2024 Valentine's Day Buying Guide
“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”
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Red Roses-Classic or Cliche?
Popular Alternatives to Red Roses
Flower Arranging Classes
Flower Subscriptions
E-Gift Certificates
Bell and Trunk is headed into its 15th Valentine's Day and I've learned a lot from being in this business. Usually I reserve this space in the newsletter to talk about the importance of sourcing fresh flowers or selecting the right blooms for your Valentine. But instead I want to focus on something else that matters: community.
The days when I ran the shop together with my then nine-year-old daughter Elise, are way behind us. But what remains are the relationships we have built over time. From our our merchant friends at Farley's Coffee and Christopher's Books to Aurora Alimentari and Ruby Wine, we've supported each other through thick and thin, merely by surviving as small businesses within the same two blocks. We're all in this together and I couldn't be in better company.
The customers we've grown to know as family continue to get married, have babies, achieve major milestones and lose loved ones along the way. It has been a privilege to be there for you, with flowers, when you need us.
These connections have come to define who we are as a business. We are stronger together and buoyant to life's ups and downs with an appreciation the beautiful moments that life can bring.
As Bell and Trunk heads into major Valentine's Day production mode, I want to express my overwhelming gratitude to Jennifer Herman, my rock; the incredibly talented Molly Graves; along with the gifted art school team: Sophie, Audrey, Haley and Davo. You keep the engine running with your commitment, creative energy and sense of humor. Thank you also to Joyce and David Schulman for generously providing us with a dreamy and spacious garden to work in, and Paul Olson for his ongoing efforts to turn our tiny brick and mortar into a beautiful and functional space that feels like homey.
Happy Valentine's Day to our Bell and Trunk friends and family!
(And hello to Mom and Dad and Judy Marlin. Thank you for reading my newsletter ;)
xoxo,
Vanessa
An article I wrote for The San Francisco Chronicle over a decade ago about the waning popularity of the most ubiquitous Valentine's Day symbol: the red rose, still rings true. Some customers think giving red roses is tacky or even a bad omen. But I still think red roses are the 1960 Cadillac Eldorado of the flower world and I don't mean that as a put down. Roses should be put in the same category as so many other threatened classics: hardcover books, newspapers, diners with jukeboxes, record players and good table manners.
Popular Valentine's Day floral options
Fragrance, a hot flame and flowers. Indulge your lovers' senses with a vase full of posies and a quality candle beautifully packaged in a convenient gift box. We will arrange fresh, high quality blooms in a milk glass vase and pair them with a popular Austin Press botanical candle. If your Valentine is always on the go, this portable gift is luxurious yet practical. And a great value! Choose blooms in either Valentine's Day red or Valentine's Day mixed colors. Our 12 ounce Austin Press candles are made in San Francisco with natural essential oils , infused in a recipe of soy, coconut, apricot and hemp. This gift will surely keep the flame alive long after the last rose fades.
Bell and Trunk is inspired by classic icons from by-gone eras and can't resist the sentimental allure of the venerable red rose. We ditched babies breath a long time to update the look but this year we're taking it a step further by adding in even more interesting textures and greens. You might see unique greenery like geranium and silver dollar eucalyptus and unexpected textures like lucadendron and hypericum berries. Our "colorful" option isn't a crayon box of color but carefully considered color palette that is more ombre than over-the-top. We think this classic option, infused with some youthful whimsy, will be the first choice of many hopeful romantics.
This whimsical option is for the ultimate flower lover. After all, at the end of the day, wouldn't it be nice to have a freshly plucked bouquet from an English garden? While some flowers are carefully cultivated, others are left to proliferate, yet still the hummingbirds and bumble bees go about their business anyway. With that notion in mind, we will create a floral arrangement for you that's vibrant, unique, and fresh. Just don't be surprised if a butterfly comes with it.
Like a delicious confection, these blooms are delicate and sweet. This floral arrangement is perfect for the person who appreciates subtle beauty yet is deeply moved by intricate shapes and soft petals.
Lush petals, deep hues and sensual shapes define this bold and sexy floral arrangement. When you want to send blooms that wholeheartedly say, "You're the one", we will fill your vase with richly colored roses paired with light and dark floral accents along with a gentle touch of greenery to create a bouquet your lover will forever remember.
This earthy choice is for the kind of person who is easily stopped in their tracks by colorful buds popping out of the soil after a fresh rain. No matter the type of flower, as long as it's fresh, fragrant and in full bloom, it's fair game. Our seasonal arrangements are often playful--mixing warm tones with cool tones--but always on point with interesting textures and delightful accents.
Ask us about booking a flower arranging class for your next event.
Enjoy some personalized time among the fragrant blooms with a Bell and Trunk flower arranging class! This team building experience has been popular with companies like LinkedIn, Adobe and Related Property Management along with private groups looking for a unique spin on baby shower activities and birthday parties. In this hands-on experience we will help you create a gorgeous floral arrangement for you to take home. You will learn the important fundamentals of floral design; the identities of various flowers like hyacinth, snap dragons and ranunculus; and tricks on how to get the most life out of your creation.
E-gift certificates available online
E-gift certificates make it easy to give the gift of flowers without actually giving flowers.You can order them off our website to be used anytime for anything on our website. Couples even list Bell and Trunk e-gift certificates on their wedding registries.
“If I had a rose for every time I thought of you, I’d be picking roses for a lifetime .”
Flower subscriptions--perfect for every occasion
The gift that keeps on giving and is perfect for any occasion is the popular Bell and Trunk flower subscription. Choose a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly subscription for pick-up or delivery and you all enjoy watching the seasons change through the assortment of fresh flowers we hand select and design just for you!