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Two very special days are coming up soon – Aunt and Uncle’s Day on July 26 and Parents’ Day on July 27.

These holidays are great to honor those important individuals in your life and surprise them with something special to say “thank you” for always being there. This gift guide is a compilation of ideas that would be perfect for parents or aunts and uncles.

Flowers

Flowers are always a great way to show you care. It’s something meaningful and vibrant and will remind the recipient of your sentiment for weeks to come. Any flowers you feel called to will be special to them, but these are the ones we believe are good ideas for the occasion:

• Chamomile – A gorgeous, bright arrangement in a ceramic coffee/tea mug featuring a rose, carnations, and daisy poms.
• Everyday Vase – A simple, but beautiful, arrangement with daisy poms, baby’s breath, and a butterfly stick-in. 
• Happy Hydrangea, Lavender with Roses – This arrangement has three roses, a lavender hydrangea, and three mini green hydrangea for a pretty pop of color. 
• So Happy – A vibrant and colorful arrangement to show you care featuring a lily, carnations, daily and button poms, and a hydrangea.

A Meaningful Serving Board

Our “Comfort of Home Serving Board” from DEMDACO is elegantly designed with a subtle pattern and the meaningful words “the sweet comfort of home” inscribed.

This gift pays homage to the work your family has done to create a home for you. This is also a great gift if your family members enjoy cooking or hosting.

Thoughtful Decor

It’s extra special to gift something they can add to their home as a reminder that no matter how far apart you are or how busy you all are, they are still loved by you and in your thoughts. We offer carefully selected pieces of decor that not only elevate a room but also convey feelings. 

Some perfect options for these special days include:

• To The Moon Framed Standing Plaque – “love you”
• Wood Natural 3D Block – “Let love grow”
• Love Heart Sign
• Willow Tree – Surrounded By Love
• Willow Tree – With Love

Tea

Tea is always a great gift option, and with our Tea Forte box collections featuring a variety of flavors in each, there’s truly something for everyone. Gift them comfort and relaxation with one of the artisan collections, whether it’s the calming “Wellbeing” box or the tropical tranquility collection “Demoiselle” inspired by the New York Botanical Gardens.

Snacks

Gift them a special treat with either our locally-made Asher’s Milk Chocolate Pretzels, our Chocolate & Mug Gift Set, or a box of Waggoners Chocolates.

If they prefer a combination of savory and salty snacks, give them one of our specialty snack baskets. Our “Movie Night” basket is also perfect for those who love to spend their evenings at home with a good film.

Stuffed Animal

You are never too old for stuffed animals. Whether your family has a favorite animal, enjoys whimsical items, or you want to treat them to one with a special message, we have a stuffed animal for everyone.

We recommend these stuffed animals for parents and Aunt & Uncles:

• Mini Loved Bear – Cream (features “forever and always” in script on feet)
• Silas Sloth Plush – Something soft and fun for anyone
• Asilyn Heart Mushroom – A whimsical, tiny stuffed mushroom perfect for a desk
• Sunny Lab or Meow Kitty – Gift them a mini version of their pet

You can view our full collection of stuffed animals here: Stuffed Animals

However you choose to honor your family on these special days, they will appreciate being acknowledged and reminded of your love for them.

It’s important to re-evaluate how you care for your houseplants periodically, especially when the seasons change. Different seasons and temperatures call for different care routines to ensure the plant’s needs are met.

Reconsider Plant Placement

Plants can get burned from the sun just like humans. If you have your plant in a spot that gets full sun all day, consider moving it to a different location for the summer. Too much sun can also cause water to evaporate instead of letting it soak into the soil.

Adjust Watering Schedule

More heat means your plant’s soil is going to dry out quicker. You will likely need to increase your watering schedule, watering your plants whenever the soil is dry to the touch. 

This is also a season when plants are going to be using a lot of energy to grow, so they will need more water. Be careful to not overwater. Plants are still susceptible to conditions like root rot if they are too wet.

“Clean up” Plants

Just like we struggle with bugs like mosquitoes in the summer, plant pests are also more active in warmer weather. Keep a closer watch for signs of distress in your plants and take action immediately if you suspect a pest infestation.

Now is also a good time to trim any dead or yellowing growth on your plant to help them focus their energy on creating new growth. Remove any debris that may have gotten in the soil and even consider adding some fresh soil.

You may want to wipe your plants down (gently) with a wet paper towel if they are dusty from your spring cleaning. Dust and other debris can block plants from receiving the necessary sunlight to stay healthy.

Watch the temperature

When you’re opening the windows for some fresh summer air or blasting the AC or fans for some relief, be mindful of your plants. Plants prefer a temperature of about 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Plants’ soil can also dry out quickly with these environmental changes. It’s best to move them to a location where they won’t be disturbed by the natural or artificial air movement.

Plants also need humidity during the summer. To increase humidity, place plants together, place your plants on a dish with water and pebbles, frequently mist the plants, or place a humidifier near your plants.

Give Fertilizer

Plants need fertilizer during the summer to fuel them for the growing months. They use a lot of energy during the spring and summer to create new growth, and they need to be replenished. Follow the instructions on the specific fertilizer you choose, but it’s typically recommended to fertilize plants once a week.

Repot

Spring and summer are the best times to repot plants because they are in their active growth period and won’t be “shocked” by the change. If your plants grew a lot over the spring or beginning of summer and are cramped in their current pot, now is a good time to upgrade them to a larger container.

Make sure you water your plant immediately after repotting to help it acclimate.

Consider Moving Your Plants Outside

Some people like to send their houseplants on vacation during the summer by placing them outside. The warm weather and humidity are great for many houseplants.

Just keep in mind, if you choose to do this, your plants will need to be watered more due to more direct heat and sun exposure, and will need to be monitored closely for pests. Your plants should be placed in a shaded location where they won’t get direct sunlight all day.

You may also need to move your plants to certain locations when the weather gets too windy or if there is an impending storm when they are outside.

If you follow these steps during the summer months and continually reassess your plants’ needs as the temperature warms up, your indoor garden should thrive throughout the Summer.

Whether you are hosting the Independence Day BBQ or simply want to create an Americana feel in your home for the Fourth of July, we have the floral arrangements and decor to create the look you’re dreaming of. 

Decor:

Wall Hangings

We offer three gorgeous wall hangings featuring the American flag design. One is a wooden American flag with a “Liberty” star for those looking for a rustic vibe. The other is a map of the United States overlaid with the American flag. The final option features the words “God Bless America” over top a flag-like design with stars and stripes.

Sitting Decor

If you’re looking to decorate a table spread or shelves, we have “sitting decor” options. We offer two wooden blocks with two different sayings, “America the Beautiful” and “Hooray for the U.S.A.” that are simple, but festive.

Keeping with the rustic look from earlier, we have a wooden star with the word “Liberty” with the letters “USA” in front and a small heart featuring a flag overlay. There is also a “Welcome” sign to greet visitors or party guests, with each letter featuring an American flag design.

Outdoor Decor

Something subtle to place outside is our metal American Flag on a pole. This is a great option, especially if you don’t already have a flag outside.

Florals:

Flowers can center a party, especially a table spread, and complete the look of a room. If you’re looking for the perfect finishing touch for Independence Day, we recommend these arrangements:

Star Spangled

An obvious choice for those really leaning into the Americana look for the 4th of July is our classic “Star Spangled” arrangement. Made of red carnations, blue dyed baby’s breath, and white daisy poms and featuring a patriotic star stick-in, it is the perfect addition to your holiday celebration.

Stars and Stripes

Another red, white and blue classic to celebrate is our “Stars and Stripes” arrangement. A patriotic tin holds a red rose, a blue hydrangea, a white football mum, alstroemeria, and red carnations to create the perfect 4th of July celebration piece. An American flag stick-in completes the arrangement and makes it pop.

Watermelon

Is it really a Fourth of July celebration without watermelon? Embrace the iconic summer fruit with our “Watermelon” arrangement featuring red carnations, white daisy, yin yang poms, and red alstromeria. The arrangement is created in a gorgeous ceramic watermelon container and completed with a rustic bow featuring a red and white gingham edge.

Country Picnic

The red and white of this arrangement make it a great choice for the Fourth of July. It has a “southern summer” charm and features a cute ladybug stick-in. It’s made up of white football mums, red carnations, and yin-yang poms. 

Shop these Items: https://www.royers.com/usrf.cfm?products=displaypage&category=independence-day

When you think of summer, you might picture the beach, a boat, or a trail through the mountains. For us, summer means “design days”—a time to roll up our sleeves, get creative, and refresh our everyday flower lineup.

Our everyday product lineup—those go-to birthday, anniversary, thank-you, and just-because arrangements—undergoes careful review and refinement. While seasonal offerings come and go, everyday arrangements are the backbone of what we do. That’s why we take great care in keeping them current, creative, and customer-approved.

Much like our seasonal catalogs, we regularly evaluate which designs in our everyday collection are performing—and which ones need to take a final bow. An arrangement might be removed if sales have dipped or if the container is no longer available. Others are redesigned to reflect updated flower trends or color palettes.

Once we’ve determined what’s on the way out, our team gets to work dreaming up what’s next.

We draw inspiration from all corners of the floral world: new flower varieties, social media trends, gift and decor shows, trending color combinations, and even past customer favorites. If an everyday arrangement has seen strong demand in a specific season or holiday, it might be elevated into year-round rotation.

Our growers and suppliers are integral to this process. We seek out flower varieties that are not only beautiful, but available—day in and day out. We’re always testing new sources, exploring different regions, and ensuring the flowers we offer are fresh, consistent, and top-tier in quality.

This week, our designers collaborate to turn ideas into real-life arrangements, blending textures, colors, and containers to create something both beautiful and practical. These designs are then fine-tuned in a process we call “value engineering”—ensuring the final products offer both exceptional quality and fair pricing for our customers.

Once the new everyday arrangements are finalized, they’re professionally photographed and added to our year-round selection—both in-store and online in September.

And then? It’s your turn. Your orders, your reviews, and your responses help decide what earns a permanent place on our shelves. You shape the everyday lineup as much as we do.

So next time you browse our website or stop by a store, know that each arrangement has been thoughtfully chosen, tested, and tailored to brighten your everyday moments.

Royer’s Flowers & Gifts begins to decorate its stores for the holidays right after Halloween.

From installing heavy bell arches and larger-than-life toy soldiers, string lights and Santa’s sleigh, the process consumes more than a week across 16 stores in seven counties. But that’s just what the public sees.

The truth is that for Royer’s, one of the largest florists in the United States, Christmastime is all the time, even if much of the work takes place behind the scenes.

“We actually start prepping for Christmas in January,” said Geoff Royer, vice president of production and product development. “So once we go through the Christmas season, we have a review of what worked, what didn’t work. It’s a year-round thing for us.”

January will take Royer’s buyers to a major trade show in Atlanta, for instance, where they order holiday giftware that will arrive in stores some 10 months later.

Orchestrating everything requires varying amounts of attention at points throughout the year. It reaches a crescendo in December when dozens of Royer’s employees, creating their version of Santa’s workshop, gather in teams in the company’s central design department in Lebanon.

Combined, they handcraft 15,000 holiday arrangements (centerpieces most of all) and decorate 3,000 poinsettias and dish gardens for distribution to the 16 stores.

Royer’s reaches far and near to source its products.

Flowers are grown in South America. Most of the greens come from the West Coast. Poinsettias, although native to Mexico, hail from greenhouses in Ephrata, Lancaster County, and near Philadelphia.

“But we also get white pine straight from out of the Poconos,” Geoff said. “We have a guy who goes out and cuts bundles for us. And he’s right here in Pennsylvania.”

Just as Royer’s works on the holiday season the whole year long, some customers might like it if holiday arrangements were available all 365 days.

“People will send them for get-wells, they’ll send them for birthdays,” Geoff noted. “So just because it’s a Christmas arrangement doesn’t mean it’s not appropriate for all occasions.”

Grandparents Day is a time to celebrate our mom and dad’s parents and the significant impact many of them have had on us. 

On Grandparents day people often visit their loved ones, give them a phone call or send them a card. Others use the time to reminiscence about their late grandparents, possibly remembering the days cuddled in their laps listening to their stories.

According to Reader’s Digest, Marian McQuade of West Virginia created the holiday in 1956 after realizing a lot of senior citizens in her local nursing home were not visited by family while she was trying to plan a community celebration of the elderly.

McQuade then made it her mission to ensure they were not forgotten by creating Grandparents Day. It became an official holiday in 1978 when it was signed into law by former President Jimmy Carter.

However, the purpose of the holiday is not meant just for grandchildren to celebrate grandparents, but also the reverse. The National Grandparents Day Council says that the holiday is also meant for grandparents to celebrate their grandchildren.

The holiday is always celebrated on the Sunday after Labor Day in the United States. This year the special day is on September 8. 

This year the official theme is “Grand Minds: Learn, Love, Legacy”. Generations United is encouraging people to #DoSomethingGrand this year with their grandparents and have a list of activity ideas on their website.

Grandparents Day Gift Ideas

We put together a Grandparents Day gift basket for those looking for ideas for Grandparents Day. Check out our basket below!

Here’s the items we included in our basket:

• Waggoners Boxed Chocolates (8oz)
• Ceramic Mug
• Resin Hummingbird, Blue
• Faith/Hope/Love Blanket
• Wood Block Sign
• Tea Forte tea
• A flower bouquet