Petal Pushers

Whether you love them or love them not, it’s a universal thrill to receive fresh flowers for any occasion. The next time you need a floral fix, make arrangements with one of our picks for the city’s top shops.

Is it the proximity to High Park and all its natural splendor that makes the West End one of the best areas of the city for finding floral talent? Sweetpea’s on Roncesvalles offers a floral studio, retail store, garden centre and landscape design at their busy flower shop for all your gifting or gardening needs. Coriander Girl’s storefront is credited with beautifying Parkdale, where Alison Westlake’s earthy and elegant creations will delight.

In the Annex, patrons of Posies Fine Flowers can order garden-inspired creations or enroll in one of their bouquet bootcamps to learn the art of perfect arrangements (a great gift idea, too). For the younger set wanting to get growing, Garden Jane and her team of educators and artists offer kid-focused garden-themed educational programs throughout the spring and summer at various parks and other locales throughout the city. Their May offerings include organic farming and garden ecosystem design. Pre-registration is required.

Aptly named Passion Fruits (1535 Bayview Ave), this small produce and floral store can pull together a beautiful bouquet, fresh flower gathering or potted plant. Expect to pay less than you would at your garden variety floral store, but don’t expect the quality to be any less fabulous. Yang’s Flower and Fruit Market (132 Avenue Rd), south of Davenport, is one of several shops along the ‘floral corridor’ (as it’s called). Yang’s has a particular focus on exotic and tropical flowers, for when you really want to wow someone. Design your own, or have them do it for you (don’t be shy to ask them). You’re guaranteed to find something for everyone—even if it is for yourself.

The Florabunda Flower Market in Leslieville is like a Mom and Pop flower shop that’s had an extreme makeover, but the quality, prices and customer service remain unchanged. For simple or stunning floral arrangements and great advice (if you need it), to market, to market you should go.

Ecostems, located on Queen East, is one of the city’s rare environmentally and socially sustainable flower shops. Only local, organic, and fair-trade flowers are used. If looking good comes from doing good, that may explain why Ecostems’ designs are not only ethically conscious, they are elegant, modern and exquisite. (With delivery throughout the GTA.)

It’s important to remember to stop and smell the flowers sometimes. So send this to someone as a reminder and the flowers might come your way soon.