Gammage Flowers Blog

Why wait? Buy your own!

2010-01-22T16:59:06Z

We often buy flowers for others, but what about a treat for ourselves? We all know the joy of receiving flowers as a surprise, but the effects of fresh flowers in our surroundings are well worth some self indulgence. So as the long days of winter drag on, treat yourself. Tulips and spring bulb pots are now in stock and it's never too late to give yourself a little treat. You will thank yourself for it!!

The days are getting shorter...

2009-12-14T16:54:41Z

I am sure everyone has noticed the dark days are winter have crept in. Many of us find it hard to adjust. Brighten your room, or someones home with flowers this year. They are the perfect gift for those hard to buy for folks on your list. No fake air fresheners are needed when you fill your home with fresh winter greens and fragrant flowers. Your day will be brighter when your surroundings include fresh flowers!

Thanks! From Gammage Flowers

2009-11-11T17:07:36Z

Many thanks to all the customers that came and supported Mission Services of London during our recent Holiday Inspiration Tour. We received many donations of warm gloves and hats for Mission Services clients.

Fresh Christmas Wreaths and Greens have arrived!

2009-11-03T15:03:45Z

For those who are entertaining or celebrating the holidays early this year, Gammage Flowers is ready. Just arrived, fresh wreaths and fresh greens for all your decorating and entertaining needs.

Glitter, glitter everywhere

2009-10-29T14:29:25Z

Gammage Flowers is very quickly becoming a Christmas wonderland. We are getting ready for the Holiday Inspiration tour on November 7&8. The passports are in the stores and they are free! Visit all the stores and enter to win free flowers for a year. Don't forget to visit Bernard Callebaut Chocolates while you are here too. They are carrying Jim Shore Christmas this year as well as many themed and whimsical ornaments, they even have dill pickle ornaments, something for everyone!

Local Florist giving back

2009-10-07T14:15:15Z

Once again this year, seven London florists have banded together to raise money for Mission Services of London. The Holiday Inspiration Tour will once again be held on the first weekend in November, this year November 7&8 from 10-5pm. Visit every shop on the tour and get your passport stamped and you will have a chance to win free flowers for one year! This is a great opportunity to get into the Christmas spirit as well as get great decorating ideas from London's premier floral designers. There will be in store specials at every location and participation in this tour is free, just bring your Christmas spirit!

On the tour weekend there will be a representative from Mission Services of London in our stores collecting socks, underwear and other items as well as cash donations for Mission Services clients.

Feel Good Friday winner July31/09

2009-07-31T13:47:23Z

Here is the nomination we received for this weeks winner, Lissa Foster

I am the Executive Director of Pillar Nonprofit Network and we serve as the volunteer centre in London. Giving a pat on the back to those who dedicating time, energy and compassion in our community is so important.

I want to nominate Lissa Foster our Board Chair at Pillar Nonprofit Network as she volunteers countless hours to helpnonprofits be the best they can be. Lissa has boundless energy and ideas to create a stronger organization and she is a great listener. A strong board chair is so vital to a nonprofit and Lissa is always available to both myself and the board. Lissa shows incredible leadership with her passion for nonprofits and for our community. An example of Lissa being a phenomenal leader is that after each board meeting she meets with our past board chair to get feedback to discuss her successes and areas for improvement in leading the meetings. Lissa also hosts a social for all the board members and their significant others every summer and she donates her home and covers the costs to be sure we are building a strong board.

Further, Lissa is the National Director of Community Relations for Citi Cards and her enthusiasm inspires the employess of Citi Cards to get involved and make a difference in their community. It is amazing to work with someone whose values are weaved into her work, volunteer and personal life and she lives authentically and with purpose.Lissa goes out of her way to recognize me, our board and her staff and she too deserves to be showered with gifts and what is better than chocolates and flowers.

Thank you for the opportunity to nominate Lissa Foster.

Michelle Baldwin

Feel Good Friday winner July 24,2009

2009-07-24T14:30:06Z

I would like to nominate Julie Medeiros from London Life.

Julie is a very helpful administrative assistant at London Life who is always going the extra mile for everyone else. She is generous with her time if you ask for her help and always helps with a smile.

I believe Julie is very deserving of winning the Feel Good Friday award, since she is such a fabulous person to work with at London Life. I know she makes my job easier with her helpful ways.

Marjorie Leyland

Gammage Flowers is going green!

2009-07-17T16:12:48Z

At Gammage we make every attempt to have a enviromentally friendly store, including our Eco friendly flowers. Just recently we had all of our store lighting changed to a more energy friendly format. It has made a huge difference to the temperature of the store, and an much brighter atmosphere. With the support of Green Energy Dynamics and London Hydro the changes we have made will make a huge difference in our enviromental impact. By making these simple changes, here is what we have reduced.

Greenhouse gases by 12556.4 lbs per year
Coal Burning by 6092.9 lbs per year
Atmospheric Mercury Contamination 131.7 mg avoided
Equivalent Reforestation 1.56 acres of trees planted and 1.09 cars removed from the road.

Gammage Flowers will continue to make every effort to make lessen our impact on the enviroment.

A new face at Gammage

2009-07-16T13:03:29Z

Gammage Flowers welcomes Jeff V to our staff. Jeff is a familiar face at Gammage as he was a co operative education student with us last year. He brings with him an excellent knowledge of flowers and plants. Jeff will be working with us on a part time basis and will be a great help for us preparing the fresh flowers and tending to the plants.

Feel Good Friday Winner July 10,2009

2009-07-14T12:06:07Z

Here is our latest Feel Good Friday winner's nomination from her co worker!

I heard about this today on the radio while working and I have a co-worker I would like to nominate. I have been going through a very rough time lately and this girl has been there for me right from the start. She has only been working with me since November, but I consider her and Angel sent from above. Without her I am not sure where I would be right now. She is always ready to listen or give me her shoulder to lean on and I admire her wisdom and strength. Her talks and suggestions are from the heart and mean so much to me. She has often said if you need me even in the middle of the night all I have to do is call. This is what I call a true and genuine human being. She also at work is always so willing to do for any body no matter what it might be. I have been truly blessed to have found such a good friend in this wonderful lady. Her name is JoAnne and she works at Altrom Corp. In London Ontario. I would be so very honoured to have her be selected as your Feeling Good Friday winner.

Thank you in advance,

Jane Harvey

Here is the latest Feel Food Friday winner!

2009-07-06T12:24:07Z

I would like to nominate our Co-op President, Rachel White.

As a co-op we are all required to do some work for the co-op; however Rachel goes so far beyond what is required! She is a positive, helpful, and cheerful person. If someone is ill, she is there to help, if someone is in need - she will appear, if one is looking for services in London, she has the information! What an incredible human being she is.

A vegetarian and an animal lover, Rachel exudes joy! She crusades many causes, including getting composting in our co-op! She has a gentle spirit and cares for those around her. She recently became unable to work, so I know this acknowledgment of her work and her friendship to many will go a long way.

Thank you so much.

Maria

Congratulations to Traci Garlick, this weeks Feel Good Friday winner!

2009-06-26T12:19:22Z

My good friend and co-worker Traci Garlick was surplus from the school that I work at. We are both secretaries at Prince Charles P.S.

She has to leave due to declining enrollment. Next Friday (June 26) will be her last day. We have worked side by side at Prince Charles P.S. for eleven years and before that we worked together for 7 years at Clarke Road S.S. We are both very saddened at the situation we have been put in. For our last Friday together it would be great to win the Feel Good Friday to brighten this dreary day!

Thank you,

Darlene Mungar

In Lieu of Flowers?

2009-06-23T13:41:59Z

At a time of loss, people express sympathy for friends and loved ones in a variety of ways. Attending the wake or memorial, sending a personal note, making a hot meal for the family, helping with child care, contributing to an appropriate charity, or even just a personal call can mean so much. Of course, one sympathy tradition that has been a part of nearly every culture throughout history is flowers. Research shows that flowers increase feelings of compassion and happiness, and people feel less depressed and anxious around flowers. Grieving families and funeral experts alike would agree that a wide variety of heartfelt expressions, including flowers, can all help soften the sorrow.

Yet, at the suggestion of well-meaning friends or advisors, families sometimes include a phrase in obituary announcements which seems to discourage one of the most popular forms of expressing one's deepest condolences. The phrase is "In lieu of flowers ..." Normally, this phrase is not meant to restrict friends and loved ones from sending flowers if they wish but rather to let them know that the family would also be happy to receive a donation to charity in memory of their loved one.

Flowers not only brighten and warm a funeral or memorial service, they are also a visible outpouring of support that has a positive impact on the emotional well-being of bereaved. So, while floral professionals support charitable giving and all other forms of expressing one's sympathy, they also believe flowers should not be discouraged.

After all, flowers are life exemplified.

Feel Good Friday winner June 19

2009-06-23T13:16:48Z

Congratulations to Sue Price, our newest Feel Good Friday winner!

On June 23, 2008 I started my dream job working for The Canada Revenue Agency at 451 Talbot Street here in London. It has been a dream come true in so many ways but that doesn't mean I wasn't nervous at the beginning. I fact when I first started I didn't know a T5 from a Hi-5 and completing my tax return was as simple as dropping off a shoebox full of papers to my accountant. Now, however, thanks to my mentor and wonderful friend Sue Price, I know about everything from Line 120 to RRSP contributions. Sue started off as my coach and trainer but she has grown into so much more than that. She has been there for me from day one and never makes me feel bad about asking the same question a few dozen times! She is patient, kind, witty, and fun and makes me laugh every day. We often go out on the weekends with our husbands to a local restaurant or bar. She is the definition of sunshine -- bright, sunny, and warm. She makes my Fridays feel better than good, she makes them feel outstanding!

Laura Harris