Children are the most delightful part of life for many, and Valentines Day is a fun holiday to celebrate with them as well. After all, Valentines Day is about enjoying time with your sweetheart! Often the most memorable portion of the day is when you witness the joy on their tiny faces because you chose to send flowers. Despite unquestionable adoration for their little ones, many parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents often struggle to find the right Valentines Day card messages for children. Well, florists are not going to miss an opportunity to help with these darlings a Happy Valentines Day.

Local florists know well how much joy is found in the smile of a child. Every flower arrangement delivered by a florist includes an enclosure card with the sender and flower delivery information. However, enclosure cards with Valentines Day gifts have to be extra special. With much experience sending and receiving Valentines Day gifts for children, florists polled voted these as the top Valentines Day card messages for children.

Top 20 Valentines Day Card Messages for Children As Voted By Florists

1)       Life is filled with lots of things that make it all worthwhile, but none is better than the love found in your little smile.

2)       Thank you for filling my life with love.

3)       May your life be filled with the kind of heartfelt beauty that you bring to mine.

4)       Even in a fairy tale where every dream comes true, I could never hope to find a son/daughter as sweet as you.

5)       Wishing someone close to my heart a warm and wonderful day.

6)       A wish for a Valentine's Day as sweet as you are!

7)       I hope your Valentine's Day is as special to you as you are to me!

8)       Know what I like about you? Everything! Happy Valentine's Day

9)       May your every heart's desire come true for you today.

10)   Right from the start you stole my heart. Happy Valentine's Day

11)   Since you're such a fantastic son, I've got a special Valentine's Day gift just for you! I promise not to kiss you in front of any of your friends!

12)   So many of my smiles begin with you!

13)   With all the sunshine things you do, the smiles you share the laughter, too with all the dreams you make come true. It's great to have a kid like you!

14)   You're always on my mind and in my heart. Happy Valentine's Day

15)   Your face lights up my world.

Don't stop now! There are more Valentines Day enclosure card messages for children. Brought to you by Flower Shop Network.

So many times, our orders come in off the website and we don't get to make that connection with the sender.  Other times the sender places the order, but doesn't get to see the finished product. Our solution is a simple photo. We take photos of every flower arrangement that leaves the shop. As a part of our customer service, we offer to send a photo via email to anyone who wants to see "their" arrangement.

Lately, we have been taking it one step further.  When orders come in from "order gatherers", we include a note to the recipient, offering to send a photo to the sender. We let them know that all the sender has to do is send us their email address and we will send them a picture of their arrangement. Then we can collect their email address, add them to our email campaign, and hopefully get them to deal directly with us in the future.  We're slowly starting to see results and the cost to us — $0.

Also … knowing that any and all arrangements can be seen by senders, puts us (the designers) on our toes to make sure that everything that goes out of our shop is the best it can be. 

With one photo, we get to make an impression both with the sender and the recipient. A win-win situation for all.

Ask the Expert: Professional looking Enclosure cards
how can I have these without a point of sale program? Bobbie

FSN Expert:

Professional easy to read enclosure cards are very important. Flower Shop Network makes it easy for our member florists to create professional looking enclosure card without a point-of-sale system.

All you have to do is go to www.fsnf2f.com and log-in. Once in the FSnf2f system on the right sidebar under Tools select Enclosure Cards.

You will then be able to enter the delivery date, information, recipient information including the address, and the card message. You will have the option of entering the sender's name and address as well. You will, also, have the option of placing the sender's email address on the card.

Once you have enter the information, you will be able to print the enclosure card using a regular sheet of paper.

You can create enclosure cards for orders received through F2F. Simply enter the order number and the pertinent  information will automatically appear on the enclosure card. All you will need to do is print the enclosure card.

Don't forget to watch the video on how to fold the enclosure card.  If you have any questions, the wonderful people in the customer service department at FSN will be happy to help you.

This is just one of the many helpful tools Flower Shop Network provides to its members.

Here is the video showing how to fold the enclosure card.
Continue reading "How To Print Professional Looking Enclosure Cards" »

I realize most of our followers work with flowers every day, but do you know the parts?

I studied them in science class many moons ago, but when I really thought about it, I could not name more than pistil, petal and stamen. In my research, there were many very confusing explanations and diagrams — so I've tried to keep it as simple as possible. (And painted my own diagrams!) Hopefully, my findings will help you too.

Let's break this down. The diagram above shows the perianth, or the collection of petals and sepals.

Petal – The showy part of the flower used to attract pollinators with its bright colors. (We all should know this one!)

Corolla – The term for all the petals on a flower.

Sepal – Area of the flower underneath the petals which is generally green. They enclose the flower in its budding stage.

Calyx – The term for all of the sepals on a flower.

Perianth – The calyx and corolla, or the sterile part of the flower.

Of course, there are many variations of flowers and even variations of the variations. For instance, you might find a flower without any sepals or so it seems. It could be they actually aren't the little green ones we're used to.

Instead they share the same color and shape as the flower petals. When the petals and sepals are of similar color and shape, the structures of the perianth are referred to as tepals. You can see the tepals easily in the photo of lilies on the left. The three white petals on top are truly petals, the bottom three are actually sepals/tepals.

The next section of the flower we are going to look at is the stamen.

Stamen – The male organ of the flower.

Androecium – The term for all of the stamens on a flower, there are usually six.

Filament – Stalk of the stamen which transports nutrients to the anther to make pollen.

Anther – The top section of the stamen above the filament. Produces and contains the microsporangium which produce pollen. Pollen is also released by the anther.

In the flower world, there are always acceptations to the rules. Take the photo of the spider tree to the above right, there are a lot more than six stamens!

The last major part of the flower is its pistil. This is the female organ of the flower which contains eggs and nectar. There are a few more tiny parts I did not mention, but they go much farther into detail of the reproductive system of the plant.

Pistil – There is only one pistil on every flower, but it can have many ovaries.

Stigma – The sticky tip of the pistil used for receptor for pollen.

Style Filament – Stalk-like conduit for pollen for germination. (reproduction)

Nectaries – Glands of the flower which store nectar. Some flowers have colorful patterns on them called nectar guides to point birds in bees in the right direction.

Articulation – Joint between two parts of the plant, such as leaves and stem.

Pedicel – Stem that attaches single flowers to the main stem.

Peduncle – Stem or branch that hold a group of pedicels.

I hope reading this refreshed your memory a little bit. Flowers are fascinating and each one is different. This guide and diagrams define the general flower parts, but each flower is unique and some of the parts may be different than others. If you have any questions about parts of the flower or, well, anything flower related Ask Our Expert!

Did you know that there is a set of specific flowers for each astrological sign? If you didn't, this flower quiz may be an eye-opener. If you did, test your knowledge of zodiac flowers and let us know how you did! To play, simply match the set of common flower names to the proper zodiac sign. Good luck!

Hint:  Need more help? View the zodiac flowers posts on the FSN Bloomin' Blog to find the answers. We won't tell!

To see how well you did, Continue reading "Match Game: Zodiac Flowers" »

Oncidium Orchid

Oncidium Bloom

I bought this orchid in Key West 3 years ago. It keeps growing new psuedobulbs and flowers this time of year.  I am just very curious what classification of orchid it is so I can better care for it and ask advice.  Thanks Yellow Blooms

Plant Expert Reply:

It looks like an Oncidium. Depending on which species of Oncidium you have the orchid will need any where from bright to nearly full direct sun.  They need 30 to 60% humidity and 80 to 85 degree day temps with 55 to 60 at night. Water thoroughly, but allow the medium to dry half way betweens waterings.  See Oncidium Orchids For more information.

Ask the Expert: Lucky Bamboo leaves turning yellow

Greenings !!!

I was gifted [Housewarming] a Lucky Bamboo Plant about 3 weeks ago [December 22, 2009]. The arrangement of the stalks, are four concentric graduated circles "Crown/Mountain Like" in appearance.

It was sitting in my driveway when I got to my "New" house [West Oakland CA]. It had been "outside for about 3 days [slight amount of rain]. The Lucky Bamboo plant is growing in water [with those type of iridescent glass "Heart shaped" stones surrounding the plant].

It did not come with a "Plant Care Card", So I looked up on the internet to see what I should do. Following the directions I found on several sites. I put it on a table with a slight amount of  "Early Morning Sunlight" mostly "Indirect Bright Light"

When I noticed a few days ago that it leaves were turning yellow.  So I "Moved It". To a place with "No Early Morning Sunlight" [Indirect Bright Light Only]. But the leaves are "Yellowing" at a faster rate and the tips are drying out !!!

It still has plenty of water covering the roots [so far it has not needed any watering] . My house is not heated so it is cold at night [ as low as 35-40 degrees lately ] Could Cold Temperature be the cause of it's problems?

I am usually pretty good with plants [at least 5 green thumbs] and being that it is a gift from my family  > I do so much want my so far :Unlucky Bamboo" to recover. Your advice will be much appreciated

Thank You Lichen I

Plant Expert Reply:

I would say the root of your problem is temperature related.  Dracaena as a whole prefer temperatures above 40 degrees.  The exposure to the cool temperature during a period of transplant shock could cause the leaves to turn yellow.

Place the lucky bamboo in the warmest room of your house.  Add water (distilled if possible) to the container as needed to keep level constant.  Do not fertilize.  As long as the leaves are yellow and the stalks are healthy and green, the lucky bamboo should recover. In a week or two, you should start to see new growth.  However if the stalks start to turn yellow or become mushy, you will need to act quickly.  You might need to remove the unhealthy part of the lucky bamboo or start new ones.  Keep me posted and I will try to help you maintain a healthy plant.

I have been fascinated by flowers and gardening since I was little. My great grandmother used to have enormous flowerbeds and vegetable gardens; some of my fondest memories are of helping her with them. Now that I'm all grown up (24!) I want to reconnect with this lost love of mine. I am a designer and normally stay indoors and within 25ft of a computer at all times. I plan to break that bad habit and really give gardening my all this summer. Each month I will be writing a new installment of happenings in my garden. Hopefully it will inspire you as well, because if I can do it.. you can too!

While researching the various plants, flowers, and vegetables to see what I wanted to plant, I saw the interesting and creative uses for herbs. I fell in love with the idea of making my own potpourri, face masks and skin care creams, and herbal teas. Not to mention the vast culinary uses!

My plan is to grow mostly herbs in my garden and use them to make many fun crafts and foods. I will be posting all of the recipes that I find/use. (as well as the not-so-successful stories that I'm sure will happen) I will also be posting video and pictures along the way! I would LOVE it if our subscribers joined in the fun with their own garden images and stories. Leave us a comment (below) and let us know what you think! This is a little bit different than our normal posts here at the Bloomin' Blog but we think it will be a lot of fun! Subscribe to our RSS or bookmark us for later by hitting CTRL+D. I can't wait to see the garden in all it's glory!

The winter weather in Northeast Arkansas, where I live, is still too cold to start any major changes to my garden just yet. Here is what's going on so far:

Quick and Easy Cardboard Mulch

I have read a lot about cardboard mulching and began the process in late October. It is a great way to begin gardening with very little effort. Laying a layer of cardboard and mulch down before winter helps in many ways. (1) Kills all grass and weeds (2)Keeps the ground from freezing worms tend to migrate to the area (3) Enriches the soil

1. Lay down large sheets of cardboard over the area you plan to garden. Make sure the layers overlap to block out the sun and keep weeds from germinating.

2. Water the cardboard thoroughly.

3. Lay down a layer of mulch.

That's it! At least I hope. It's a bit of an experiment. I began this in October of last year and I am planning to test the soil regularly to see how this process works for me. I've read several positive articles on this process so I think it will have good results. I have also put old flowers on top of my mulch for extra nutrients.

Testing The Soil

Planning early can be a (plant) life saver! Most plants can grow in a variety of pH levels, however it's a good idea to test your soil to know exactly what you're working with. Test your soil now to see if it is ready to grow plants. The soil in our area contains a lot of clay which tends to be towards the acidic side. Clay is the most nutritious of the soil types (Sand, Silt, and Clay) but binds the roots of the plant with its density and keeps them from expanding their roots. By finding out your soil composition now you have time to correct this before its time to plant.

To test the soil, contact your local gardening center to find out where to get a soil testing kit in your area. Most of the time you can get one from them. Follow the instructions and send it in to your Cooperative Extension Service which will test your soil and send you a reading. The reading can be tricky so take it to your local garden center and let them help you. Because they are local gardeners too, they will know exactly what you need to correct your soil and have it ready for planting!

Garden Calendar

Now is a great time to fill out a garden calendar. It doesn't have to be incredibly detailed but have all of your major events planned out. Our state extension service's department of agriculture website has a wonderful monthly gardening calendar that lets you generally know what to do each month. Google can help find the something similar in your area. Use broad planning for now. Mark your calendar to buy your plants in March and plant early April or the appropriate dates for your zone. Just use a highlighter to remind yourself.

If you know what plants you are going to grow, look for instructions on when to plant and jot those down on your calendar. I plan on having my (mostly) detailed calendar done by next update. Stay tuned!

—

What to expect next month

Soil test results and explanation

Video how-to on backyard compost creation

Detailed garden calendar example

The Networker Winter 2010 issue hits the post office tomorrow. This issue is full of great articles, including the celebration of FlowerShopNetwork's 10th anniversary.

Other fabulous articles include:

• 2010 Floral Convention Schedule for March.
• FlowerShopNetwork & Social Media.
• How Delivery Confirmations Can Set You Apart From The Competition.
• Developing A Positive Relationship With Funeral Homes.

If you can't wait for the postman, go to the-networker-winter-2010

"Magenta Sunset Urn" Funeral Flowers

Though no one likes to think about the moments for which we'd need sympathy flowers, it's best to be prepared for when the moment arrives. This means being prepared to discuss sympathy and funeral flower options with your local florist.

A few cut flowers have very significant meanings that will help convey your sympathies. When speaking with your local florist, discuss flowers such as poppy, cosmos, forget-me-nots, geraniums, larkspur, jasmine, lisianthus and zinnia. The flower meanings of each represents a very special sentiment. If desired, include a small statement about why these flowers were chosen.

The meanings of these flowers are:

• Poppy = Consolation
• Cosmos = Peaceful
• Forget-Me-Not = "Remember Me Forever"
• Geranium = Comfort
• Larkspur = Beautiful Spirit
• Jasmine = Grace and Elegance
• Lisianthus = Calming
• Zinnia = Thoughts of Friends

Your local florist will be able to discuss which flowers are appropriate, their seasonal availability, and other important details before sending a sympathy arrangement. Whichever flowers you choose, the recipient will know just how much you care.