Find Your Local Florist:Everything you want to know about flowers!
Halloween is one of our favorite times of year here at FSN headquarters. Our readers should know, the Flower Shop Network crew loves any excuse to celebrate! Just check out the fun, scary, beautiful and even a little spacey costume’s we’ve come up with this year. Lots of really creative ones this year!
As local florists, we understand the importance of helping our local communities by supporting non-profit groups and charities. However, doesn’t it seem like every time you turn around someone has their hand out for “FREE” flowers? Non-profits and other deserving organizations that traditionally have had very minimal budgets for flowers now have NO budget. In addition, the normally generous floral retailers have also experienced a steep decline in revenue. This results in florists often feeling like their business is running as a non-profit!
So how do you handle this “donation monkey” dilemma? When cash flow gets tight, one of the first areas that tends to get cut is MARKETING. However, during an economic downturn, this is probably the LAST place money should be cut. During this weakened market, it is more important than ever to be in the faces and minds of the public to maximize business. Brand recognition and community involvement go hand-in-hand when building a positive business image. For this to be a partnership of the donor and recipient, the business owner needs to be more aggressive and up-front with their needs and the non-profit organization needs to be more understanding and willing to barter.
In response to the increased requests for donations, our business approach has been to consider each request as a marketing opportunity. In the past, we were often very generous and would just give the organization free flowers, gift certificates or auction items with very few questions and asking very little in return. This is no longer the practice. Our business has sold out of “FREE” and is currently not restocking! In order for us to stay in business and be available to make future donations, we have to remain fiscally responsible and business savvy. We must receive something in return for our investment and involvement.
As a way of maximizing the return on investment, we use a very detailed Donation Request Form. This form allows us to collect information identifying the organization making the request, their floral purchasing practices and whether they have actually been a customer of ours in the past. Obviously, organizations or groups that have supported us in the past with their floral purchases take precedence over total strangers making requests. The form also outlines the event’s specific details regarding target audience, goals and expected [Read more…]
Ask The Plant Expert:
I have a 3 trunk Robellini palm. On one trunk there is a “hole” that seems to be getting bigger. I have attached a picture. There is no sign of insects or bugs, but I am concerned as it does seem to be getting bigger. What do you recommend? Thank you
Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply: Spray with a permethrin or pyrethrin based insecticide, depending on whether its outdoors or indoors, to prevent insects. If there is sponge-like or slimy tissue, it may need a fungicide, otherwise it should heal over.
Expert Neal Adams is an Arkansas Certified Nurseryman.
A QR code is an image that can be scanned by smartphones (such as an iPhones or Droid phones) to connect to a webpage of the creator’s choice. QR is short for Quick Response because it can be read quickly by a cell phone.
Basically a QR code is an image you can easily generate and use on printable material that will link to your online website.
Think about it like this: It’s Mother’s Day and you are promoting with posters, flyers, mail outs, etc. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a little button they could click on these print outs that would take them right to your website’s Mother’s Day selections? This is where QR code comes in!
All you have to do is create a QR code image that links to your shop website’s Mother’s Day page. This image can be used on all your printed promotional material and sent out to your customers. (Always include all shop contact info for those who don’t have smartphones.)
For your customers with smart phones, the mystery of where the QR code will take you is usually enough to make them scan it. (I know I can’t resist scanning them!) Seeing your beautiful Mother’s Day bouquet selections pop up on their smart phone is a much better than anything they can see on a flyer or poster. It is also very easy and convenient to order straight from their phones! (FSN Member Tip: FSN websites are completely mobile friendly. Customers can make purchases just like they would on your full website.)
During Halloween, jack-o-lanterns are on doorsteps everywhere! While pumpkins are typically used for Halloween, they are also great for fall and Thanksgiving decor! (Just without the faces.)
We spotted this adorable pumpkin decor idea and had to share: Mumkins! You know we love it because it mixes chrysanthemums with this iconic Halloween/Fall/Thanksgiving symbol.
Creating a mumkin is easy!
Create mumkins out of several sized pumpkins for great table decor.
Ask The Expert:
I’ve got two corn palms and a yucca plant which require soil with good drainage. Knowing from past experience that normal soil gets waterlogged easily I’ve mixed in equal parts sand and a small amount of pea gravel; am I right in thinking that this will be more suitable? – Matthew
Flower Shop Network Plant Expert Reply:
The idea soil for most plants is loam (a mixture of sand, silt and clay). This type of soil is ideal because it allows the water to drain freely while still retaining nutrients and moisture.
Although your soil mixture will drain well, it won’t have the right organic (nutrient) content, and may not allow for proper water reserves. I would try adding peat moss, humus or compost manure to your mixture. All components should have a 1 to 1 ratio.
I hope this information was helpful.
First off, the Hocus Pocus flower arrangement (pictured above) has been a favorite ever since it was created! The color palette used in this is such a stark contrast to the normal orange and black we usually associate with Halloween. The bright green and dark purples, mixed with the painted-black pumpkins definitely reminds one of a ghoulishly-grand witch. This floral design would make THE PERFECT hostess gift for any Halloween party.
Flowers aren’t typically frightening sights for sore eyes, but they are a tried and true gift. That’s right. Even Halloween is touched by the boo-tiful grace of flowers. If you’re heading to a Halloween party this year, remember to take flowers along for the host or hostess. You can jazz-up Halloween flowers to match everything from a haunted house theme to an informal dinner party for adults. It’s all in the flowers.
Local florists spend Halloween like everyone else except they get to deliver their best Halloween flower arrangements and watch how happy this type of celebration makes people. They are always coming across new and clever card messages to accompany their arrangements, so it seemed only natural to ask for some of their favorite Halloween card messages.
Our member florists never cease to amaze me with their incredible talent for floral design. We saw where several of our florists recently got recognized for their talents and really want to give them a shout out!
“Glendale Flowers has been the West Valley’s go-to florist since the 1930s. Owner Maureen Wilson marries traditional European arrangements with modern styling, much like Glendale Flowers’ historic but contemporary storefront. The craftsman bungalow is filled with beautiful greenhouse-quality foliage and brimming arrangements of premium flowers. Wilson’s favorites change daily — today it’s a tie between circus roses, lily of the valley and French tulips – so customers can expect reliably fresh ideas.”
Way to go Maureen and team!North Raleigh Florist – Floral Design Winners / Designer of the Year
WAY TO GO FLORISTS!!
Are you or do you know a florist achieving great things in their community? Share your story with us!
I have a China Doll plant which was sent to us for my Mother’s funeral. It really means a lot to me to save this plant and care for it. My question is this: is this a plant that I can plant outside in the ground? Will it survive through weather changes? Or is it better to keep inside the house? Thank You!! – Meko
Flower Shop Network 
Plant Expert Reply: Radermachera sinica (China Doll) is typically used as a house plant only and not an outside plant. If you lived in Hawaii, or maybe Florida, you could leave this plant outside.
As a house plant, it will need the following care:
Hope this information is helpful.
Fall is my garden’s grand finale, the last big hurrah of color before the long hibernation of winter. As the multitude of green hues of spring and summer fade, leaves begin to change color with the crisp cool air and sunny shortened days.
The fall season showcases plants in a rich palette of jewel tones—deep regal purples, pale lavenders, rich russet reds, the punch of orange, velvety maroons, sunny yellows and amber-like golds.
Fall blooms tend to last the longer, too, in both the garden and in bouquets—an added bonus to late season gardening! Try adding some of these plants below to bring jewel tones to your own garden. Many work beautifully as cut flowers for stunning bouquets that can bring the season indoors.
 Strawflowers (Helichrysum Bracteatum) |
StrawflowersStrawflowers (Helichrysum Bracteatum) are “everlasting” annual flowers that can also be dried for winter bouquets. Hardy up to frost, they prefer sun to partial shade and are drought-tolerant. Native to Australia, where they grow as wildflowers, they come in a wide range of hues: yellow, orange, red, rose, white and pink, as well as this two-tone variety. |
SpiderwortOne of my favorite flowers to grow and photograph is the perennial Spiderwort (Tradescantia x Andersoniana). These unusual three-petaled flowers grow in clusters and work as excellent filler flowers in arrangements. Other varieties include ‘Snow Cap’ (pure white), ‘Valor’ (deep purple-red), and ‘Concorde Grape’ (deep violet). The original Spiderwort species, an easy-care favorite in country gardens, is Virginia Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginiana). It is one of the longest bloomers in my garden—putting on a show from June until fall. Spiderwort prefers full sun or very light shade for the most prolific blooming. It can be also grown indoors as a houseplant. |
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