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So um, a year later and still no flowers from the florist...but I've had more balloons blown up here than you could ever possibly imagine!
One thing I recently discovered, after painstakingly renting cars to transport hundreds of balloons across the city is that...wait for it...
THEY DELIVER BALLOONS!
This is a godsend of a convenience that, coupled with their absolutely sincere and helpful service, in my world, merits a fifth star.
So going to a florist and not reviewing the floral selection is like going toa jeweler and not… Read more »
Next time you're in Harvard Square, you owe it to yourself to walk through this place. The smell is fantastic as you walk by, and when you go inside you're transported to a magical world of petals, pots, plants and pansies... they have truly maximized the space they have. The 2 guys always see there are quite friendly, and once they even gave my wife a free rose, which was a nice gesture, when we were there around Valentine's Day.
Definitely a landmark Cambridge institution.
I generally don't have the highest expectations for flowers ordered around Valentine's Day, but these guys really went above and beyond the call of duty. $50 got me a bouquet that was both impressively large and beautifully arranged.
And as others have noted their non-Hallmark Holiday selection is also quite nice, including both plants and cut flowers. Great place!
Anytime I'm in Harvard Square I visit the Brattle Square Florist, which is often because I live nearby. It's definitely cramped inside but that only adds to the ambiance and feeling like you're in a terrarium - perfect for plants! The selection of plants and flowers is impressive and they're always fresh and in good condition. I can definitely count on the arrangements looking exactly how I envision them, and nothing is cheesy or contrived.
It's a little ridiculous the stupid amount of plants they pack in here.
I always feel like I'm walking through a busy kitchen or something when I'm here. Everybody is squeezing by, rushing with some ficus or lily of some kind.
It's definitely no the type of place to go, relax, and sniff some flowers, although the density of the place lures me in pretty regularly.
I'm reading a lot of bad reviews about the service, which seems to all be connected to one "rude woman." I've never talked to a woman there; the two guys I've dealt with were great, though. The first time I came in I was looking for a hard-to-kill plant and guy took me all around, giving me a few different options and what they required.
The other time I interacted with someone there I was just looking for a pot. They were out of the next size up in a clay pot and he didn't want to sell me one that was too big so just gave me one of the for-display-use-only plastic ones and told me the best way to re-pot.
Seems to be good for a plant dummy like myself.
I have to thank the other reviewers who complained about this place. You convinced me to cancel my order. Drawn by the beautiful flowers, I went in and worked with a man there to come up with an order for a small (12-person) wedding. He was helpful and patient, if a bit distracted with other things. I came away thinking, well the place isn't creative, but the flowers will be lovely.
I returned to place my order and the man wasn't there, just the woman. She was rude from the beginning: "Are you the person we should place our order with?" "Well, I'm the only one here, aren't I?" (actually, she wasn't). It went downhill from there. She gave us no guidance, and scribbled notes on the back of a scrap of paper. She got impatient with simple questions.
Ideally, a florist should guide you into something you might not know to come up with yourself, but defer to your own tastes in the end. If they can't do that, they need not add rudeness to the experience as well. Efficiency is fine if I know you're good and trust you. But even then, it does not need to cross the line into rudeness.
We placed the order anyway, but on further thought (and confirmation from the Yelp reviews), this morning I called and canceled.
Several reviewers have mentioned another place - Petali - I have already called them and will be going there today. Many thanks!
Brattle Square Florist makes me wish I had reasons to buy flowers more often, so I had an excuse to duck into their verdant, fragrant haven of a shop on more cold winter days. The flowers and plants set at the front of the shop, crowding out onto the walkway, and the warm air from seeping from within beckon you inside, but it's a bit small of a place to simply browse for long without feeling conspicuous.
On the plus side, when I was actually in search of a plant to make my windowless office a little less stark, the woman on the floor quickly asked if I could use help. I tentatively replied that I was looking for something that would survive in all fluorescent light, and with little care, and did such a thing exist? She directed me to a pretty, leafy specimen, a pothos, which she wrapped up for me and told me care instructions and offered, unbidden, tips for how to carry it to work in the then bitterly cold weather (wrap it newspaper, since the ink apparently insulates). Her manner was brusque, but apparently she told me what I needed know, as the plant has been flourishing on my desk for close to two months now. So well done BSF!
You know how sometimes when you go to stores like The Home Depot or IKEA or wherever and their flowers just look sad and gross and totally hooked on chemical fertilizers? Let me give you a play by play of what happens when you take said plants home with you...
1) You put them on your window sill and smile and wave at them because they look so pretty.
2) One week later, you come back and your plant is a disgusting wilted mess in the middle of Miracle-Gro detox.
3) Two weeks later, you have a dead plant on your hands. Rehabilitation was unsuccessful.
The Brattle Square Florist plants, on the other hand, are happy and thriving and have lots of other happy, thriving plant and flower friends to hang out with in their cozy little space. Plus, BSF has some really interesting flowers and plants that you won't find at many florists in the area. They are lush and fragrant. And I swear I think one of them winked at me on my way out.
I am not a crackhead.
I'm the kind of person who buys a potted plant once a month to brighten up my desk, and Brattle Street Florist is the place for me. The store is packed with plants, which vary a lot depending on what season it is. Sometimes, to reach just the plant you want, you have to lean over bunches of other plants, which is sort of precarious and fun.
Plus, the one time I actually talked to a staff member, he managed to find me a plant that could handle my "local conditions" (sunlight, but hot, and I tend to forget to water my plants until they are visibly wilting) so well that it lasted for two months!
I am really quite angry at Brattle Square Florist right now.
Last night was my wedding. When we went to the store, the salespeople were very accomodating and helped me figure out how to get all the flowers for my wedding within almost my price range. Though the saleswoman spent several minutes on the phone in the middle of getting our order.
Fast-forward to the day of the wedding. When we picked up the flowers, the centerpieces were not at all what I expected. We'd picked out some plants, and I'd been able to justify the relatively high price ($20 a piece for kalanchoes - I can get them for $5 at Home Depot) because the saleswoman said she'd put them into nice baskets. The plants we picked up were in terra cotta pots. Not exactly wedding material. Furthermore, when I sorted out the corsages and boutonierres, we were missing 2 boutonierres and a corsage! And one corsage was very lovely but did not match the others!
The only reason they get more than 1 star is because the plants were actually quite nice and the bouquet was lovely.
My favorite place to get flowers - no it isn't Winston (although gorgeous I often feel like I am getting the same bouquet of flowers) - here you feel like you are really stepping into a green house and choosing what you like and making it work for you, even if it isn't the most beautiful bouquet to ever grace your desk.
The employees are incredibly helpful - meeting some of my odd requests, helping me choose the perfect orchid, and ordering a special type of ficus tree because it is the kind my mom always had when we were growing up.
I love them.
I've never received nor sent a poor arrangment from Brattle. It's a bit pricey, but the selection is extensive and the flowers last forever. Really fresh and healthy!
They're great about walking through the shop letting you put an arrangement toogether yourself, or if you're a colorblind flower fool (or ordering by phone), they'll throw together something really lovely.
I was really disappointed to hear about the crappy situations that reviewers like Sarah K. went through and the woman who placed the order for the wedding day flowers....
buuuuuut....
To be fair, I've never really had an occasion to buy flowers and every time I've come in here its usually to casually pick up a small boquet of decent quality (not a grocery store arrangement) to brighten up my room. Its easy to go crazy with all the beautiful arrangements that they have, the place is literally like a beautiful garden in the middle of Harvard Square. Every time I've gotten a bunch of flowers everyone has been helpful and the flowers usually last longer than grocery store ones.
Its worth it just to take a peek and be inspired by the beautiful flowers :)
I love this place. It's a refreshing retreat from the consumer vibe and daily detritus of harvard squre. Really, stop and smell the roses. Corny? Don't care.
http://images.yelp.com...
That is a link to the bouquet my godmother just gave me for my birthday. I get a Brattle Sq bouquet from her anually and the arrangement is ALWAYS the bomb and makes me feel extremely special. She is also able to order fresh gardenias there. She sometimes gives those as gifts, you can wear them on combs in your hair and it's just... ahh!!
This place is cramped and often smells a little composty, but when you look at all the plant detritus on the floor, it makes sense.
When they have them, they have one of the better orchid collections around...though it's spotty as to when they do and don't have breeds outside of your typical phalaenopsis that you can typically find at star market. But man, when they've got a good selection of orchids in, it makes me wish i had a bigger home with more windows and more of an ability to not kill plants.
Not the friendliest staff in the world, but they know their plants and they will tell you how to care for them, though they might not win your adoration in the process.
Still, no trip for me to Harvard Square is complete without going in the florist to just be overwhelmed by the scents and the colors and the cool or warm dampness that permeates the place depending on the season.
I love the greenhouse-style feeling of this place. Although I know everyone raves about Winston Flowers (who are great also, btw.), I think this is my favourite florist in Boston. The shop is so cute and charming that I half expect to hear birds and other animals chirping and tweeting, and the sound of running water while I'm walking around. Sometimes I like to go in here even without buying stuff, just because I love to look around! (Although sometimes it's so pretty I can't resist getting something).
The flowers are beautiful, and while they do make some absolutely gorgeous arrangements, I also love the fact that if you know exactly what you want the staff will not be pushy and not accept your ideas.. rather, they are really sweet and helpful, and always have great suggestions.
Yes, it can get pricey but so can many flower shops esp. in the Boston area, and in this one they are so beautiful it's really worth it. I love the way the storefront looks like a burst of spring on nice, warm days, and the things they place outside the storefront are so pretty I'm sure they draw in many a crowd. The things I've gotten from here have always been pretty fresh and lasted quite a while.
I grew up about ten blocks down the street from it, and I can't walk through the Square without at least pausing in front of Brattle to inhale deeply. And as long as I'm pausing, might as well take a little wander into the wonderful jungle inside, right?
I almost never have them arrange flowers for me, which is silly, because they do a great job (this is not Winston- as everyone has said. They don't do little twists of wire on the ends of single stems. This is classic big bunches of gorgeousness, here. A different thing for a different feel, and definitely at a difference price bracket) but I love that I can just point, or even pick, my own assortment and walk out with lots of stems to play with.
They aren't really all that expensive. They charge exactly .01 more than Star Market for tulips, and I probably don't need to mention that the quality... well, I don't need to mention it means you can guess.
So, here's my favorite Brattle florist moment:
When my first son was about to be born my mom asked me if there was anything I wanted her to do, and I said to please bring a bunch of flowers to the hospital to take away the hospital smell. What arrived was the most stunning arrangement of peonies, lilac, lilies and freesia, and you can guess where she went....
They still remember me as the lady who wanted stinky flowers to cover the hospital smell, and every single person who walked into that room stopped and commented on how wonderful it was.
Oh yeah, and they did my wedding flowers too :-)
One last little thing. If you are in a bind and you can't find a spot in Harvard Sq, just call them, give them a credit card and they will dash your perfect blooms out to the street for you. Love love love
Absolutely gorgeous!
I have been using them for last 6 years since I moved to Cambridge. The best roses in Boston, they would last well over 7 days, just don't forget to change the water. I usually go to the store and select flowers myself, the scent inside the store is amazing! Love it.
Great variety of flowers. Fair on pricing. Open every day, no holidays! They also had plenty of hanging plants, variety of orchids, etc.. All plants look healthy and happy.
They do incredible work and I personally would recommend them highly whether you're looking for flowers for business or personal purposes.
The entire front of the Brattle Square Florist shop opens to the street in the summer. Flowers spill out onto the sidewalk so that the boundary between store and public space becomes blurred. Within it, the delicate smells of its wares waft and pervade, making the experience just as odorous as it is colorful.
it's worth a visit.
Flower Shop Haiku
Brattle Square Florist:
I bloom when I visit you
Daffodil Mama
I have received several bouquets as gifts from Brattle Florist and each one has been beautiful. The flowers are fresh and vibrant and look like something I just picked from my garden (if I had one!). I've only been to the store once but the staff seemed very busy but helpful. I would use them for any floral needs I have in the future.
i love this place. every time i come to harvard, i make it a point to at least come in and smell the cool, fragant air. on a hot day, it is like stepping into a picture.
i also come here when i need flowers. talk to the old man or the lady, tell them your price (mine is $15) and they will put together a great arrangment for MUCH less than the prissy places (winston's, i am talking to you) and much more impressive than the $5 supermarket arrangements.
they are very friendly, accomdating and don't mind if you take pictures.
Cramped, annoying, and rude that is all I get from this establishment. I think it just looks overrun and their are papers scattered all over this place.. I just don't like it!
Brattle Square Florist is simply the best shop I've found. I know very little about flowers, but every arrangement that I have ordered from them has been remarkable. Their prices are fair, and delivery is very reliable. If possible, I highly recommend going in for a visit. They have a wonderful variety of flowers and plants to choose from, or just to look at.
honestly these guys are just alright. i used to be a florist so i know my flowers, and consequently when it's expensive and in my hand i don't need to be reminded 15 times that those are "5 dollars each...not for the whole bunch you know?" if i want something unusual and i don't mind paying the price, why are you guys trying to talk me out of it?
more than that, after spending $80 i would at least like some sort of attempt to wrap my flowers nicely in paper so they don't freeze in the sub-zero winds that can whip up in harvard sq. leaving the flowers in the plastic they came in with the rubber bands still attached at the bottoms and then just piling the bundles into a piece of too small paper is not acceptable in my book.
this would easily be a much lower score were it not for the fact that in nice weather the shop literally falls out the front windows really livening up a brick filled wasteland...
You can't miss it in the summer-- half of the flowers are outside the store in front. I have bought here a number of times. Reasonable prices and usually fresh stuff. Every once in a while I've found a wiltered selection and gone elsewhere, but for the most part, it's a reliable florist.
I have never seen the flower arangements they have sent for me, but the recipiants have always raved about how beautiful they are. Honestly, I don't buy flowers, so I have no comparison for prices. They have been very good about putting together beautiful tropical arrangements for good prices, at very short notice, and have been very reliable with delivery. If there is one thing I have learned it's that women love suprise flowers at their doorstep, and the Brattle Sq. Florists have helped me out big time!
ok, i started with 4 stars because the flowers are nice, but then i dropped to 3 because the website address sends you into never, never land, actually it sends you to some hodge podge of ftd and discount flowers which makes me worry that my order will be some carnation infused baby breathed out ickyness in pale pinks and yellow... i'm so disappointed. i've ordered flowers through them in the past, but in this day and age, i can't see calling to order something.
if anyone knows of a good florist in the cambridge area with web ordering capability drop me a line.
This is my 2nd choice for flowers in Harvard Sq when I'm not on the Petali side of the square which is often. Their flowers aren't as fresh and the arrangements aren't as creative as Petali but it works when you just want some flowers to freshen up your office or apartment. (I wouldn't probably use them to do the arrangements for events though) They have a good selection of plants there as well.
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