Category: Behind The Scenes

Behind the Scenes | A Florist’s Day of Gift Wrapping, Protecting, & Delivering Your Flowers

Ever wonder what goes into sending out your flower order? As a Montreal Florist in Mile End, I’m here to shed some light on the process, and what my team and I do at our flower shop to make it all happen. Everything from wrapping and packing your order for delivery; delivering flowers locally in Outremont and Le Plateau Mont Royal; and sending out arrangements to surrounding areas like Downtown Montreal, Westmount, etc., and even off island, like Laval. It may surprise you, that there’s more to it than you think.

Preparing Your Order for Delivery

   Preparing for that Wow Factor Vs Wrapping for Protection

     After taking the time to pick out your flowers and create your bouquet, it’s time to get it delivery-ready. We wrap your bouquet with elegance to give it that extra wow factor when you present it. Our wrapping does vary from arrangement to arrangement because one size doesn’t fit all. For each style we have a different method for wrapping: Tall vase arrangements vs short, hand tie bouquet vs grad-splays. Our wrapping usually involves an elegant non-woven sheet, that come in several shades to best suit your flowers. An exterior wrap of either clear wrapping or an elegant textures mesh, and we embellish either the vase or the exterior wrap with a beautiful ribbon. 

     Wrapping is not just for presentation, it’s also for preservation. We take travel and weather into consideration for how to best wrap your arrangements. For instance, we’ll add aqua picks to certain flowers in non-vase arranged bouquets for their water sensitive needs. Likewise, we’ll include an aqua pack for longer journeys (such as Laval deliveries). In cold weather we’ll protect your flower delivery with an elegant paper or a simple transparent covering. Our decision accounts for the size and even design shape of the flower arrangement.

Keeping it Stable

     Now that that’s covered, the pun is so intended, let’s talk delivering your flowers with stability. With the exception of vase-less bouquets that can be laid flat, others need to stay up-right. Furthermore, if you’ve seen our Montreal roads, they can be rocky at best, and like your driving down an ill kept dirt mountain road at worst. No, really, some are more patch than road. The comparison may honestly at times be an insult to the dirt roads in the mountain village of my paternal roots. Anyway, back to the matter of delivery, the vase arrangements will need some help staying vertical. Therefore, most of our arrangements are also sent out in a delivery box to keep them stable. The boxes handles and flat bottom also make hand-off easier for all involved.

Delivering Flowers Near You or Your Intended Recipient

     Are we neighbours? Or is your intended recipient in my neighbourhood? Well, if the destination is nearby, I might just be delivering personally. It’s always a pleasure to deliver flowers for an event you’re hosting, or for somebody’s birthday, etc. While this is our favourite way to deliver to those near our flower shop in the Mile-End, Outremont, or Le Plateau, it isn’t always possible. For busy days and Holidays, we’ve enlisted some help, and that’s up next.

Delivering Flowers Throughout Montreal and the Surrounding Areas

     Our priority is designing beautiful flower arrangements for our clients. However, when the flower shop is busier, we can’t deliver ourselves. I’ve searched through several delivery services before settling on two. I knew who we partnered with needed to care about our products the way we do. They’re local delivery companies, SnapGrab & Radish, who handle our fragile packages with care. With our partners help we can send flowers all across Montreal, whether nearby or Downtown, Westmount and more. Likewise, to the West Island, Laval, or South Shore. You can always schedule in advance with us of course. However, with trusted partners we’re able to offer same day delivery services as well.

     There you have it, the ins and outs of a Montreal florist facing the task of preparing flowers daily and readying them for delivery.

(In response to the BBC article: How flowers are ‘put to sleep’ for long sea voyages)

The BBC’s article on how flowers are ‘put to sleep’ for long sea voyages offers a fascinating peek into the science behind global floristry. With cold-chain logistics and CO₂-rich environments, blooms are essentially placed in suspended animation — a modern kind of magic to keep them fresh across oceans.

I’m always fascinated by the behind-the-scenes of how it all works; and I love seeing my industry get some of that spot light. As a florist here in Montreal, I love sharing these lesser-known, interesting insights with the community.

That’s where florists step in — part caretaker, part designer, part prince. We don’t just sell flowers; we revive them, honor them, and turn them into meaningful gestures. After traveling so far, don’t they deserve better than a bucket by the checkout?

If you’re in Montreal and want blooms that have been truly cared for, that’s what we do at Fleuriste Atropa Belladonna. And trust us — your flowers will live happily ever after. Check out our step by step process

Process:

• Snip ends and put into lukewarm water
• Pick out proper sized containers, ensuring their clean
• Fill the bucket with water, at the temperature and level ideal for the flowers it will display
• Condition the water with flower food
• Clean up stem foliage, and give a fresh cut before treating with hydration solution
• Let the flowers hydrate at room temperature (or as needed for particular blooms) for about 4 hours
• Store in a cooler at the appropriate temperature

Depending on the flowers, there may even be additional steps for proper hydration. For example, roses hydrated in their package for 4-5 hours, before opening and cleaning up the stems; other flowers may require soaking, etc.