We've Got the Sweetest Bouquets

No one wants to miss the sweet-smelling flowers of spring, hanging planters, candles, colorful bouquets or elegant arrangements.

And thanks to these local florists, you don't have to.

After asking Patch readers this week where they love to get their flowers, they weighed in on a selection of wonderful shops throughout the county.

Patch readers in the Caldwells and Verona-Cedar Grove overwhelmingly chose as the best florist.

Conveniently located at 329 Bloomfield Ave. in Caldwell, the florist offers fresh cut and the dried and silk flowers needed to perk up tabletops and windowsills for any occasion. They offer a large selection and provide home delivery.

Montclair Patch readers picked Clores Flowers at 590 Valley Road as their fave florist in this week's Readers' Choice poll, followed closely by Accents With Flowers at 41 Church Street.

Other businesses that garnered a large number of votes were Montclair Florist at 314 Orange Road and at 602 Bloomfield Avenue.

The readers have spoken and  has been chosen as the top florist in West Orange and Livingston. The store in Mount Pleasant Plaza offers a huge selection of flowers, plants, shrubs and other materials needed for gardening and landscaping. It also sells outdoor furniture, tools and accessories.

won our weekly Readers' Choice poll for South Orange and Maplewood. When Patch asked for your favorite florist, a whopping 82 percent of those who voted chose Lotus Petals. Lotus Petals has been in its Baker Street, Maplewood location for more than four years. Excell-Stone notes that the store has been a florist for at least 65 years, and probably more. The tin ceiling and rugged floor are both authentic and beautiful, like a Lotus Petals bouquet.

In Bloomfield, the winner was a florist that had its !  Most readers voted for Bloomflora, a boutique floral and home shop at 385 Broad Street. Owner Mimi Betancourt’s stylish shop features graceful floral arrangements that visually harmonize with a sophisticated array of home goods, including candles, soaps, vases and exotic potted plants.  The mood is friendly, welcoming and uncompromisingly chic. Betancourt says her mission is to create floral creations that are both beautiful and affordable. “It’s about the experience,” she smiled. “You can come in and spend $20 and feel like you spent $100.”

Millburn Florist, which is right in the middle of things on Main Street, edged out the others in this week’s Reader’s Choice poll.

Belleville’s and Nutley’s Kingsland and Franklin Florals topped the poll, while two other Nutley florists and two Belleville flower shops received support. The other shops garnering votes were Richards The Florist and A Personal Touch Florist in Nutley and Belleville Florist and Rose Palace in Belleville.

In Newark, Washington Florist was your choice for the best area florist. The florist, located at 565 Broad St., is a family owned and operated company that specializes in floral arrangements, plants, gifts and greeting cards. The company provides same-day deliveries to customers throughout Newark, Short Hills, Arlington and Essex Fells. It offers arrangements for special occasions and holidays, gift and fruit baskets, silk and dried floral arrangements, European gardens, prom corsages, local flowers and more.