Open House: THIS THURSDAY!

Our spring open house is nearly here, and with it will come a store wide discount, door prizes, and much more!  Read this post for more detailed information, but here's what you need know:

The open house will run from 10 AM to 6:30 PM this Thursday, April 12, so stop in at any point in the afternoon for fun.

We will be hosting tastings of some of our popular candy and food lines, including Poppy Popcorn and Sweet Shop USA.

Door prizes will be handed out throughout the events, plus a raffle for a Mother's day arrangement! (hint hint)

Store merchandise will be 10% off (excluding fresh flowers).

This is a great event if you've never visited our store in person and want to see what we're all about, or if you haven't stopped by in a while and want to see all the new spring lines we're carrying!

We hope to see you this Thursday!

-Your flower-loving friends at Hummingbird Floral and Gifts

Spring is coming: What you need to know

We're finally over the hump, spring is in just a few short weeks!  So, what have we got planned for the next few months?

First, Mother's Day.  It's never too early to place your orders, either by phone, in person, or visiting our website.  We also have noticed that several local proms will be the same weekend of Mother's Day, so make sure to plan ahead for the smoothest weekend!

If you come to the store, you'll notice we've got spring merchandise.  Fresh silks, exciting scents, and bright new plants are starting to fill the store.  We specialize in gifts under $50, so come on by and see what's new!

Finally, if you have an affinity for nuts, check out our new line of Indianola Pecans!  We carry several varieties, from Pralines to pecans infused with Jack Daniel's whiskey, the prefect St. Patty's Day snack!

Here's hoping warmers days are soon ahead:

-Your flower-loving friends at Hummingbird Floral and Gifts.

Product Feature: Abdallah Candies

On thing that's always a customer favorite in the store can be found right by the register: our candy display!  We stock a variety of candies from Abdallah, a local company we love and want to share more about.

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Abdallah started in Minneapolis in 1909, when Albert (the original owner), would hand make every batch of candy, tweaking it to make sure it was made to perfection.  Through wars, recessions, and even an explosion that destroyed the building, Albert was committed to creating only the very best candies and chocolates.

Caramel Grizzlies, one of the most popular treats.

Today, with a home base of Apple Valley, Minnesota, Abdallah continues to make a variety of treats locally, a fourth generation, family owned business.  So, given the season, what kinds of holiday delights are available? 

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Lump of Coal: children of all ages will enjoy this tasty twist on the dreaded lump of coal-marshmallows covered in dark chocolate!

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Reindeer food: Simple malted milk balls get a festive upgrade with bright, seasonal colors. 

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Holiday Gift Pack:  Not sure what kinds of chocolate your friends or family will enjoy?  Try this sampler, with a little bit of everything.

So if you're in need of some tasty stocking stuffers or a treat for a holiday party, check out Abdallah for candies and chocolate that will sure to impress.

-Your flower-loving friends at Hummingbird Floral and Gift.

4 Flowers you can EAT?!

Among the most unique trends in desserts this year comes edible flowers.  That's right: real, live flowers you can use to decorate cakes, cookies, and any other desserts you can think of.

flowers can turn a cake from dull to dazzling

So which flowers can be used to create a memorable dessert that will have all your friends talking?  

Dandelions: Dandelions have been used as a food item ever since the Great Depression, when savvy families would gather them by the bucketful.  Every part of the dandelion is edible, from the root to the petals.  Their petals make a nice, sprinkle-like addition to the tops of cupcakes or cookies.

Use flower petals with sprinkles to create the ultimate topping

Carnations: Carnation petals, when removed from the white base (which is bitter) are sweet and soft.  And with red, white, pink, and orange colors to choose from, they're perfect for pressing into the frosting of cakes.

Roses: Roses have a wide variety of flavors, from citrus to mint to spice.  Serve small spray rose petals on top of ice cream or large standard rose petals in salads.  Again, remove the bitter white petal base for the best flavors.

You can even serve ice cream inside flowers for a sweet suprise

Violets: Vivid violet petals can be crystallized to add to summer iced drinks for a sweet kick.

Disclaimer: Always do research before eating flowers.  Never eat flowers that have not been gathered specifically for consumption.  Use flowers sparingly in food.  

We used What's Cooking America's guide to edible flowers.  Good Housekeeping  has an article about sourcing safe edible flowers.

What do YOU think?  Have you ever tried edible flowers?  Let us know your experiences with them in a comment below!

-Your flower-loving friends at Hummingbird Floral and Gift