Ballard Blossom Blog

After a year of indecision in 2021 when the Pantone Color Institute couldn’t decide between “Illuminating” (yellow) and “Ultra Gray” as Color of the Year, the “color experts” at the Pantone Color Institute returned to their customary selection of a lone color to represent 2022. Their choice? Very Peri (PANTONE 17-3938), a shade of blue with violet red undertones, not unlike what most people call periwinkle.  How did the color experts choose Very Peri for the 2022 Color of the Year? Pantone Color Executive Director Leatrice Eiseman explains: “As we move into a world of unprecedented change, the selection of PANTONE 17-3939 Very Peri brings a novel perspective and vision of the trusted and beloved blue color family, encompassing the qualities of the blues, yet at the same time with its violet red undertone, encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expressions.” Pantone chose bright and soothing colors last year to symbolize a renewed sense of hope and optimism following the w...

Mother’s Day is less than a week away, but the good news is you still have time to find the perfect gift for mom and have it hand-delivered to her door in time for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 9. Even better news is that you won’t have to travel far to find a gift that is so unique and special that we can guarantee she has never seen anything like it before. All it takes is the click of a button and a little faith the experienced floral design team at Ballard Blossom. Click to order a Designers' Choice bouquet for Mother's Day from Ballard Blossom, Inc. Seattle Ordering flowers online with the national retail companies can often be a frustrating experience. First you see a beautiful image of a perfect bouquet of flowers with a “special” price that seems too good to be true.  The further along you get in the ordering process, the more fees, and charges you manage to rack up until you finally end up paying nearly as much in mysterious service and convenience fee as you did for t...

We’re just days away from March 20 - the first official day of spring! After a long, dark winter with plenty of grays and browns, it is time once again for some springtime color! While spring’s arrival signifies the season of rebirth and growth, a few seasonal floral superstars stand head and shoulders above the rest. Here are eight of our favorite spring-blooming flowers to brighten up your world while we celebrate the first day of spring.   Peony Loved throughout the world for their extravagant blooms, Peonies are colossal flowers that have an elegant natural beauty and a delicate, unforgettable aroma. Peonies make perfect companions for other spring flowers such as iris, alliums and roses and are a popular choice for spring and summer wedding bouquets. The peony’s distinctive feature is its large, eye-catching flowers that have 5 to 10 petals each. Depending on the variety, their color can vary from pristine white to “bubble-gum” pink, and also bright red and gorgeous sh...

For 2021, two colors – Ultimate Grey and Illuminating – have been selected as the Pantone Color of the Year. This practical color combination that was chosen for its ability to help us feel optimistic and uplifted while reflecting what is taking place in our global culture and inviting us to embrace the value of our differences. This year’s selection provides a stark contrast from last year’s Color of the Year, Classic Blue, a reflective blue tone evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky. As the global color authority and provider of professional color language standards, the color experts at the Pantone Color Institute comb the world looking for new color influences in order to select a new color each year. Pantone chose Illuminating as its 2021 Color of the Year first, only months later deciding to add a second hue, with the intention of them being seen and interpreted as a pair. What difference do these color declarations make? Plenty, because they are the colors you can e...

The good news is we have reached the end of 2020 – a year will forever be remembered by the unprecedented impact it had on our world. The reality is that the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic has ushered in many changes throughout every aspect of our lives, from how we live and work to how we interact and shop. The small-business owner, in many cases the heart and soul of a city or neighborhood, was hit particularly hard by the restrictions, mandatory closings and sudden rule changes that often left them scrambling to keep their lights on. Shoppers too were forced to adapt to new methods of procuring goods and services while trying to remain as safe as possible. There are many lessons to be learned from 2020, but perhaps the most important is refocusing on serving each individual customer and offering them the safest and most efficient way of shopping. When corporations like Amazon allow people to shop for nearly anything they can dream of and have it delivered to their door in two days,...

Do you have a special container that would look even better filled with beautiful flowers? At Ballard Blossom, we love bringing your containers to life. Perhaps you have a "one of a kind" container you found while cleaning your home, or maybe there is a special piece you have on display at your home or office that only gets used when you’re expecting company. Either way, our floral designers would be delighted to fill it with flowers – or better yet - set it up on a subscription plan where we fill the container every week or two to keep it looking fresh and beautiful all the time. Tell us what you like, compact , modern , traditional , tropical ? Perhaps you would prefer different designs that change with the seasons or long-lasting succulents ? Whatever your taste, we will compliment it with beautiful flowers that you can look and see the combination of our talented designers and YOUR inspiration. Keep this in mind next time you see these special containers or vases a...

Grandparents Day takes place on the first Sunday following Labor Day. This year, Grandparents Day falls on September 13. Although this holiday may not be as popular as Mother’s Day or even Father’s Day, it is still a nice chance to honor our grandparents. Unlike some holidays that can trace their origins back through centuries, Grandparents Day was first observed just over 40 years ago.  Sarah's Smile by Ballard Blossom, Seattle, WA G randparents Day takes place on the first Sunday following Labor Day. This year, Grandparent's Day falls on September, 13. Although this holiday may not be as popular as Mother's Day or even Father's Day, it is still a nice chance to honor our grandparents. Unlike some holidays that can trace their origins bak through centuries, Grandparent's Day was first observed just over 40 years ago.  People often assume that Grandparents Day resulted from lobbying by greeting card companies, florists, and similar businesses, but this idea could ...

We all love fresh flowers and plants for the beauty they provide and their incredible aromas that fill our homes. Unfortunately, our pets don’t enjoy flowers the same way we do. Dogs and cats have a natural curiosity and tend to investigate anything new by smelling or tasting. Their inquisitive nature is often adorable but can sometimes lead to trouble – especially for active pets that have a tendency to eat everything they see. It’s up to us to protect them by knowing which varieties of flowers are safe for pets and identifying which ones can be dangerous to our four-legged friends. While many plants will cause nothing more severe than mild digestive upset should they be ingested by pets, some can cause more serious health issues. Non-toxic choices Roses are always a safe choice when it comes to choosing flowers for a home with pets. Once their thorns are removed, they are usually harmless to most animals. Gerbera daisies , sunflowers , snapdragons , and alstroemeria are also safe to...