Thorn & Petal

06/01/2025

Today’s Victorian Language of Flowers is Apple Blossom

Meaning: Preference

Origin: The apple’s connection to preference comes from the fable of the Golden Apple of Discord. Eris,the goddess of discord, threw a golden apple into the wedding ceremony that she was not invited to attend. The apple was inscribed with “For the most beautiful,” and Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite all laid claim to it. Zeus tasked Paris of Troy with deciding between the three goddesses. He eventually chose Aphrodite after she promised him the love of the world’s most beautiful woman, Helen of Sparta. Because Helen was already married to King Menelaus, Paris’s preference ultimately caused the Trojan War.

Pair with: Pansy to show the recipient you’re thinking of them. Zinnia for a gift for a best friend.

In the Victorian language of flowers, apple blossom represented preference and good fortune. It was considered a lovely and symbolic flower, often seen as a precursor to the fruit it would yield, making it a valued alternative to the rose. The delicate beauty of apple blossoms also symbolized rebirth, peace, and fertility, making them a popular choice for wedding bouquets. 

Celebrated by the ancient Celts as symbols of love, apple blossoms also represent peace and long life. Like all spring flowers, they are reminders of how life renews itself again and again, even in the face of hardship—and eventually yields sweet, nourishing fruit.

Apple blossoms were seen as a way to express a preference or a slight advantage over a particular suitor or situation.

Throughout time, and different cultures these blossoms have been associated with various themes, including purity, beauty, fertility, and abundance. In Western culture, the Apple Blossom symbolizes feminine beauty, hope, and love, while in Eastern cultures, it represents peace, harmony, and prosperity. All around a beautiful and delicate sweet smelling flower.

05/31/2025

New hours, more blooms! 🌸 We are now open 7 days a week—yes, Mondays too! Plus, we have extended our Saturday hours to 9–6 so you have more time to stop by. See you soon!

05/15/2025

A quiet moment of love before the Mother’s Day rush. This sweet and intimate wedding was a joy to be part of—and captured every bit of that tenderness so beautifully.

05/09/2025

04/28/2025

This Mother’s Day, we have you covered (and made life a whole lot easier)!

We have put together some of our most-loved products with beautiful fresh flowers into thoughtfully curated gift packages – designed to make moms feel loved, pampered, and celebrated.

Explore our Mother’s Day Collection for all the details: https://thornandpetal.ca/collections/mothers-day-gift-collection

04/18/2025

We are keeping our regular hours this Easter weekend—open Friday to Sunday, taking a break on Monday, then back at it Tuesday as we are going to officially shift into Mother’s Day mode (a.k.a. the Super Bowl of florist life!).

Our flower orders are in, and we will reveal this year’s colour palette right after Easter. To make things easier for everyone, we are keeping it classic with timeless palettes—but you will still find a few unexpected gems in the cooler, just in case.

Stay tuned!

04/16/2025

03/30/2025

Today’s Victorian Language of Flowers is Anemone

Meaning: Forsaken Love

Origin: The anemone’s association with forsaken love can be traced back to Greek mythology. The flower is said to have sprung from Aphrodite’s tears as she mourned the loss of her beloved Adonis. He was killed by the jealous gods over his relationship with the goddess of love.

Pair with: Camellia to show longing for what could have been, Yarrow to help heal a broken heart.

Anemones, also known as windflowers, have been a beloved flower for centuries. Their delicate, whimsical appearance has made them a popular choice for gardens, bouquets, and weddings. But beyond their beauty, anemones have a rich history and hold a variety of meanings in different cultures.

In Victorian England, anemones were given as gifts to express love and anticipation. The Red anemone, in particular, was seen as a symbol of anticipation and expected love, different colours have their own meaning, the white anemone flower meaning is sincerity, relaxation, and peace. In a similar way, the purple anemone flower meaning is protection and anticipation. The blue anemone flower meaning announces the arrival of spring, protection, and the anticipation of the beauty of spring. the yellow anemone flower meaning is of happiness, joy, and the anticipation of good things to come. The orange anemone flower meaning leans toward this as well, signifying the joy of sincere friendship and the anticipation of making new memories together. 

In Japanese culture, anemones are known as the “flower of the dead” and are often used in funeral arrangements. However, they are also associated with anticipation and are given as gifts to someone who is expecting a baby.

A fun fact about anemones is that they close up at night and reopen in the morning, which is why their primary meaning is anticipation. Due to its wild nature, the flower specifically symbolizes relaxation and serves as a reminder to enjoy the moment in order to take in opportunities at the right time. According to the Victorian language of flowers, anemone flowers also signify fragility.

02/07/2025

A sneak peek into what Valentine's Day looks like here at Thorn & Petal.🌹

Awareness for the businesses we support is on a lot of our minds, now more than ever. In times like these, we feel so much gratitude for every person who chooses to make a purchase with a small local business. Every order means so much to us, and we show our gratitude through the care we put into each and every bouquet.

Big box stores may make life convenient, but small local shops are what give a town life. Paris is a true example of this. We are part of a community of businesses that have so much uniqueness and character to offer.

Shop small this Valentine's Day. Give a gift that makes a difference to our little shop, and also makes your partner smile!

02/05/2025

A fresh snowfall, soft white and blush blooms—pure winter wedding magic! ❄️✨ So happy to have been part of this beautiful day.

Congratulations to the newlyweds! Wishing you a lifetime of love and joy. 🤍🌸

01/12/2025

Today’s Victorian Language of Flowers is Snowdrops

Meaning: Consolation and Hope

Origin: one of the first flowers to bloom in the depths of winter,the bright white snowdrop is a sign that spring and a turn towards better, easier days is coming. Victorians loved this unique flower but warned against bringing it into the home. If brought indoors, it was considered a bad omen, perhaps even a harbingers of death.

Pair with carnations for a broken Heart or mistletoe to indicate endurance through difficult times.

The snowdrop flower carries deep and varied meanings, symbolizing hope, renewal, and rebirth. As one of the first flowers to bloom in spring, snowdrops often push through the snow representing resilience and the promise of new beginnings.In addition to their broader symbolic meaning snowdrops hold special significance as the birth flower for January. People born in this month are said to embody the qualities of hope, resilience, and the ability to adapt to change.

For many people snowdrops are a quiet reminder that no matter how tough things get there’s always hope for something better ahead. Just like these delicate flowers pushing through the cold, hard earth, we can find strength in the most unexpected places. They show us that even when it feels like we’re stuck or caught in the darkness of winter, growth is happening beneath the surface. Brighter days are on their way, even when they’re hard to see in this chaotic world.

Next time you need a moment of peace, take a walk outside and see if any snowdrops are making their way through the snow. Let them not only serve as a distraction to calm your mind, but as a gentle reminder of the resilience they represent. These small blooms are a beacon of hope, a whisper from nature that renewal is always just around the corner.