Come mid-winter in Pennsylvania, the thought of soaking up the sun’s rays and 70-degree temperatures in South America sounds like a great vacation.
But for Tom Royer, traveling to Bogota, Colombia, is work.
Tom is senior vice president and chief operating officer for Royer’s Flowers, which his grandparents, Hannah and Lester Royer, started 76 years ago. For the past 30 years, Tom has been making regular visits to flower farms near Bogota.
One of those trips comes every year in advance of Valentine’s Day, which is the floral equivalent of the Super Bowl. Royer’s may be the only local florist in the United States that visits South America in order to check on the quality of the product that will wind up in its customers’ homes and workplaces.
“It’s a product of the way we do things,” Tom said. “We’re very detailed about a lot of things we do. Flower-buying is just one of them.”
Up until the 1970s, Royer’s grew its own roses (and many other flowers) in greenhouses at its headquarters in Lebanon. But when the oil embargo hit and the price of crude oil spiked, it became cost prohibitive to operate those greenhouses.
At the same time, Colombia was offering a better product. Bogota sits on a plateau, giving it year-round fall temperatures that are ideal for growing flowers.
Back in the early days, Tom remembers, construction of a bridge was cause for celebration in Bogota. Roads leading to the flower farms would wash out. Today, much to Tom’s delight, Bogota is a modern city.
Then as now, the purpose for going to Bogota is simple.
“We want the best possible flowers we can find,” Tom said.
By visiting the farms, Tom can inspect the latest crop in the field. He makes sure that the farms cut the flowers at the right maturity. He always carries his measuring tool to ensure that he’s getting the right length and head sizes for the flowers that Royer’s buys.
Tom’s work doesn’t end in Colombia. After several days on the farms, he then flies to Miami, where the flowers will arrive via cargo plane from Bogota. Until the flowers clear customs, they will be stored in refrigerated warehouses. Tom will inspect the flowers again to make sure that they fared well on the flight.
Finally, the flowers will be loaded on a refrigerated tractor-trailer destined for Royer’s distribution center in Lebanon, which will receive a quarter-million roses and slightly more carnations, among other flowers, just for Valentine’s Day.
With so much fragile product involved, Royer’s has its schedule down to a science. Flowers can’t arrive too early, lest they wilt before the holiday. They can’t arrive too late or Royer’s won’t have enough time to create all of the arrangements that will be needed.
When the tractor-trailer arrives from Miami, it will be unloaded immediately, the flowers cut under water to maximize their moisture intake. Vans will arrive from Royer’s stores, which have employees geared up to make arrangements. Many more arrangements will be made at the Lebanon complex to supplement what Royer’s stores can make, the demand being so great.
“The goal is trying to eliminate any product issues when the flowers arrive in Lebanon, because we cut the schedule tight,” Tom said. “We have it very well orchestrated.”
It’s that tight schedule – and Royer’s control of it from farm field all the way to consumers – that ensures the best quality possible.
The big online retailers can’t say the same thing. They don’t actually make their arrangements, instead contracting out that work. The result is much longer lead times – and a commensurate variation in quality – when compared with Royer’s.
“And from a competitive standpoint, we have to do that better,” Tom said. “That’s the way I look at it, is that we have to be better than anyone else. We have to have fresher stuff. It has to be much nicer.”
Category: Flowers
‘Bouquets for Books’ returns Nov. 2-10 to collect new children’s books for public libraries
It is said that libraries are not made, they grow. Royer’s Flowers & Gifts wants to continue growing the children’s book collections at area libraries.
Our annual “Bouquets for Books” event will return Nov. 2-10 to collect new children’s books for public libraries in Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon and York counties.
For each book, donors will receive a free bouquet, up to three per family per visit, while supplies last. Used books will not be accepted.
For more information, including library wish lists, visit www.royers.com/bouquetsforbooks.
In its first six years, Bouquets for Books has collected more than 10,000 books.
4 Occasions Where Flowers Make the Perfect Gift
The gift of flowers is always a welcome breath of fresh air for the recipient. Flowers make excellent gifts for many different occasions and can be the perfect choice whether you’re giving a gift to a casual acquaintance or a close loved one. Here are just a few times when flowers make a great gift:
Birthdays
Who doesn’t love to get a bouquet of flowers on their birthday? A bright arrangement of flowers is a celebration of having someone in your life. When it comes to birthdays, flowers make a thoughtful gift for a co-worker, but they’re equally special when they come from a close family member or friends. When you’re not sure what to get someone for their birthday, think flowers.
Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is the time that florist sell the most flowers. Of course, roses are Valentine’s standard, but you aren’t limited to them for this occasion. If your significant other has a favorite flower, a gorgeous bouquet of his or her chosen blooms is every bit as romantic as standard red roses.
Retirement
Coming to the end of a career is a major achievement, and flowers are a good way to mark the occasion. Let the retiree know how highly you regard his or her accomplishment by giving the retiree a bright bunch of tulips or a mixed arrangement featuring daises, carnations, and more.
Anniversary
An anniversary is a time for you to show your loved one how appreciated he or she is and to celebrate your ability to stick together as a team through whatever life throws at you. It’s not just women who can receive flowers on an anniversary. Flowers can also be a special gift for a man, especially when you choose flowers in yellow, red, and other less feminine shades.
There’s hardly an occasion that can’t be made more memorable with flowers. To order flowers and for help selecting the perfect arrangement, call Royers Flowers & Gifts at (717) 273-2683. We have a huge selection of top-quality flowers and can add on vases, gift baskets, and more. Contact us to place your order today.
How to Choose the Right Vase for Your Flower Arrangement
You can have the most gorgeous bouquet of flowers in the world, but if you choose the wrong vase, you won’t be able to enjoy their beauty. Sticking flowers in a vase that doesn’t fit can look awkward and sloppy and lessen their impact. Selecting the right vase comes down to considering the size and shape of your blooms.
In this video, learn which kinds of vases work best with which flowers. You’ll learn that tall and slender vases work great for long-stemmed flowers, while a small, round vase is perfect for short-stemmed varieties. Mixed arrangements call for a wide, heavy vase. You will also get tips for working with a single flower and what to do if you cut your stems too short.
At Royer’s Flowers & Gifts, we can match the perfect vase with our stunning arrangements, taking the guess work out of the process. Call us at (717) 769-1413 to learn about our selection and to place an order.
Check Out These Articles For Ideas About Purchasing Flowers
Flowers can add beauty to any event, and they make great gift ideas for recipients of every age. Moreover, florists can create memorable and affordable floral arrangements for all weddings, big or small. To learn more about how florists can help you choose the perfect wedding flowers for your nuptials, please read the following articles.
- You can have the perfect wedding flowers with the help of an experienced florist. The Knot breaks down how to make sure your floral arrangements fit your budget and tastes.
- For brides on a budget, florists advise buying seasonal wedding flowers. Martha Stewart Weddings lists when wedding flowers are in season.
- Tulips symbolize true love, while white roses mean purity and innocence. Real Simple explains the symbolic meanings behind the most popular wedding flowers.
- Do you want a cascading bridal bouquet, or an arm sheaf? TLC Weddings describes how to choose the bridal bouquet that best suits your personality.
- No matter your floral needs, consider purchasing them from a neighborhood florist. Sustainable Connections discusses the benefits of buying from local businesses.
With 17 convenient locations in the greater south central Pennsylvania region, Royer’s Flowers & Gifts can provide flowers for all of your occasions. Our friendly and experienced florists will help you pick out the perfect wedding flowers, holiday flowers, or sympathy flowers. To learn more about our services, or to speak with one of our qualified representatives, please call (717) 769-1413.
Understanding the Use of Floral Preservatives
Fresh flowers such as tulips, roses, lilies, and daisies are a beautiful way to add brightness and cheer to any day. However, unfortunately, these cut flowers won’t last forever. Luckily, floral preservatives can help flowers to last longer than they otherwise would, so that you can get the most enjoyment out of your fresh arrangements.
• What Are Floral Preservatives?
Floral preservatives are a careful mixture of substances that cut flowers need to survive after having been removed from their main plants. Floral preservatives usually come in either a liquid or dissolvable powder form.
• How Do Floral Preservatives Work?
When a flower stem is cut from its mother plant, all access to water and food is severed. Placing the flower in water and providing the appropriate amount and type of light can help the flower to survive for a time, but without a source of food, this time is generally very short.
Flower preservatives are basically an artificial source of food for the flower. When added to the water, flowers are able to remain healthy and beautiful for a period of time. With proper care and an ideal environment, flowers given floral preservative can often survive for one to two weeks in their cut and arranged form, depending on the variety.
• Where Can I Find Floral Preservatives?
Most florists send their fresh flowers out in a floral preservative water mixture. However, when you add or change the water, the preservative is diluted or lost. Ask your florist about single packets of floral preservatives to use after you have changed your flowers’ water.
At Royer’s Flowers and Gifts, we offer fresh flowers for all occasions. Visit our website or give us a call at (717) 769-1413 to place an order or to learn more about getting the most out of your fresh flowers.
Benefits of Using a Local Florist vs. a National Florist
Whether you’re looking for holiday flowers, wedding flowers, sympathy flowers, or “just because” flowers, you are going to need a florist. With so much of modern business being conducted over the Internet, it may make sense to order your flowers online as well. While most florists today do offer online ordering options, you will have to be careful about making sure that the website you are using is indeed a local florist and not a national order-gathering service.
Why Use a Local Florist?
Perhaps the largest benefit of working with a local florist is the simple fact that you know there is a person behind the scenes that you have easy access to. You can pick up the phone and speak to the designer if you want to add details to your order, or if you just want to check on the progress.
When you order flowers from a national conglomerate, it can be very difficult to track down a person to talk to should you have questions or want to change details of your order. If you do manage to speak to someone, chances are that you won’t be able to get in touch with that same person again if you needed to, creating a perfect situation for confusion.
Other benefits of ordering flowers form a local florist include:
• Supporting small businesses and contributing to the local economy.
• Keeping your tax dollars in the area in which you’ll benefit from them.
• The enjoyment of personal, customized service.
• The ability to see your flowers in person before they are delivered.
• More flowers for your money, as you will not pay exaggerated prices or handling fees.
When you order your flowers from a national florist, a local florist is usually the one that ends up filling your order anyway, so why not cut out the middle man?
At Royer’s Flowers and Gifts, we want to be your go-to local florist for all of your floral needs. Give us a call at (717) 769-1413 to experience the benefits of local, personal service.
Looking For More Flower Tips For Special Occasions?
Whether you’d like more tips on prom flowers or need a little more help keeping your cut flowers fresh and beautiful, you’ll love the information in the following resources. Call Royer’s Flowers and Gifts at (717) 769-1413 to order your flowers today.
- If you are a parent with a child going to prom, then you may find this article from the Huffington Post helpful.
- This article gives some excellent tips and advice for ordering prom flowers.
- HGTV offers even more flower preserving tips on this webpage.
- Check out this website for some creative ways to display your fresh flowers.
- Visit Brides.com’s website for more gorgeous wedding flower ideas.
4 Tips for Keeping Your Flowers Alive Longer
Fresh cut flowers are a wonderful way to brighten up a room and enjoy the beauty of nature indoors. Just as with flowers that grow outdoors, though, fresh cut flowers do have a limited lifespan. With the right kind of care, however, you can enjoy your fresh flowers for longer than you might think—sometimes a week or more. Just follow these four tips:
- Water Fresh Flowers Daily. Cut flowers depend entirely on you for water, and they do need a lot of it. Do not allow the water line to fall below any of the cut stems. Change the water every couple of days to clean, fresh water if possible.
- Use Floral Preservatives. Your florist will use water that has a special preservative added toextend the life of your flowers. As you add and change water, however, this solution becomes diluted. Ask your florist about packages of preservative you can add to your flowers at home.
- Provide Light. Most flowers do best when they have access to natural sunlight. Do take care, however, not to place your flowers directly in a window, as it can become too hot. A location with filtered light is usually best.
- Be Mindful of Temperature. Avoid placing fresh flowers in close proximity to heat-generating devices, such as your television, or near a heating vent. Flowers prefer cooler temperatures and do best in locations that stay between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Finally, if you must remove your flowers from water for any reason, be sure to cut the stem at an angle, about half an inch to an inch above the bottom of the stem, immediately before returning them to water. This will remove any air bubbles that may prevent the flower from taking up water.
At Royer’s Flowers and Gifts, we want you to be totally satisfied with your fresh flowers. Give us a call at (717) 769-1413 to place your order or to learn more helpful advice about caring for your flowers. We also offer unique gift ideas and gift baskets, so contact us today.