Floral Gifts for Easter

Easter is this Sunday, April 4th, so now's the time to order your Easter centerpieces and floral gifts.  What better way to wish someone you love a Happy Easter than by sending them a nice potted plant or spring bouquet.  We have a large selection of spring flowers right now, ranging from cheerful daffodils and daisies, to elegant lilies & roses, to fragrant freesia and stock, and just about everything inbetween.  Order a bouquet directly from our website http://www.dodgetheflorist.com/, or give us a call at 207-775-3166 and we'd be happy to assist you.  Have your own vase or container?  Bring it in, and we will custom design for you.  If you prefer to send a growing gift, our greenhouse is currently stocked with Easter Lilies, Daffodils, Tulips, Hyacinths, Bulb Gardens, Azaleas, Pansies, and more!  Whatever you preference, we at Dodge the Florist are here to help you celebrate Easter with the natural beauty of Spring.

pictured above:  Spring Delight Bouquet $69.95

Easter Lilies are here!

The buds are just about to start opening, so be sure to get your Easter Lily early, and watch the blossoms open one by one.  Easter Lilies make a nice gift, and can even be kept to plant outside after the ground has thawed.  They will begin to bloom again in the late summer or early fall.

 Did you know..?

• In 1919, Louis Houghton, a World War I soldier, brought a suitcase full of hybrid lily bulbs to the southern coast of Oregon and gave them to family and friends to plant.  The lilies thrived in the climate of the Pacific coast, and by 1945, over one thousand west coast growers were producing bulbs.
• Easter Lilies are only available in the US for a few short weeks in spring.
• The Easter lily is thought to symbolize purity, hope and life.
• Easter Lilies are one of the most popular blooming plants in America, and are the 4th largest potted plant crop in the US, following the Poinsettia, Mum, and Azalea.
• Easter Lilies (as well as many other varieties of lilies) are poisonous to cats.  So if you have any feline friends, be sure to keep your Easter Lilies out of their reach.

Hello Spring!

Saturday marked the first day of Spring, which is always a joyous occasion around here.  After the long cold months of winter, we can all use a bit of sunshine and fresh air, which we definitely got a taste of here in Portland, Maine last week.  And the arrival of spring flowers is always a very welcome sight!  There's just something so cheery about a bunch of daffodils or a vase of colorful tulips, wouldn't you agree?

Green Flowers

St. Patrick's Day is near, and what better way to celebrate than by sending someone a nice bunch of green-tinted carnations, right?  If you love the dyed green carnations, we of course would be happy to send them for you, but let's take a look at some fresh alternatives.  You may be surprised to learn that there are many varieties of flowers today that are naturally green.  From soft pale green roses to vibrant lime green of Fuji Chrysanthemums, there is surely a naturally green flower out there to match everyone's personal taste.  Below is a sampling of our favorite green flowers:

top row:  Fuji Chrysanthemum, Anthurium, Hypericum Berries

middle row:  Cymbidium Orchid, "Green Tea" Rose, "Kermit" Chrysanthemums

bottom row:  Trachelium, Bells of Ireland, Hydrangea

Staff Introductions: Meet Shannon

Since I will be doing most of the blogging, I thought I would start by introducing myself.  My name is Shannon, and I am, as they say here in Maine, "from away".  Born and raised in Iowa, I moved to Kansas City, MO to attend college at the Kansas City Art Institute, where I earned my BFA, with a major in textiles.  I lived in Kansas City for several years working as a designer and garment cutter, until I met my husband, and we embarked on the adventure of moving to the east coast. We fell in love with Portland, and moved here in Spring of 2003. 

Upon moving to Maine, I decided to look for work in another creative field, and began looking for work as a floral designer. With no prior experience in the floral industry, it was a challenging task, but I was confident and determined.  When I came into Dodge and met Gail (the owner of Dodge the Florist), something clicked.  She said she was willing to give me a chance and offered me a job.  Picking up knowledge and skills along the way, I have now been working at Dodge the Florist for nearly 7 years.


When I'm not working at Dodge, I love to just spend time with my husband and adorable 2 1/2 year old daughter.  I also love sewing, knitting, felting, and making jewelry, and have a website, thecleverkitty.com, and shop on Etsy.com where I sell my creations, many of which are inspired by flowers.  I enjoy writing, and have a blog of my own, as well as being a writer and editor of Modern Handmade Child, an online magazine.  My life keeps me very busy, but I love it!

Welcome to our new blog!

Spring is a time of new growth, and what better time of year to begin new adventures.  This spring, Dodge the Florist is sprouting up online with a brand new blog and facebook page.  By expanding our web presence beyond our website, we will be able to easily share our love of flowers and excitement about our work with the world.  Be the first to see the freshest seasonal flowers and new products arriving in the shop.  Get a sneak peek into the design room and see what special events we're working on.  All from the comfort of your own home, and available to you 24/7.  But don't forget to get out of the house to explore your other senses.  Come smell the sweet fragrance of lilies and the spicey scent of stock.  Feel the velvety petals of a rose, the soft feathery texture of plumosa fern, or the fuzziness of pussy willows.  Whether you're a new friend or old, we invite you to come by our shop to enjoy the entire essence of flowers in person.


Store Hours:
Monday........8:30-5:00
Tuesday.......8:30-5:00 
Wednesday...8:30-5:00 
Thursday......8:30-5:00 
Friday.........8:30-5:00
Saturday......8:30-12:00
Sunday........closed

Directions:
We are located at 67 Brentwood Street.  Brentwood is just off of Stevens Avenue, between Central Square Baptist Church and Siano's Pizzeria.

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