This year’s match up between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers is going to be quite a good game. However, the best thing about the Super Bowl isn’t the football. It’s the Super Bowl party! Chips, dip, drinks, and the ability to go a little nuts over a bad pass make for incredible season-ending events.

So the question remains, “what hostess gift should I bring to a Super Bowl party?” Traditional gifts such as entrees and extra drinks are always helpful but only at the suggestion of the host or hostess. Otherwise, another tried-and-true gift is a great way to make a good impression at the party. Bring flowers!

Yeah, yeah. Flowers for a football game? Yes! This tip is especially helpful for men attending the party at a buddy’s house whose wife is in charge of the hostess duties. A flower arrangement in her team’s colors is a great way to say thanks for the hard work! It may also be helpful toward getting drinks and chip bowls refilled faster.

Ladies, it’s not all about the men this year! Some women (like me) enjoy hosting a girls-only Super Bowl party for the coolest women in our lives. Throwing back some beverages and relaxing with a good game are all in a normal winter’s Sunday. Whether the hostess’ team is playing or not, flowers in her team colors go a long way toward the same end of expedient refills and cheery smiles when the chips run out. All it takes to get the party rocking is one quick call to a local florist!

Add black balloons for a great Pittsburgh Steelers arrangement!

Ask your florist about using black and white ribbon to create an Arizona Cardinals bouquet!

Ask the Expert: my bamboo plant is turning yellow
My bamboo plant’s leaves are turning yellow, and it seems to have some kind of oily slime building up on the surface of the water. I have emptied the water, run warm water over the roots, and bleached the pot it was in. When I put water back in, I boiled it and let it return to room temp. to cleanse it before adding it to the plant. Now the slime is coming back! Help! I love this plant and don’t want to lose it!!! Lisa

Reply:

Lisa,

You may have an algae problem.  The best thing to do is place the lucky bamboo in an opaque container.  Algae must have sunlight to grow.  By placing it in a container that does not allow light, you will keep the algae from growing.  Clean the new opaque pot with soapy water and rinse thoroughly.  While the pot is drying, gently clean the lucky bamboo stalks with a moist towel.  Place the lucky bamboo stalks back in the container and fill with distilled water.  Do not fertilize the lucky bamboo.

If this does not work, we will need to examine the stalks for insects which can also produce a sticky substance.

Good luck and keep me posted.

Whatever the age of your Aquarius, the unique gift of a zodiac-inspired flower arrangement will send the heart of your beloved soaring to new heights. For that special someone born between January 20^th and February 18^th contact your local florist to design a unique flower arrangement containing bright daffodils, beautiful arum lilies, or birds of paradise for tropical beauty.

Aquarius represents the most humanitarian of the zodiac signs. Show how much you care for your compassionate and giving Aquarius with a unique astrological flowers arrangement designed specifically with her in mind. It is easy to lose sight of caring for ourselves when we continually care for others. For the mother who never seems to take time for herself, focus on her for a moment because the memory of even a fleeting moment as special as this will truly last a lifetime.

Aquarius friends are typically very cerebral, friendly, sincere, independent, and idealistic. These very brilliant people may wish for a more practical gift. Pitcher plant and aloe plants are ecologically sound gifts that also spread good cheer. Aquarius reformers may be “going green” and will appreciate a practical and enduring plant.

No one knows your Aquarius better than you so contact your local florist today for a remarkable birthday gift that she’s sure to love!

Daffodils bring cheer to the heart of an Aquarius!

Ask the Expert: what are the names of plants and flowers that are poisonous.
I work as a floral designer and I am asked all the time what plants and flowers are poison to animals and humans. Kelly

Reply:

Kelly,

First I want to clarify the difference between “poisonous as in deadly” and “poisonous as an irritant”. Many plants listed as poisonous are not deadly or really toxic, but rather cause an irritation to the mouth, stomach, skin or respiratory system. Why is this important? Because the classification of plants being poisonous is matter of interpretation and myths. For example, poinsettias are considered poisonous which is not all together true. There is no documented case where someone has died from ingesting a poinsettia. Secondly, the amount one a would have to ingest in order to accumulate the toxin level for death would be immense. However, poinsettias can cause great irritation to the skin or mouth.

When we discuss poisonous houseplants, we should take the approach that the American Animal Hospital Association takes on its Healthypet.com site with regards to its guide to toxic plants and foods. They state, “If you have these plants or foods, you need not dispose of them-just keep them away from pets and children.” Of course, plants that are deadly may not need to be in the home of small children or young pets. However, plants that can cause irritation or stomach upset may only need to be placed somewhere pets and children can’t reach them.

Here is a quick top 10 guide to plant toxicity for florists (note there may be plants that are carried by florists that are not listed. In these cases you will have to research that specific plant or email me and I will find out and add it to the list).

Houseplants with High Poison Plant Classification

Dwarf Schefflera

Green Schefflera

Variegated Dwf Schefflera

Dumb Cane

Kalanchoe

Cyclamen

Heartleaf Philodendron

Tree Philodendron

Red Princess Phildendron

Hydrangea

According to many sources these ten houseplants are highly toxic to dogs, cats or children. The toxicity resides in ingesting the plants. So it is important to keep these away from dogs, cats or children who might chew on them. They are all wonderful plants and should not be excluded from our lives as long as we keep them under appropriate supervision.

Flowers that are considered highly poisonous are: Foxglove (Digitalis), Amaryllis bulb, Bleeding heart, Lily-of-the-valley, Delphinium, Larkspur, Monkshood, Anthurium, lilies and Calla lily. Many times with flowers it is the bulb from which they come that is toxic if eaten by a dog or a cat.

There are other houseplants and flowers that are considered a mild or moderate risk. Although not a complete list by any means, this is a short break down of plants or flowers that cause a mild or moderate irritation or toxicity in dogs, cats or children:

Peace lily, Chinese evergreen, Benjamin fig, Corn Plant, Dracaenas, Nepthytis, rubber plant, Pothos,
English Ivy, Mother-in-law tongue, Azlaea, Croton, Easter Lily, Hyacinth, Daffodils, Chrysanthemum, Bird of Paradise, iris, lupine.

You can find more information on the Healthypet.com prevent poisonings page or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Page.

Hopefully this information will help you and your customers select the appropriate houseplants and flowers for their specific situation.

I have had many of these plants and flowers in my home. Fortunately for me my puppies found that these plants were not interesting and did not taste good. I don’t worry about having “poisonous” plants in my home or yard. I do make a mental note of plants that can be harmful in case my vet needs to know my dogs have been exposed to.

If you don’t see a particular plant on the lists above. Contact me for a more comprehensive list.

Now while you’re not entirely out of luck if you wait until closer to Valentine’s Day, last minute orders are a bad idea for this holiday. This is one of the busiest holidays of the year for florists. When placing your order for Valentines Day bouquets and gifts, keep a few things in mind that will save you a lot of hassle later.

"Floral Attraction" Bouquet

*The delivering florist creates a lot of arrangements for Valentines Day. Many highly popular flowers such as tulips and roses go quickly under such large demand. Even if some are still available, the amount may be reduced. This is not always the case as florists try to prepare ahead of time for last minute rushes, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

*The busy days surrounding Valentines Day may prevent last minute orders from being delivered on or before Valentines Day. To keep this from happening to you, place your order well in advance (2-7 days). Relaxing is easy once the stress of picking out and picking up the gift has been removed.

Placing your order in advance is a great way to keep your stress level down and your happiness up during this romantic holiday. With Valentines Day just around the corner, you’ll be taken care of. It’s a great feeling to have and all it takes is contacting your local florist!

Ask the Expert: when is it a safe time to replant
I was given 2 planters from my moms funeral
both have at least 10-12 house plants a piece in them some are large when is a safe time to repot them to separate containers Susan

Reply:

Susan,

When I receive plants from a funeral, I usually wait at least a week before I transplant them. This gives me time to see if any of the plants are in severe transplant shock. Repotting a plant that is in severe transplant shock is a tricky proposition and can cause an increase the severity of the shock. Anytime you repot a plant it will go through a bit of shock, but a slight one. Once you have determined that the plants are only slightly in shock or not in shock at all, repot them. When you plant them make sure you don’t plant them deeper than they were in the original container. Be sure to give them the care that each individual plant requires and don’t fuss over them. They will need a little time to recover from the repotting process.

Congratulations are in order for Enchanted Florist who recently took home a major nod in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The votes were cast and Enchanted Florist won the honorable title of Best Florist 2008!

Enchanted Florist is one of the very talented flower shops in Las Vegas, Nevada. The bright lights and over the top appeal of the town keeps the designers here full of creative ideas. We’re so proud of everyone for a job well done. Congratulations Enchanted Florist!!

Two award-winning packaging designs by Joshua Hudson, Creative Director of Flower Shop Network were chosen to appear in Quayside Publishing’s book, “1000 Packaging Designs: A Comprehensive Guide To Packing It In.” His work stood out among the thousands of entries submitted worldwide.

A lifelong resident of Paragould, Hudson holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in graphic design from Arkansas State University. An active community member, Josh has provided graphic design services for the Delta Symphony Orchestra, as well as contributing his art work for Paragould’s Downtown Art ‘N Stroll Event.

“We congratulate Joshua on his continued success and recognition,” said Loranne Atwill, VP of FlowerShopNetwork.com. “Creativity and graphic design are an integral part of our business. We are proud that Joshua is a member of our team.

When you’re a man, buying a Valentines Day flower arrangement for your sweetheart is like a roll of the dice. You know her inside and out or maybe this is the first romantic gift that you’ll have to buy. Rest assured that it’s not the last so here is a list of romantic bouquets that can’t go wrong this year.

Top 5 Valentines Day Flower Arrangements

Perfect Love Bouquet

#1:  Perfect Love Bouquet
This Valentines Day arrangement is great for your sweetheart who knows all of your faults and loves you anyway.

Classic Dozen Roses

#2:  Classic Dozen Roses
Better than a greeting card, this arrangement says, “I’m tried and true and so are you. What’s for dinner?” Now that’s real sentiment.

Tempting Tulips

#3:  Tempting Tulips
This Valentines bouquet is too beautiful for her to notice if you happen to forget the card or the chocolates. Well, try not to forget the chocolates.

A Dream Come True

#4:  A Dream Come True
The colors of these Valentines Day flowers reflect a light and airy romance. Now if only hips would think that way about chocolates.

You Have My Heart

#5:  You Have My Heart
Your stomach may be in knots. You might forget your own name. But you’ll have pretty flowers to help you through that nervous excitement-induced stuttering problem that all women just love.

Ask The Expert: Hello. I would like to know what is in fresh flower food.
My daughter is doing a science project on, “what rose will live the longest in different solutions”?
A MSDS on any product would be helpful.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Darlene MacDonald

Reply:
Darlene,

Although I am not an expert in floral preservatives, I did know where I could find the answer to your question. I contacted Floralife Inc. (a manufacturer of floral preservatives) to get the information you needed.

They graciously provided this response:

Floralife Crystal Clear Powder MSDS***
Floralife Original Powder MSDS***

Please find the information you requested in the above attachment. The
student may have also asked the following frequently asked question Q:
What are the main ingredients in Floralife Fresh Flower Food?
A: Floralife Fresh Flower Food contains three main ingredients: a sugar
(for nutrition), an acidifier (to lower the pH of the water) and a class
of compounds called stem unpluggers.

These and other FAQ are listed on our website under the Student heading.

Sincerely,
Floralife, Inc.
800-323-3689

Here is a link to their site http://www.floralife.com/index.htm

***Floralife has removed the links to their MSDS sheets from their site***
I can email the MSDS sheets to anyone who wants them (jadams@flowershopnetwork.com)
Sorry for any inconvenience.