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Jars of Joy.. We created this design in the first of many lockdowns Victoria has endured in recent years due to Covid. During a time when we couldn't see or be with the people we love....we wanted to help spread some joy with the gift of a cute little arrangement that wasn't too expensive. We started off with our  $35.00 option but their popularity grew as you just fell in love with them & asked for some larger options so we now have five price points.   There is no set flower content for these arrangements , we select the best seasonal blooms to create a unique & individual design each & every time. The images below are just so you can just how gorgeous & versatile this design can be. You can see more images of Jars of Joy we have created & delivered also the many reviews we have received that will also inform you of just how great these arrangements are.      

Here we go again! As l sit down to write this we are into our 3rd day of lockdown 5.0 in Victoria Australia.  Yes, that's right number 5, we were told at the start of this lockdown it would be 5 days but as the days go it is more likely that won't be the case. This blog is about how our small family owned business has survived the Covid pandemic in Australia & all the lockdowns. I won't lie at the start of all this l last year l was very worried when as an entire country we were put into lockdown with only essential workers & business able to continue to work & trade. There were a lots of sleepless nights & days of worry until it was confirmed that yes we could open for business.  As we weren't sure if others would find us essential we offered free delivery & we were soon overwhelmed with the support we received...it was amazing.We did this for over 2 months..But as we have to pay couriers & delivery drivers we couldn't continue this & you all understood why...Thank you! We also created many lower cost options such as our jars of joy  & our just because bouquet.  We added vegetables as an option to our good health hamper. We started supporting a local business by stocking their fantastic product...Bendigo Brittle & we also created some hampers featuring Bendigo Brittle & Bendigo Beer. Other new items were added to our collection thanks to you as you phoned us or sent a message through  Messenger or Instagram & asked if we could customise a hamper I also became a regular at the bottle shop as l was there every second day buying multiple bottles of wine to go out with flowers or in a hamper. Our 1st big hiccup was Mother's Day 2020 as we went into a second lockdown (which ended up lasting 4 months) just before one of our peak trading times.We were a bit luckier than Metro florists as we could still open our doors & let a restricted amount of customers into the store at a time to make their selections. But the question were still there at the start.  Can we open?                                                                        Can we deliver?                                                                  Will it be busy?                                                                      And then finally..                                                               Will we be able to get enough flowers?   This last one was our most troublesome as we had orders coming in flat out & we didn't get all the flowers that we had ordered .. so we had to make the hard decision & stop taking orders to ensure we had enough flowers to cover the orders we already had. It was great that all those that we couldn't help were so understanding. At this time we were also dealing with sky rocketing flower prices.  I can honestly say that even though Mother's day & the days leading up to it are an absolute blur to me & l couldn't even tell you how many hours l worked.            l wouldn't have had it any other way as you entrusted us to deliver your messages of love during one of the most difficult Mother's Day any of us have had to endure. This year it was Valentine's day in lockdown but this time all we could offer was click & collect or delivery. We couldn't let you into the shop to browse at your leisure but that didn't stop you from supportingus... you jumped online early as being Victorian you just knew another lockdown was coming. We also filled our windows with bears , balloon chocolates & flowers & you were more than happy to come in & window shop. However the hardest part of all these lockdowns has been informing people that we can't deliver anything to Bendigo Health facilities. Not a teddy bear or balloons to a child in the children's ward. Not a Mother's day gifts of any sort to Mum in a nursing home. Not a finally message of love & care to a patient in hospice.    We have including this one had another 2 lockdowns like that & you have happily shopped online or given us a call to arrange a delivery .Here's hoping that we get out of this one soon & our fingers crossed 🤞we don't have anymore lockdowns. One thing that l have noticed through all this is that no matter how big or small the gesture the main thing was that you just wanted to let  your family, friends & loved ones know that you were there for them & thinking of them.  But the main thing that has come out of all this is that just like us you believe that your local florist is an essential service....so please remember this in the years to come & support your local florist as most are a small sometimes family run business that have been quietly supporting other local businesses & their community for many years.   

At Virginia Mary Florist we send a care card out with every order we deliver or if you or someone else has popped into the shop to grab you some flowers then you would have found either attached to the flowers or in the envelope with your gift card a caring for flowers card. If for some reason the care card has gone missing don't worry this blog post will tell you all you need to know to care for your bouquet or arrangement. Firstly if you have been delivered a bunch or bouquet by us then it will have on the bottom of it what we call a aqua pack, this is a foam wrap that is specially treated to keep your flowers fresh during the transportation & for the rest of the day if you are not home to receive. Once you receive you bunch or bouquet select a clean vase & filled to the desired level so that all stems will be in water. Then remove the aqua pack preferably over the sink just in case of spillage. Make sure to remove all leaves that will be under the waterline as they contain bacteria that may quickly multiply & spoil the water. Then trim all stems about 2 cm from the base diagonally.  Every couple of days you will need to remove the flowers from your vase, clean the vase & refill with fresh clean water & recut the stems before placing back in the vase. This also applies if you have received flowers already arranged in a vase.                                If you have received an arrangement in a box, ceramic container or basket you will need to check the water levels morning & night & top up with clean water daily ensuring not to over fill the container.           To ensure your flowers last longer position them away from draughts , direct heat, sunlight, direct cooling & heat generating appliances such as TVs & microwaves. Also you must keep check of is that some flowers last longer than others so it is always best to remove any spent blooms to keep your flowers looking the best they can.

YES WE ARE OPEN ! During these uncertain times at Virginia Mary Florist we are doing all we can to protect ourselves,you our customers & the special people in your life that we deliver flowers & gifts to.At this stage we are still OPEN and trading as usual.The shop door is still open at the moment !If  we do need to close the door, we hope to still be able to continue to  deliver flowers & gifts to your friends, family & loved ones via phone & internet orders. We are now offering non contact deliveries if you would prefer this method of delivery then you will need to advise us of this & provide us with the correct contact details for the recipient, either a mobile or landline phone number.As a way of saying THANKS for your support in the past & to help you send your love & support to the people that you are unable to visit at the moment, we are for the moment offering FREE delivery within Bendigo*Please all stay safe, well & take care of your loved ones.We will keep you informed of any changes in the future.Phone 03 54 422 922www.virginiamaryflorist.com.au

  Valentine's Day February 14th! The day that is all about love & romance. Some celebrate this day with gusto while others choose not to celebrate it any way & that is your choice. At Virginia Mary Florist we do celebrate this day & we love it ,no not just because we are a florist & that one on the traditional gifts on Valentine's Day are red roses. We celebrate this day with gusto because over the years we have met many wonderful people that have let us share in the fun & love of their Valentine's Day. We have made some very special deliveries including a wedding proposal & she did say YES. It is a busy, very long & tiring day for us but as you work away & see a regular customer walk in with a big smile on their face knowing that we have the perfect gift for them on a day that is special to them. And that is why we celebrate Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day!  

Welcome to the new look Virginia Mary Florist Website. Our first website was created 13 years ago & since then we have tried to improve our websites & your shopping experience with every reincarnation. This is our 5th upgrade & new look website. Through this website you can view & browse a selection of what Virginia Mary can offer. You will also be able to shop online & have us design & deliver flowers & gifts to your family,friends & loved ones in Bendigo & some other Central Victoria towns. We hope that you will enjoy your shopping experience with Virginia Mary Florist.