skip to main content

Category: Holidays

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Posted on by Amber

Father’s Day is this weekend, and if you haven’t sorted out dad’s gifts yet, we’re here to help. This guide has suggestions for the different “types” of dads to help you find the gift that matches them perfectly.

The Sweet Tooth

These gift ideas are for the one who was always stealing your Halloween candy as “dad tax”.

Our “Chocolate Lover” gift basket is great for the dad with a sweet tooth. It comes with a variety of chocolate treats, including some from local companies, that are sure to satisfy Dad’s candy craving. 

The “Chocolate & Mug Gift Set” is also perfect for the dad who can’t get enough chocolate. Plus, it comes with a mug for dad to enjoy his coffee or tea.

If dad likes chocolate but is looking for smaller portions, Asher’s Chocolate Company’s bag of Milk Chocolate Pretzels is a great option. It’s the perfect mixture of sweet and salty!

The Green Thumb

Is your dad also a plant dad? Add to his houseplant collection with our “Retro Succulents” dish garden. The plants are easy to care for and the sleek design of the container will look great on Dad’s desk.

If you’re looking for a more unique plant, our wide selection of “Proven Winners” plants have something for everyone, from trendy Monsteras to unique Ficus plants.

The Tea Connoisseur

Does Dad start his day with a cup of tea instead of coffee? Indulge Dad’s taste with a box of “Tea Forte tea”. We carry multiple varieties of their boxed collections, each containing a vast array of different types of teas. 

There’s something for every taste, and maybe dad will find his new favorite flavor.

The Flower Admirer

Repeat after us – Men deserve flowers too! Dad is always giving the flowers, but has he ever received any?

Surprise him with a bouquet of his own for Father’s Day! Some of our favorite arrangements include:

The Snacker

If your dad has a snack stash, help him fill it with one of our snack baskets. They also make great gifts for those who like a little something while watching a movie or the big game.

Our snack baskets come in different sizes corresponding to how many treats are included. They each come with a variety of salty snacks, savory items, name-brand chocolate goodies, and at least two bottles of something to drink.

You can view the full Father’s Day gift collection here: Father’s Day Gift Collection

Did you know June is National Rose Month?

Posted on by Amber

The United States’ national flower, the rose, is celebrated in the month of June with National Rose Month. 

Why is National Rose Month celebrated?

Rose Month was started in 1959 as part of an effort to make the rose the national flower of the United States. According to the Nashville Rose Society (NRS), it wasn’t until November 29, 1986 that the idea came to fruition when President Ronald Reagan declared the rose to be the National Floral Emblem of the United States.

NRS notes that June was specifically chosen as the month to honor the rose because that is when the flower is in peak bloom.

All about roses

The most popular rose color is red, but roses naturally come in white, pink, purple, yellow, orange, and green too. There are also many engineered and painted colors for roses, but these are the only colors that naturally occur in roses.

For a full dive into the “meanings” associated with each rose color, read our previous blog here: What Different Color Roses Mean

History

The importance of roses dates back to Greek and Roman times. According to Iowa State University, rose petals were used as confetti for special events and parties in Rome. The people of Rome also hung up roses during certain meetings to symbolize that the information shared was privy only to those in attendance.

Romans also used roses in their everyday lives, placing the petals on their floors and in their baths.

However, China became the first country to cultivate roses, beginning in 551-479 BC, according to Iowa State University.

Later, Lady Mary Wortley Montague helped to solidify roses’ popularity in culture during the Victorian era in England. According to Time, Lady Montague misunderstood a Turkish tradition, which resulted in her assigning meaning to flowers. Her interpretation caught on, and Charlotte de Latour from France published the book “Langage des fleurs” based on it which romanticized the rose.

Stats & Fun Facts

What is “May Day”?

Posted on by Amber
A vertical shot of a traditional English maypole dancing at CountryFile Live, Woodstock, England

May Day, celebrated on May 1, dates back to ancient times but is still celebrated across many cultures.

It was originally an acknowledgment of the halfway point between the spring equinox and summer solstice, according to The Farmer’s Almanac. Festivals were held featuring songs, dances, and bonfires. People also decorated doors with yellow May Flowers.

Some of these traditions carried over from England, where the holiday has a long history. In England, children danced around a maypole with colorful ribbons and flowers were a huge part of the celebrations. People gathered wildflowers and created hair garlands and floral hoops before crowning a May king and queen.

Originally, the ancient Celts used a living tree from the woods as a maypole, praying for their crops’ fertility, according to The Farmer’s Almanac.

All villages in the Middle Ages had maypoles and would compete to see who had the tallest or best maypole.

Why is it not as popular in America?

May Day was considered promiscuous by the Puritans in New England and was considered pagan, so they forbade people to celebrate it. 

In the 19th century, however, colleges started celebrating May Day with a maypole dance and festivals. Interest again declined and now the Maypole dance is mostly done by children as a fun spring activity.

How flowers play a role in May Day

As noted, flowers are used frequently in May Day celebrations. One tradition, which is still honored by some today, is the making and gifting of a May Basket.

The tradition has changed some, with most people using it as a reason to give someone flowers, but initially, it was a gift and a game. According to the Farmer’s Almanac,  In the 19th and 20th centuries children or those who were “courting” someone would drop the basket at the recipient’s door, knock and yell “May basket!” and run away. 

The recipient would then chase the gifter and if caught they were owed a kiss.

Traditionally, the “baskets” were cones made t of paper and filled with wildflowers. Some people now give actual baskets with flowers, seeds, baked cookies, and other small presents to celebrate the holiday.

May Day is a time to embrace spring and all the beauty that comes with it, including flowers. Whether you choose to give a May Basket or to simply add more color, flowers, and spring elements into your day we hope you take the time to enjoy the freshness of this time of year.

Gift Ideas for Administrative Professionals Week

Posted on by Amber

Administrative Professionals keep the world turning and they deserve to be recognized for their hard work. 

Administrative Professionals Week, recognized every year during the last full week in April, is a time to thank those in your organization who provide administrative support. It will be celebrated April 20-26 this year with April 23 being Administrative Professionals Day.

Who are Administrative Professionals?

These workers should be celebrated during Administrative Professionals Week:

  • Receptionists
  • Secretaries
  • Administrative Assistants
  • Executive Assistants
  • Personal Assistants
  • Customer Support

Gift Ideas for Administrative Professionals:

It is important to acknowledge their contributions to you and your company. Consider one of these thoughtful gifts as a way to say “thanks”:

Flowers

Flowers are a great way to say “thank you”. If you’re not sure which are appropriate to gift, we’ve compiled a list of suggestions to help you make your choice:

Snacks

Contribute to their snack drawer to show a token of your thanks. 

We have multiple snack baskets that are always a great gift idea filled with an array of goodies so there’s something for every taste. Our “Chocolate & Mug Gift Set” is a wonderful two-in-one option – they get tasty candy and something to put their morning coffee in!

A Mug with Tea

If the administrative professional in your life is a tea drinker, put together a mini tea-lovers gift basket. Surprise them with a new mug and a box or two of tea. 

We offer a wide selection of Tea Forte tea collections. Each box contains multiple different flavors of tea so your recipient will have options.

A Plant

Plants make great gifts, especially if your recipient has a green thumb. Even if they don’t, there are plenty of low-maintenance plants that make a beautiful addition to any space.

We recommend considering these plants to gift for Administrative Professionals Week:

Easter Pet Safety

Posted on by Amber

Easter is such a fun time of year; easter egg hunts, chocolate, and flowers everywhere. We want to make sure that Easter is just as fun for your furry friends, so we’re sharing some tips to keep them safe from the Easter hazards.

Flower Safety

There are many flowers that are safe for pets, but some traditional Easter flowers can be dangerous. 

Keep an extra eye on your pets if you choose to have these Easter flowers in your home:

  • Lilies (Kidney injury and gastrointestinal upset in cats)
  • Peace Lily (Toxic to dogs and cats)
  • Tulip (Toxic to dogs, cats and horses)
  • Amaryllis (Toxic to dogs, cats and horses)
  • Daffodil (Toxic to dogs, cats and horses)
  • Daisy (Toxic to dogs and cats)
  • Carnation (Toxic to dogs, cats and horses)
  • Iris (Toxic to dogs, cats and horses)

A full list of plants toxic to pets can be found at ASPCA.org.

Having these flowers in your home is fine, even with pets, as long as you take precautions to keep your furry friends away from them.

Place the flowers in a location you know your pet can’t possibly reach. If there is a room your pets aren’t allowed, that could be the perfect place for them. In most cases, keeping these flowers on your table should be safe as long as you know your pet won’t jump on the table.

According to the ASPCA, Easter Cacti are non-toxic to pets and are a good option if you are worried you won’t be able to keep your pets away from your Easter plants.

Chocolate

Chocolate is a year-round danger to pets, but with the enhanced accessibility of chocolate at holidays, like Easter, it’s important to take extra precautions during celebrations. If you have young children, be sure they don’t leave any half-eaten chocolate or chocolate-covered wrappers in a location that your pets can access.

Consider asking the Easter Bunny to leave any Easter baskets with chocolate surprises out of reach of the pets too.

According to the ASPCA, chocolate causes issues with pets’ gastrointestinal system, pancreatitis, and nervous system issues such as seizures and an elevation in heart rate. The darker the chocolate the more toxic it is for pets. Consider steering clear of dark chocolate in any Easter baskets for an extra precaution.

Plastic Grass

When making your Easter baskets skip the plastic grass. Besides being environmentally unfriendly, it is very dangerous for pets. The plastic can get lodged in their throat and if they don’t choke on it they will have serious issues such as vomiting and diarrhea when swallowed, according to the ASPCA.

Line your basket with an alternate item, like tissue paper or a small blanket, or skip the lining altogether.

Fertilizer and herbicides

The ASPCA also notes that since gardening and lawn maintenance typically begins around Easter weekend it’s important to remember that pets should not have access to fertilizers and herbicides.

Store them in a place your pets will never be, like a locked shed that is off-limits. When these products are used, be sure your pets are inside. If your pets go outside, be sure the items have been watered or dried based on the manufacturer’s instructions. Even then, do your best to keep your pets away from the area it was used. Consider fencing off the area if it is a garden to ensure your pets can’t get to it.

If you follow the proper precautions and monitor your pet, both you and your pets can have a happy and safe Easter.

*Remember to always speak to a licensed veterinarian for advice on what is best for your pet. If you believe your pet has ingested something harmful, seek veterinarian assistance immediately and/or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435

What is Yellow Flower Day?

Posted on by Amber

Yellow Flower Day, celebrated on March 21, was created from a social media trend. It is also unofficially celebrated on September 21.

March 21 was already a celebration for floral lovers, as it is National Flower Day and the spring equinox, but with the help of social media, especially TikTok, the focus began shifting to yellow flowers.

How it started

A popular Argentine telenovela “Floricienta” is about a woman who wants to be given yellow flowers. It is emphasized that the meaning of being given specifically yellow flowers is that they represent hope and true love.

The show caused a song, “Flores Amarilla (Yellow Flowers)” that was played in the series to start trending as a background audio.

The videos initially took hold in Argentina, where the telenovela originates, but quickly spread to other cultures through multiple platforms.

The other holiday

March 20, the day before, is also International Happy Day. Many people associate the color yellow with the feeling of happiness, so celebrating the period with yellow flowers made sense.

What it means now

The trend seems to have a lasting effect for now, especially in the United States. Significant others tend to give each other yellow flowers to show their love on this day. Friends also exchange yellow flowers on March 21 to express their love for their friends.

Florists can confirm that when March 20 and March 21 come around, yellow flowers are bought up rapidly. 

Our Yellow Flower Suggestions

We have a variety of arrangements that highlight yellow flowers that are perfect to gift for Yellow Flower Day:

It is also tulip season, and you might be able to find yellow tulips in-store inside our cooler, depending on supply.

If you are not pre-ordering your flowers for Yellow Flower Day, we suggest arriving early to the shop to secure your desired flowers.

Best gift ideas for St. Patrick’s Day

Posted on by Amber

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t typically thought of as a holiday where people give gifts, but these themed and thoughtful items are great for a fun surprise to make your favorite people smile.

They are also great options for host gifts if you are headed out for a party with friends or family. 

Here’s some St. Patrick’s Day gift inspiration:

Give them a rainbow

For the one who brings color into your life, gift them the rainbow with our colorful “Rainbow Smiles” arrangement. It’s a cheery way to show you care and a great decoration for the recipient to display for St. Patrick’s Day and beyond.

Themed Arrangements

A themed flower arrangement is a perfect gift option for the St. Patrick’s Day party host. They went through a lot of work to create a fun night for everyone and giving them flowers that will last weeks shows your appreciation.

We have two other St. Patrick’s Day themed flower arrangements: “Shamrock” and “Luck of the Irish”.

“Shamrock” features two sparkly clovers amongst yellow carnations, green mini hydrangea and white daisy poms.

“Luck of the Irish” is a more subtle nod to the holiday. It includes a gold-orange vase, similar to the color of gold in the pot at the end of the rainbow, and features a sunflower, green hydrangea and white and yellow daisy poms.

Snacks

If you’re looking to thank a party host, our Happy Flower & Candy Set featuring a “Thank you” plush flower is a good option. The host will need to refuel after the party and what better way than chocolate?

If you’re not sure what to bring to the St. Patrick’s Day party, try one of our snack baskets. There’s something for everyone to enjoy while they celebrate.

Our Tootsie Pop Flower Pot is a hit for kids. Its rainbow colors match the St. Patrick’s Day theme and is a small way to include them in celebrations.

A Green Stuffed Animal

You’re never too old for a comforting and cute stuffed animal. Gift a green stuffed animal to keep with the St. Patrick’s Day theme. If you’re considering giving a gift basket, this would be a perfect addition. 

We have many plush options, but our Ryker Rex Plush is a great choice if you’re looking for an all-green stuffed friend.

Ideas for Employee Appreciation Day

Posted on by Amber

Employee Appreciation Day, which is March 7 this year, is a time for companies to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of their workers.

Employers showing appreciation for their staff helps them to feel valued, enhances relationships and the work environment and can even increase productivity. If you’re looking for a meaningful way to say “thank you” to those who help make your business run we suggest considering these thoughtful options:

Flowers

You can never go wrong with flowers. If you’re worried about it being too personal, don’t be. There are flowers for every occasion.

You are also able to include a message for each arrangement to indicate your message. We also offer add-ons such as “Thank You” balloons and our “Thank You Plush Flower” to help share your gratitude.

We recommend these arrangements for employee appreciation day:

Plants

Plants are especially a great gift if your employees have offices with natural light. Adding a plant to office environments has been shown to increase concentration, decrease stress levels and improve overall worker satisfaction.

These plants are perfect to enhance the office environment:

Snacks

Powering through a work day is fueled by many with coffee and snacks. Help your employees keep their energy up and give them a gift they will love by supplying the snacks.

We have many different snack options that are great for thanking employees:

Tea

Some people prefer to get their caffeine for the workday through tea. If your employees prefer tea, consider gifting them a box of Tea Forte tea. 

Different types of teas have also been proven to reduce anxiety symptoms, which can be especially helpful in a high-stress work environment. Gifting tea to employees shows you understand the pressure they are under and care for their mental health.

A “Thank You” Figurine

Some people love to decorate their space at work to make it feel more comfortable and inviting. If you notice your employees have a lot of items on their desks, such as figurines, pictures, etc., they will probably appreciate something new to include in their workspace.

Willow Tree figures are very popular gifts with meaning. Each one corresponds to a message for the person it is being given to. Gifting one of these decorations will show your employees how much they mean to you.

We recommend these thoughtful Willow Tree figures:

It’s important to make sure your employees feel appreciated all year, but it’s nice to take a day and specifically shine a light on their hard work and dedication.

Royer’s Flowers Hosts Valentine’s Day Media Event

Posted on by Amber
Valentine’s Media Day 2025

We hosted our Valentine’s Day Media Event on February 7, giving local news stations a chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at Royer’s Flowers and Gifts preparation process for the big holiday.

Geoff Royer, Vice President of Production and Product Development, was in attendance to talk about how we prepare to serve thousands of Central Pennsylvania customers for Valentine’s Day.

“The trick to it is staying organized and being ahead,” said Geoff Royer, Royer’s Flowers and Gifts Vice President of Production and Product Development.

We will be delivering about 10,000 flower arrangements on Feb. 14 and 5,000 on Feb. 13. We will also serve thousands of more people at our 16 locations.

It is a full-team effort to ensure everything goes smoothly for Valentine’s Day. Our dedicated staff is working around the clock to ensure that everything is ready for the big day.

“Giving flowers and being involved in people’s emotions is always something that we’ve taken very seriously,” said Geoff Royer, Royer’s Flowers and Gifts Vice President of Production and Product Development. “We consider it an honor to be a part of that; that people are choosing us to help convey their emotions.” 

All locations will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 13 and Feb. 14.

We can’t wait to help you make it a special Valentine’s Day for your loved one(s)!

Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Men

Posted on by Amber

Many think of Valentine’s Day as a day for men to do romantic gestures for the women in their lives, but they deserve to be celebrated too.

To help you find the perfect gift for your significant other, we’ve compiled a Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Men:

Flowers

Men like flowers too. Just because it’s traditional for men to buy women flowers, many also appreciate a vase of fresh flowers. If you’re looking for something “less feminine” try these options – 

Plants

Is your man a plant dad? Give him a new plant for his collection. These Valentine’s-themed plants are perfect gifts that will last well beyond the holiday when taken care of properly.

Chocolate

Who doesn’t love chocolate? We have plenty of options for the sweet tooth in your life.

These are just a few of the options we have in store and online to treat your guy for Valentine’s Day. 

If you choose to order flowers to surprise your significant other, we have a special offer this year!  Have the flowers delivered between Feb. 8-13 and your recipient will receive a coupon for a free dozen roses that is redeemable in-store from March 1-31, 2025.