For all of you that order direct, or choose to order flowers direct from your local florist, it certainly does make a difference, so thank you. Your contribution to the local economy does matter.

Now, celebrations are happening all over the city. Let us be your florist for the New Year celebration and the years to come. Capitol Hill Flowers does get the freshest flowers every day. We have a team of dedicated floral designers on staff always willing to help fulfill your floral needs.

Whether you call us 206-325-5068 or order online www.flower4gift.com, we can't wait to help you and make sure your holidays, anniversaries, birthdays, or "just because" days will have you being the "hero". We deliver all over the Seattle metro and can even have flowers sent all over the world.

We can do it all! Centerpieces, traditional or modern, vased arrangements, basket arrangements, basket gardens with green and blooming plants, orchid plants, green plants, wrapped fresh flowers (and not the cookie cutter ones you find in the grocery store), we have it all. Give us a try, you won't regret it!

Happy New Year!!

Thanksgiving is here!

2011-11-22T22:44:00.000-08:00

The holidays are fast approaching..with Thanksgiving only a couple days away then a mad dash for Christmas. Yes..I am a procrastinator...probably like many of you out there. I can tell you that Thanksgiving holds a dear place in my heart and family. For me, there is nothing like surrounding yourself with the people that you love and that love you and "breaking bread" so to say.

With the turkey, the stuffing, the mashed potatoes, the jellied cranberry sauce, the green bean casserole, the pumpkin pie...the leftovers...yum! But, you know what else makes this holiday great? The ambiance..the decore. Flowers on your table..whether it be a small centerpiece to something more elaborate that your local florist has whipped up just for you, flowers on your table or nearby, really do make a difference.

It's important to shop local..support your local florist. If they're like us, locally owned and operated, your business makes a real difference! We are only a click away.. www.flower4gift.com or a phone call away: 206-325-5068. We'll be here for you..to help make your holiday as special as ever. Our experienced floral designers are the ones that answer the phone and help you through the ordering process. Let us help you create a memorable holiday.

From our family to yours.... Happy Thanksgiving!

You like your Boss? Boss's Day is the 17th!

2011-10-12T14:06:00.000-07:00

I'm writing this blog from home today as I am sick with the flu. I texted my boss early this morning telling them of the situation and hoping that I could be in later today...but being the awesome people they are...they told me to get better and see you tomorrow. :) (Complete with smiley face.)

I have to say, that I feel so very lucky to have an awesome set of boss's. Being in the floral industry, we know of all the holidays that come up. If you're like me and want to show your appreciation to your boss, then don't hesitate to give us a call: 206-325-5068 or visit us online: flower4gift.com

We can help you choose just the right gift. From a great greeting card, balloons, plants (garden baskets), orchid plants, and of course, fresh floral bouquets hand crafted by our awesome designers. Not only will you be letting your boss know how YOU appreciate THEM, but you can also earn some great brownie points. lol. Remember, that we deliver all over Seattle metro and surrounding areas (Bellevue, Kirkland, Bothell, Lynnwood, etc)

So, if you have a boss like mine...the one's that wish you well when you're ill, listen to your outrageous stories, laugh with you (not at you..well sometimes at you), listen to your horrible singing and strange sense of humor, and work beside you, always helping you achieve something greater, then don't forget to tell them how great you think they are.

For Lee and Mimi, Amber and I think you rock! Thanks for everything you do for us.

You've got the Grad, We've got the Flowers!

2011-06-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

Graduations are happening this weekend all over Seattle! They've put in the hours of studying/cramming for finals, sleepless hours spent in the library, bringin' home the grades AND now they are ready to Graduate!

You want to show them how proud you are? One of the best ways to do that is a party, of course (but that's after the graduation). Before the graduation and even at the ceremony, bringing them a wrapped bouquet of fresh flowers is definitely the way to go!

We can tailor it to your needs. IE: School colors, their favorite colors or flowers, etc. The flowers we have right now: Gladiolas, Snap Dragons, Delphinium, Sunflowers, Gerbera Daisies, Peonies, Oriental Lilies, Iris, even some Tropicals. We also have Graduation balloons!! We also have a great selection of plants, stuffed animals, chocolates, but your best bet is the wrapped bouquet. Easy to transport and looks great in photos!

So, if you're shoppin for your Grad, then give us a try. We won't disappoint! Stop by: 300 15th Ave E; Seattle, WA 98112; or give us a call: 206-325-5068 We're always happy to help!!

Support your local florist...and THIS is why!

2011-05-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

Do you have a job that you love? Well, I do. I've been a floral designer for almost 17 years and
have seen so much change. Cap Hill Flowers has gone from a busy, busy florist (like 40-50 orders a day) to just half (sometimes less) during a slower day. I have some ideas of why. Here's one that really speaks to me and makes me extremely angry. It's called "order gatherers".

As consumers, it's easier to go online and order something that you want to give as a gift or even to get for yourself. I like to shop online...it's convenient. But here's where things start to go wrong. Say you want to order flowers. You go online. You find a website that fits your budget and promises all of these wonderful things. More than likely, you've just been misled by an "order gatherer".

An order gather is a business that typically does not own a flower shop, is not a florist, or is not even very familiar with the flower business. Typically these order gathers are web designers, or people with a marketing degree that spend a lot of money going out and promoting a brand or name. They typically make money in volume, selling hundreds or thousands of orders a week and wire these orders out to local florist.

To an outsider more orders means more business for the local florist. But this is not the case, actually many of the orders actually cost the local florist more money to deliver than they make. (Example: if you buy $30 arrangement from a order gatherer and then $10 for delivery, that's about $40. How much does the florist that actually delivers the flowers get?$21.00) that's right HALF!!! Here is why:

If you spend $30 for the arrangement and then $10 for "Delivery".

The order gather keeps the "delivery" fee (for their time).

The order gather also keeps 20% of the order, in this case about: $6; they made a profit of $16

Wire Service keeps about 10% of the order in this case they made a profit of $3.00

The florist delivering the flowers gets $21 and how much of that is profit?

Flowers cost about $10-$15 Wholesale, the Filler and Greens cost about $3, a $10.00 an hour employee to put the order together cost about $2.50, and the delivery driver cost about $8, so it cost the florist $23.50. So the local florist makes a profit of -$2.50

RECAP: Order Gatherer profit: $16.00
Wire Service Profit - $3.00
Local Florist Profit - -$2.50
Now I know why so many local florist are going out of business!!!

Yeah, so you got what you wanted. But at what cost?! Your local flower shop is one of the last real small businesses. Usually family owned, and if they're not family owned, I can guarantee you that the employees and owners certainly feel like family. From the 80 hr work weeks during Holidays, to the hour droughts during the summer, we are in this together. Buying the freshest product, cleaning the dirty buckets, watering the plants, answering the phones, sweeping up at the end of the day, arranging beautiful bouquets for our clients. We are here for YOU! Please be here for us! Buy LOCAL! Support your local flower shop, support Capitol Hill Flowers! Our lives depend on it.

You Don't Want No Mama Drama! Order for mom NOW!

2011-05-04T19:03:00.000-07:00

We're gettin' down to just a few days before Mother's Day this Sunday. I just have one thing to say (well..maybe a couple)...but basically, YOU DON'T WANT NO MAMA DRAMA! Order flowers now for your mom. I did (and she lives in Wyoming!) We can deliver around the corner or around the world. Your mom is worth it..isn't she?!

We've got some really great flowers this year..from hydrangea, calla lilies, stock, sunflowers, gladiolas, fragrant freesia, lilies, leucadendron, belles of ireland, orchids and roses. We've also got a nice assortment of plants= kalanchoes, mini rose bushes, hydrangea (my personal fave), orchids and azaleas.

Plus, we're a REAL floral shop with a retail location that you could always come see us and these beautiful flowers I'm talking about. 300 15th ave E; SEattle, wa 98112. Order anytime online or give us a call: 206-325-5068 or toll free: 800-888-5068. We can't wait to hear from you!

Just Say NO to Mama Drama...Order flowers today!!

2011-04-30T16:29:00.001-07:00

Mother's Day Flowers for Mom...

2011-04-30T16:12:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is a week away. It's on the 8th of May this year and most of you out there will wait til the last minute to find something for mom: the woman who picked up after you, was your taxi, cooked you good food, nursed your cold, did your laundry (and maybe still does), loves you unconditionally, and helped you mend your broken heart.

I have many wonderful memories of my mom. Most of them are fun memories and some of them leave me in awe, hoping that I am as good of a mom to my son that she is to me. So, in honor of Mother's Day, I will be sending her flowers via a local florist in her home town. I will be hand writing a card for her. I will be letting her know how important she is to me.

What are you going to do for your mom? You see, that's where we can help! If your mom lives in Seattle metro or surrounding areas (West Seattle, South Seattle, North Seattle, Lynnwood, Shoreline, Bothell, Kenmore, Mountlake Terrace, Edmonds, Kirkland, and Bellevue), then we've got you covered. Even if she lives out of town or out of state, we can still get flowers/plants to her...and using a REAL flower shop for that matter! Not somebody that you find on the internet and you think is a real florist. Which is extremely important during these economic times for the survival of your local neighborhood flower shops.

Give us a call 206-325-5068 or toll free: 800-888-5068 or stop by our friendly flower shop (Capitol Hill Flowers) 300 15th Ave E; Seattle, WA 98112. Our friendly staff can help you pick out the right bouquet or plant for your mom.

Administrative Professionals Day, Wed April 27th

2011-04-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

Attn: All boss's
Re: Administrative Professional's Day

To whom it may concern,

This Wednesday is Administrative Professional's Day. This is a day when you let your assistants know what a great help they are to you and that without them you would not shine. "How do you do this?", you may ask yourself. Well, as your local florist, I am here to help.

There are several ways you can "honor" your assistant.
1. Lunch. Even though you probably do this more than just once a year anyways. (kinda lame..you can do better!)
2. Coffee and a thank you card. Need I say more? This is the person that keeps your calendar organized, manages your travel plans, sets up conference calls, manages others, and clears your desk..and all you're gonna do is coffee and a thank you card. (lame!)
3. The best one of all would be the first two AND a bouquet of flowers from Capitol Hill Flowers in Seattle. This would be a great way of saying "thank you". Coffee and lunch are gone in a day, but the flowers will be around for more than a week! A great reminder of how much your assistant is appreciated by you.

So, I urge you to give us a call: 206-325-5068 or order online: www.flower4gift.com Not only do we have the freshest flowers in Seattle and the BEST designers, but we also have balloons (administrative professional day mylars), chocolates, and Thank You cards!!

Sincerely,
Your local Seattle Florist,
Capitol Hill Flowers

Easter is almost here!!

2011-04-08T15:48:00.001-07:00

Easter is only days away. Most of us have those family traditions of dying the eggs, making baskets filled with candies and toys, going to Church on Easter Sunday, etc. For me, it was always the same for much of my childhood.

I would go to my Grandma's house and stay the night. On Saturday, we would watch cartoons and dye the eggs that Grandma had prepared. On Sunday (Easter) morning, I would wake up and groggily run into the living room where a HUGE Easter basket was laying in wait. It would be filled with candies, money (change), toys, stuffed animals and sometimes clothes. My grandma still feels foolish for buying me a dress that cost $80...but it was for her first born grandchild and that's what spoiling is all about...lol. We would then get dressed, go to church and come home to have an Easter egg hunt in her yard. It was so much fun.

I will always remember and cherish those memories. Now that I have a child, I'm making memories of that he'll always remember. He's 16 now and actually asked me the other day if he would be getting an Easter basket this year. haha...but of course!!

But, since I don't live close to my grandma or mom, I will be sending them a lovely bouquet of flowers to adorn their table this Easter. To let them know how much I miss them and how I wish I was still that little girl that could stay the night and color eggs. Fresh flowers are just the thoughtful gift that I (or you) can send anywhere to let those close to us know how we feel.

To my grandma, I will always be that giggly little girl that colored eggs and she spent far too much money on a dress for, but she enjoyed every minute of it. For me, those are lasting memories I am happy to pass on and to reciprocate that love I felt with the language of flowers.

So, send flowers today for Easter. Your local Seattle florist is here and waiting to help you speak through the language of flowers. Call: 206-325-5068...we're waiting... and you would also be supporting a local florist/family. Your business is truly appreciated!!

Spring has Sprung!!

2011-04-01T14:35:00.000-07:00

It's official! Spring is here! Finally! yay...we love spring around here. (it is actually my middle name..lol) Why do we love Spring? Well, for all the color and more variety of flowers. First, there are lilacs (only available in a short stretch)..then tulips, daffodils, iris, snap dragons, belles of ireland...the list goes on. And did I mention that we are also able to get anemones and dahlias. Yeah, spring is definitely a great season for flowers. If you're looking for something springy to get over the winter blues...then look no further. You can come in to our shop or give us a call: 206-325-5068. We'd be happy to hear from you and add a little spring into your life. One of our specialties for walk-in clients are our wrapped bouquets. We usually have them ready to go and if you want to browse around, you can pick your own flowers and make your own bouquet. That's always fun. Come on in and support your local florist. Your business is appreciated more than you know. Also...peonies are just starting to come out..they should be in full swing by Mother's Day (May 8th). We also deliver to ALL of Seattle metro and surrounding areas. Including Kirkland and Bellevue.

Dozen Roses $19.99 (the one's in pic are $34.99)..read on...

2011-02-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

So, the day after the big VDay...surprise!! We got a huge shipment of roses. Say what?! Yep, we were surprised too! With this overstock, it only means one thing... ROSE SPECIAL!

So, from today (wed) til they're gone..our roses will be $19.99 for a dozen plain and $34.99 for a dozen arranged in a vase. They're usually a flat $65!

If you're in the dog house cause you didn't get Valentine flowers..now is the time! If you just wanna surprise your sweetie with something nice..now is the time! We have a $10 delivery fee for anywhere in Seattle metro and surrounding areas, plus a $35 minimum.

So if you want those $19.99 roses, you gotta come to the store: 300 15th ave E; Seattle, WA 98112. But if you want a delivery, give us a call: 206-325-5068

Valentine Deals from your local florist!

2011-02-10T19:06:00.001-08:00

With Valentine's day being just a few short days away, I wanted to put out there some of the deals that we'll be having. (And to also share some pics of some gorgeous flowers we've got in).

Deal #1: You can order a beautiful spring bouquet in vase, with a box of chocolates and a Vday mylar for your sweetheart. Total cost: $60 That even includes the delivery fee!!!

Deal #2: You can order the traditional dozen roses in a vase, with a box of chocolates and Vday mylar for your Valentine. Total cost: $95 That includes the delivery fee!

Deal #3: If you order a beautiful bouquet for Valentine's Day by Saturday, Feb 12, 2011 for delivery in Seattle area....the delivery will be FREE!

When you call up to order, just mention where you saw the deal that you want to go with, and we'll do the rest. We make it really easy for you...and when you order, You'll actually be talking with a designer that knows what they're doing! I'll be looking forward to hearing from you: 206-325-5068 or 800-888-5068

Beware of when you order online..Make sure you're ordering from a REAL florist!

2011-02-09T18:29:00.000-08:00

We have been busy getting ready for this holiday. Worried that we've ordered enough flowers to meet the demand. Holidays like this one can make or break a flower shop. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes that our clients never know about. Things that we do to make sure that your experience is as smooth and wonderful as it should be.

So, it's important to us that you (our clients) know how much you are truly appreciated. When you come in, call on the phone or even when you order flowers on our website, please know that we want you to have a great experience and be happy with what you get. By ordering directly through our flower shop, you're also doing us a favor(and also doing yourself a favor). You're cutting out the middle man!

When you go online to order flowers (like most people do because your time is important), let's say through One Eighthundred Flowers, you're not actually ordering through a REAL florist. They don't have a shop right in your neighborhood. They don't have the freshest flowers sitting right there in front of them, ready to be put together by an expert florist! That order goes to them, where they then take a fee, and send it out to a florist that carries the "wire" system they use. The real florist receives the order and fills it to value, using the flowers that are available and as similar as possible. That florist then delivers the bouquet to your loved one. And after a month, that florist then receives the money for filling/designing/delivering your order. But here's the catch, they only receive 65%-73% of that order. The remainder goes to the other guy...the order gatherer.

You may ask...why doesn't the REAL florist just not be part of the "order gatherers" system? Here's why. That order gatherer spends a ton of money on advertising. Advertising in all sorts of ways. Advertising that is extremely appealing to most consumers. Their advertising budget is way more than an actual independently owned flower shop can afford. Advertising that we can't compete with. On an average day, our flower shop receives 5-10 direct from client orders and approximately 20-30 order gatherer orders. You do the math.

So, I encourage you to not be tempted by the "order gatherers". Instead, do a little homework of some of your local florists. You can always call and make sure their physical location actually exsists. If so, order off their website, call them, they will have an actual person that is sitting in their store looking at the flowers that you are going to be sending to your loved one. This REAL florist will go above and beyond to make sure that your experience is awesome and will keep you coming back for more.

It helps you and it helps us. Thanks for reading.

Valentine's Day is coming. Order early!

2011-02-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Less than 2 weeks away!! If you're looking for the perfect bouquet of flowers, then look no further. Your local Seattle flower shop can deliver to All of Seattle metro and surrounding areas! The key is...Order Early!!

With Valentine's Day falling on a Monday this year, I know that all of you will want your flowers delivered on that day. I don't blame you..this is a great time to let your sweetheart know that you love him/her more than anything and everybody should know it.

How do you say "I love you" to your sweetheart? Some of you will say it with a gorgeous bouquet of roses, maybe with some balloons attached, a box of Harry and London Chocolates. We're actually having a special on just that! For a dozen long stem roses in a vase, a Valentine's Day mylar and box of chocolates PLUS delivery: $95!

Some of you will say "I love you" another way. I have got to tell you that our designer Mimi, makes the most gorgeous tropicals. If you want something a little different and fun, a tropical is definately the way to go! Those start at $85. We'll have a variety of ginger, birds of paradise, anthuriums, orchids and lilies.

For those of you that will say "I love you" with flowers, we'll have you covered. And know that when you order through Capitol Hill Flowers, you're ordering from a REAL florist. We are owned and operated by a wonderful local couple, and every client matters!!

Call us: 800-888-5068 or 206-325-5068. Or you can order ONLINE 24/7. Or you can always stop by: 300 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112. We can't wait to see you or talk to you and help you say "I love you" to your someone special!!

Our beautiful flowers will be at the Seattle Wedding Show. How 'bout you?

2011-01-06T18:09:00.000-08:00

As some of you may know (those of you that will be tying the knot soon), the Seattle Wedding show is this weekend! :) Although we will not be there, our flowers will. Your local Seattle flower shop will be pairing with Platinum Designs, Inc.

So, it's time for me to give a shout out to Stephanie with Platinum Designs, Inc. If you're in the market for unique customed designed chair covers and accessories...look no further. Check out their gallery online and if you're at the wedding show this weekend, stop by their booth (#635) It'll be close to the Fashion Show stage.

But, those tables with gorgeous linens won't be alone. Cap Hill Flowers will have some of our masterfully designed centerpieces displayed. Perfect for the wedding/event you're planning. You can make an appointment to see one of our talented designers for a wedding consultation (it's free!). Just give us a call: 206-325-5068 or email us: flower4gift@gmail.com

We look forward to hearing from you and would be honored to be part of your special day! Our flowers are always the freshest and we pay close attention to every detail. Have fun at the Seattle Wedding Show!!

Christmas is here! Not too late to order flowers!!

2010-12-20T18:39:00.001-08:00

Well, here we are again! Christmas. Need I say more. If you look to the left, you can tell that we here at Santa's Cap Hill Flower village have been really busy elves!

We've been receiving tons of flowers that will be ready for you to have delivered in All Seattle metro and surrounding areas or you can pick them up if you'd like! You can also order online 24/7. We're open all the way through Christmas Eve and delivering!

So, if you need a last minute gift or you need a little guidance, give us a call: 206-325-5068 or 800-888-5068. These elves can't wait to talk to you!

We've got the freshest flowers in town and some of the best designers. I am biased though! But our loyal clients will tell you that we're the best! Come n see for yourself. Can't wait to meet you. 300 15th Ave E; Seattle, WA 98112

Order flowers through your Local Florist. It really does matter!

2010-12-08T15:31:00.000-08:00

Hi. My name is Heather. (I'm on the left and not photogenic... ;) ) I've been a floral designer for 15+ years. I love what I do and I love who I work for (no, I'm not brown-nosing ;) ). I've always worked for independently owned floral shops. I've never had any inclination to work for a super store or grocery store.

I've found that by working for these independent flower shops, that the customer really does come first. The product is always exceptional and our struggles are real. More and more of the independent flower shops are going out of business every year. Yes, some smaller ones are popping up, but not like it used to be.

When people thought of flowers, they always thought of their local florist. Not true any more. As the economy changes, so does the neighborhood. And your local florists are taking a hit! I'll bet you never realized that every client matters...really matters!

Did you know that you can order online through us 24/7.?! And if you want to talk to a real person, that will most likely be designing your fresh floral bouquet, you can call us toll free: 800-888-5068 or local 206-325-5068.

I guess the reason that I'm writing this article has a story behind it. It's a short one, so please bare with me. A few days ago, I was in a grocery store. It's a pretty popular one available all over the country. So, there I am shopping for the evening meal for my fam, and I hear their little overhead chime..."..Did you know that _____ is now able to send flowers around the corner or around the world. We now can deliver your floral bouquets, just come to the floral counter and someone will be able to help you..."

I was imediately angered! Honestly angry and sad. Sad that as they're playing their overhead chime, I'm realizing what an impact it has on the little guys. The local independently owned florists (like the one I work for). How dare they!? This is my neighborhood! I AM The Local Florist! We too can deliver around the corner and around the world!! The money that you spend with the "little guy" pays for so much more.

It pays for a family being able to support themselves in a business, a small business, like this country was built on! It pays for some of the freshest flowers you've ever seen! It pays for great customer service! It pays for knowledgable staff! Combined, we have over 40+ years experience in the floral industry. It pays for what matters!

Capitol Hill Flowers will be there for you delivering and providing exceptional flowers/products for birthdays, births, weddings, anniversaries, get wells, thank you's, Holidays, and sympathies. We ARE the Local Florist.

So, when you choose to order flowers, I would love to hear from you! You can call me: 206-325-5068 or come on into the store. We're always happy to see you and ensure that you get exactly what the occasion calls for. Please, when you order flowers for delivery/pick up, go to your local florist! It really does matter!

Thanksgiving Flowers; Give Thanks with Flowers

2010-11-17T15:34:00.000-08:00

What is Thanksgiving? If you look it up online, you'll find a variety of answers, which can be very confusing. I read all I could about this Holiday and I'm sure many of us have very fond memories of family and friends coming together during this time of year. Of course, you hear the horror stories of what can happen when you get family and friends together as well. But, I think that what it comes down to is this: What is Thanksgiving to you?

For me, it's a beautiful day of warmth and kindness that seems to be getting overlooked more & more with every passing year. Retailers put a lot into Halloween and then the day after Halloween, WHAM! There's Christmas!! Whoa...what happened to Thanksgiving?!

What's happening to a Holiday where you can gather with your friends and family and honestly give thanks?! Thanks that you have them in your life. Thanks that you've survived another year. Thanks that you have the life you have. Thanks that you have the things you have.

What a better way to say "Thanks" or show thanks, than with a beautiful bouquet of flowers?! Did you know that "the presence of flowers triggers happy emotions, heightens feelings of life satisfactions, and affects social behavior in a positive manner..."? (Study conducted by Rutgers)

Capitol Hill Flowers isn't like most retailers. Our Christmas decor isn't out yet. We're savor each holiday and provide our clients with the best flowers available. Whether you choose to do a cornocopia, a centerpiece or a wrapped floral bouquet this Thanksgiving, we've got you covered! You can call us: 206-325-5068, order online, or stop by our store: 300 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112. We're always happy to see you and ensure that you give Thanks to those around you this Thanksgiving!

How 'bout Flowers and Candy for Halloween?!

2010-10-21T16:06:00.000-07:00

Halloween is just days away. It's one of my favorite holidays and is becoming more and more popular. Don't get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving for the family aspect and Christmas for the warmth, but Halloween is just plain fun!

We've got some really fun flower bouquets this year. The Halloween Treat is one of my faves! It's a decorative pumpkin filled with fresh flowers (along with the spoooky bat) lol!

We can customize any order. From adding peacock feathers for a touch of elegance and lush to adding some yummy chocolates, from Halloween balloons (it's just a party without them!) to a spider web bouquet. With all our years experience, I'm sure that Cap Hill Flowers can complete your fun filled Halloween.

You can order online anytime or you can just give us a call: 206-325-5068. Our friendly peeps will be here to help you out. Hope to hear from you.

And yes! We will be handing candy out on Saturday Oct 30th to our neighborhood kiddies and we'll even be dressed for the occasion! Hope to see you here!

Boss's Day this Saturday!! oct 16th.

2010-10-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

Okay, This is last minute, but I had to get a shout out to let everybody know that Boss's Day is Saturday. If you're as happy as I am at work and really like the person you work for (like I do) then giving a "thank you" to your boss is supposed to be celebrated by tomorrow. (saturday...hmm...today might be the day to do it if your boss doesn't work on saturday)!

What do you give? A card is really great..not an e card, but a real card (we have those!), a plant for their desk, a bouquet of fresh flowers for their desk, and/or chocolates (yum)! We have all these.

We also deliver if you're in a time crunch. Just order online or give us a call: 206-325-5068 . By ordering from us, you'd be supporting a locally owned business and making your boss happy. That could be better!?

So, if you like who you work for and want to make it known, do something nice for 'em! Boss's often get looked over for praise and appreciation, why not do it today?! Flowers are a great way to say it!

Send flowers this Sweetest Day, Oct 16th

2010-10-11T13:31:00.001-07:00

Sweetest Day Special:
Dozen roses in Rectangular Vase
with Ghirardelli chocolates
$54.99

Just some of the yummy chocolates we carry!

What is Sweetest Day? Once known as a day to spread love and cheer to the less fortunate. Now it's a day to show affections to the loved ones in your life. What a great tradition to start or to keep going in your family. I never get tired of hearing "I love you" from the people I truly care about. Pair those words with a box of chocolates, some flowers and a card..I would be over the moon!

Is Sweetest Day important? Well, that really depends on you. How important are the people in your life? Don't waste another minute thinking about it..do something about it. Time is precious, tell/show them how you feel.

What kind of gift should you give for Sweetest Day? A simple bed in breakfast (with flowers), cleaning the house when it's not your turn, dinner ready when they get home..these are all great ways to show affection. If you're limited on time, just give me a call:206-325-5068 and we can have flowers, chocolates and cards delivered to ALL Seattle metro and surrounding areas. You can also order online.

I think James Taylor had it right when he recorded:

How Sweet it is to be loved by you...
I needed the shelter of someone's arms
and there you were.
I needed someone to understand my ups and downs
and there you were.
With sweet love and devotion
Deeply touching my emotion..

I just want to stop and thank you baby,
I just want to stop and thank you baby..
How sweet it is to be loved by you
How sweet it is to be loved by you.."

So, why not stop and thank your loved one, let us help you say it with flowers! 206-325-5068

We are the #1 Memorial Florist!

2010-10-06T21:08:00.000-07:00

Not only do we do Birthday, Anniversary, Baby, Congratulations, Thank You and Wedding flowers, but we also do some of the most beautiful Memorial Flowers when that need does arise.

Our flower shop has over 40 years experience in the floral industry, creating lasting memories for many occasions. One such occasion is gorgeous bouquets tailored for the dearly departed.

Sympathy flowers are one way to show how much you truly cared and how truly missed that person will be. It's always a difficult situation, but we are here for you to help you put your feelings into something that is tangible. The bouquet pictured here were recently made for a funeral at Purdy and Walters at Floral Hills in Lynnwood. It was something the family had specifically requested, and we made it with the freshest flowers hand picked by our team to create a lasting memory for this family.

A few questions to ask yourself when picking out flowers for a sympathy:

Did this person have any favorite colors or flowers?
Did they have any hobbies? ie: fishing, hunting, quilting, etc.
What kind of bouquet to get? We do it all! Anything from a basket, standing easel spray, wreath, cross, open heart, or a casket spray. We also do plants and plant baskets.

Remember, we at Cap Hill Flowers are always here to help you in your time of need. We can customize any bouquet and ensure that it will be delivered on time to its' destination. We know this is a difficult situation, please do not hesitate to phone us: 206-325-5068 if you have any questions. We're here for you to create that lasting memory.

Yes! Our flower shop is locally owned and operated.

2010-09-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

Picture this: The phone rings at our flower shop. I answer with a smile on my face. On the other end is "Norm" (aka: a new customer). Norm asks, "Do you deliver?" My answer is "yes."
>>>We deliver to ALL Seattle and surrounding areas(including Kirkland and Bellevue)<<<
Then Norm asks, "Are you locally owned?" My answer is "yes". >>>The owners are a wonderful couple whom live locally and actually "work" in their flower shop. They wash buckets, clean flowers, answer phones, and sometimes deliver.<<<>>>We're located on the corner of 15th Ave E and E Thomas, in the Red Brick Group Health bldg across from Safeway. You can't miss us, we've got the freshes flowers on display right out front!<<<

Norm and I continue to have a great conversation and he tells me that he's called high and low, looking for a "local" flower shop, he wants to support a small business. That's the entire reason that I work for this great company. It's important to do something you believe in!

At the end of our conversation, Norm decides that we're the company he wants to spend his money with. This is of course, after I tell him that "we get our flowers in EVERY day. Our clients are #1. We strive to excede your expectations and provide a fantastic and friendly service."

I do hope, that if you decide to order flowers for delivery or even pick up, that you'll give us a chance?! After all, our clients are #1 in our book and we will always strive to excede your expectations, plus, you'd be supporting a local business here in Seattle.

Grandparent's Day is This Sunday! 9-12-10

2010-09-09T18:20:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a day for Everything nowadays! From Sweetest Day to Groundhogs day to yes, Grandparent's Day. The purpose of this day as stated in the statute is "...to honor grandparents, to give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children's children, and to help children become aware of strength, information and guidance older people can offer." The actual proclamation for Grandparent's Day was signed by Jimmy Carter in 1978. (I was 3 years old).

There is so much we can learn from our elders. I love nothing more than listening to stories (life stories) of my older clients. I have a client whom is in her 90's and is an absolute delight to talk with every time I see her. Such a life she has lived and seen. Just imagine the things she has done..it's astounding!

So, the question for you is, "How do you honor your grandparents on this day?" My grandmother lives in Wyoming, so it's not easy to take her to lunch and pamper her. But, I can send her flowers! So can you! If your grandparents are out of town or even in Seattle, we can make sure they get a beautiful bouquet of flowers from you, reminding them of how much they mean to you. I know, without a doubt, that flowers are a great way to make someone feel special!

Just give me a call: 206-325-5068 or order online. I'd love to hear from you and make sure your grandma, grandpa, nana, papa, oma or opa gets a great gift from you and know how much love you have for them.

Did you know this about your local flower shop?

2010-08-12T16:37:00.000-07:00

So, after a huge shipment of flowers came in on Wednesday, it got me thinking...

Did you know that our flower shop gets fresh flowers in almost EVERY day? It's true! And it's hard work. If you're an independent flower shop (like we are), you find yourself doing it all. From designing gorgeous floral bouquets to cleaning buckets, to answering phones to cleaning flowers. It's important that when we get these gorgous flowers in, that they get treated properly. Clean, warm water (that helps hydrate them), clean buckets for display, cleaning the leaves from stems and cutting. So, don't be surprised if you come in and see me walking around with my knife...I'm just a busy bee!

Did you know that during the summertime, a lot of our flowers are locally grown? It's true! We just received some gorgeous dahlias, zinnias and sunflowers. You should come check them out!

Did you know that we are locally owned and operated? It's true. The owners are a lovely couple that I get to work with every day. Their goal for your local flower shop is to carry the best selection of flowers and make them available to you. We all work very hard to make sure our customers know that they matter. You matter. Thank you for your business.

Did you know that we deliver to Bellevue, Kirkland, South Seattle, downtown Seattle, West Seattle and more? It's true! Place an order for delivery to Microsoft, we can do that too! Even North Seattle, some of Lynnwood, Bothell, etc.

Did you know that you can order online? Yep, right here. You can feel good about ordering online 24/7 and supporting a local floral family.

Just a few things you may have never known about your local flower shop. You can also follow us on facebook and twitter!

Flower Delivery? Where do you need it to go?

2010-07-27T16:36:00.000-07:00

So here you are, searching the net for a florist that delivers in the area you need. You may ask yourself a few different questions.
1. Are they local? Yes. We are local. Locally owned and operated, by a fab husband and wife team. We are located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, BUT we deliver to ALL Seattle metro and surrounding areas. That means that if you want a delivery made around the corner or around the world, our flower shop can do it! From South Seattle to Lake City, Kenmore to Bothell, Shoreline to Edmonds, Kirkland to Bellevue, Clyde Hill to Mercer Island, these are the places your local Seattle Florist delivers to.

2. Do they deliver that far? How far? We have a team of florists all over the country/world that we work with to make sure that your Aunt in Tim-buck-to gets flowers. There may be some places we can't get to, none of which I have discovered yet in my 15 years doing this job.

3. If I pick a pic online, will it look the same? The answer: yes and no. This is a tricky situation. Most of your big sending online places (FTD.com, Bloomstoday.com, 1800flowers.com) will show you this fantastic pic of flowers. They'll collect the order and then send it to a florist that's affiliated with them in that delivery area. From there, the florist gets the order and fills the order to value. Meaning: You see a gorgeous floral bouquet online for $29.99, nice and full with tons of flowers. The local florist cannot fill the order as pictured, as they are only receiving 65%-73% of the total $29.99 and have to eat the delivery fee (last time I checked, gas wasn't free..neither was the delivery driver), so we do the best we can, but often times, your bouquet will be small, have similar colors and flowers, but will not look like their pic. Sorry. We do try, but we encourage our clients to order direct, this way, you will get something filled to the price you paid and is usually 10x prettier than anything they pictured. Plus, you're supporting a local family. This is not just a job, this is our life. Every day, we come to our shop, waiting to help you deliver sunshine to your corner of the world, whever that may be. Feel free to give us a call: 206-324-8845 or visit us online.

Flower shop Garage Sale/Sidewalk Sale

2010-07-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

Okay everybody. We're gonna be trying something new. It's going to be our first ever garage/sidewalk sale. Your local flower shop, Capitol Hill Flowers on 15th ave E and E Thomas, will be having our sale on Saturday (July 24th) from 9am - 5pm.

What will we have? Vases, baskets, containers, vintage mickey mouse containers, crystal containers, thanksgiving containers, christmas containers, some silks, birdhouses...and more. We're cleanin out our cupboards and I'm sure we'll have a treasure for you.

It's a great time to buy..I guess you could call it a Christmas in July sale! I'd love to see you here, supporting a locally owned shop and make some new friends. A majority of the proceeds we will be donating to our favorite charity: Charity Water

When: July 24th

Where: 300 15th ave E, Seattle, WA 98112

Who: Capitol Hill Flowers

Why: We're cleanin our cupboards for a good cause!

What kind of Blooms for a hot summer day and some helpful hints

2010-07-08T15:07:00.000-07:00

As I sit here writing this, I'm able to look outside...you know what I see? I see sun....sun and more sun! yay! I'd say summer is finally here and did it sure come in a hurry. Just seems like 2 days ago it was wet and cold. Along with this sunshine is warm weather..into the 90's the next couple of days. (And no, I'm not complaining!)

With this warm weather, there are a couple tips I can give you to prolong the life of your fresh floral bouquet (hopefully purchased from us?!). The best flowers to buy: tropicals are awesome, sunflowers, alstromeria, carnations, daisies..these are your hardiest flowers.

1. When you get your flowers home, give the stems a fresh cut with a sharp knife on a diagonal. (if you cut them straight across, the stems will sit flat on bottom of vase and not be able to uptake water)
2. The water in the vase should be warm. This will help expand the capillaries in stems to encourage water uptake.
3. Floral preservative (not always necessary..especially for tropicals). Clean, fresh water is the most important (along with clean vase).
4. Put your flowers in a cool place..(not by a draft or an air conditioner as both will kill your flowers). Do not put in the sun or on top of TV set either. A kitchen table, entry way table, coffee table, etc... are good places.
5. Every 2 days, give your vase a good rinse. Add new warm water and cut the stems again (about 1/2 inch to 1 inch)
6. Clean water and clean containers are the #1 way to keep your flowers longer.

I hope this helps out and everybody out there is enjoying this sunshine. If you need flowers, you know who to call! 206-325.5068 You can also follow us on twitter or visit our facebook page for some more helpful hints.

Gay Pride Weekend in Cap Hill

2010-06-26T14:12:00.000-07:00

It started out cool and dreary in Cap Hill on Saturday (26th), but don't let that fool you. The colors are flying bright down on Broadway for Pride Weekend. Music, Food, Clothes...fun, it's all there. I feel so left out as we are up on 15th Ave..seems Broadway gets all the action. But, we will always be supporters of the cause...come check out our rainbow of flowers.

From hydrangea to lilies, roses to gerbera daisies, snap dragons to september flower...we've got the goodies. Come pick up a bouquet to take to a bbq or to give to your love...You know you want to. We're on the corner of E Thomas and 15th Ave E..can't miss all the flowers out front!

Or call me to make a delivery: 206-325-5068

Capitol Hill Flowers

2009-11-03T10:50:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! We are Capitol Hill Flowers located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle on 15th Ave E. Just a little bit about us: We get fresh flowers in every other day, direct from the grower (that ensure's that they're super fresh)..we're talkin' flowers such as Roses, Hydrangea, Tropicals, Oriental lilies, Asiatic Lilies, Sunflowers, just to name a few.

We also deliver to Seattle Metro and the Greater Seattle Area such as Seattle, Shoreline, Edmonds, Lynnwood, Bothell, Kenmore, Bellevue, Medina, Clyde Hill, Mercer Island, Kirkland, etc......

Did I mention that we also carry chocolates, plants (mostly indoor), glassware, stuffed animals, and balloons. We also fit EVERY budget.

We're locally owned and operated by a fantastic couple. Your designers are Mimi (25 + yrs experience), Heather (15 + yrs experience) and Sherelle (5 yrs experience). We'd love to hear from you..call us at 206-325-5068 or stop by: 300 15th Ave E, Seattle, WA 98112.