Archives for October 2013

Happy Halloween From FSN!

October 31, 2013 by Mandy Maxwell 1 Comment

At Flower Shop Network, we never let a day of fun and entertainment pass us by! This Halloween is no different, and we had quite a few people participate in our annual costume contest. From pop culture to historically hilarious, high brow to powerfully pun-y, we pulled out all the stops! Scroll on down to see the hordes of insanity invading the FSN halls!

No, that’s not a man with pipe-cleaners growing out of his face. It’s an extremely hairy FSN logo! Excellent costume, Kier!

Cookies and candy. Does it get any deader, I mean better, than this?

Hulk Hogan AND Wolverine? Wow, not sure one post can handle so much machismo. THAT’S JUST CRAZY, BROTHER! [Read more…]

Filed Under: FSN Announcements Tagged With: FSN Halloween, Halloween, Halloween Party, Halloween Pictures

Enjoy These Frightfully Fun Halloween Card Messages

October 30, 2013 by Flower Shop Network 1 Comment

What do costumes, apples and ghouls have in common? Halloween. I know. I gave you that one. In any case, Halloween is a very festive time when even the most straight-laced folks get to let loose and enjoy the evening. It’s the only time of year when no one thinks twice about seeing Batman walk down the street beside an angel and a skeleton. Kind of creepy, yes, but Halloween is a popular holiday for a reason—the gifts! Halloween gifts range from gag gifts to Halloween flower arrangements. When boo-tiful blossoms are the gift of choice, the hard part becomes figuring out what clever lines to leave on the enclosure card. I’ll help you out again.

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.

Top 10 Eerily Awesome Halloween Enclosure Card Messages:

1) A happy Halloween wish just for grins!

2) As the sky grows dark and the moon glows bright, as strange creatures and critters appear in the night, as the goblins growl and the werewolves whine, hope that Halloween sends a chill up your spine!

3) At this special time of year when jack-o’-lanterns glow, it gives a welcome chance to send a warm “Hello!” Happy Halloween.

4) This is no Trick just a Treat for a special someone. Happy Halloween.

5) Time for shivers, scares, and thrills, for pumpkin grins in windowsills, for black cats in the full moon’s glow, and a happy Halloween hello!

6) A Merry Halloween. Wishing you a Halloween filled with good old-fashioned fun.

7) Hope your Halloween is so happy, it makes you glow inside.

Surprise! That’s only 7! Find all 10 Halloween enclosure card messages. Feel free to share this frighteningly funny list with your customers. Let us know who BOO!-hooed and who laughed hysterically. Brought to you by Flower Shop Network.

Filed Under: Card Messages Tagged With: Enclosure Card Messages, Flower Shop Network, Halloween Enclosure Card Messages, Halloween Flowers, Holiday Gift Ideas, Local Florists

Fall Back With Flowers!

October 30, 2013 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

Just a reminder to turn those clocks back this Sunday.

Daylight saving time ends this year on November 3rd, 2013 . That means you’ll get an extra hour of sleep but those nights which have slowly been creeping closer are about to get much longer!

Even though fall is such a beautiful time of year, days can start to feel rushed when the sun is setting at 5 o’clock. Who likes to miss all the sunshine and changing leaves while being at work all day? And like it or not, if you work a 9 to 5, darkness has settled in by the time you get home!

Brighten your fall afternoons with flowers!

Here’s why:

Flowers bring their own sunshine and smiles. Be an everyday hero and send a cheery fall arrangement to your spouse or best friend!
Potted house plants look beautiful and lift your mood. Plus they help purify the air so they are great for offices and small spaces.
Looking for something new to spruce up your home? Check out seasonal wreaths, swags and more at your local flower shop.

Even though the days are getting shorter, you can still enjoy the bright bounty of nature when you give the gift of fresh cut flowers and living plants. It’s a great way to show someone special that you are thinking about them or a perfect way to treat yourself.

Find your real local florist today and order the great flowers to fall back with this season.

Filed Under: Seasonal Flowers Tagged With: Flower Suggestions, Seasonal Flowers, Sending Flowers

Ask the Plant Expert: My Avocado Leaves are Browning!

October 29, 2013 by Ed Belly 2 Comments

Ask The Expert:

I have an a immature avocado tree that I started from seed, first time. We are several months in and it stands 22″ from seed. Several leaves are browning and curling at the tips and inward along the sides. I water it regularly and use Miracle Gro every now and then, it was originally potted using Miracle Gro soil. Any ideas?

Steven Fricke

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Plant Expert Reply:

Fricke,

Sorry for the delay in my reply to your plant question.

I think your plant has a case of Phytophthora root rot caused by the heavy Miracle Gro soil. Avocados need a soil that drains well and can not be buried too deep. If exposed to soggy soil or if planted too deep, a rotting can occur which will cause the leaves or stems to die.

They also require a 6 to 6.5 ph.

Check your roots and drainage. Then send me some more information on what you are using on the plant besides water. We should be able to figure this out and turn the issue around.

Thanks,

Jamie Jamison Adams

Filed Under: Plant Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert

Ask the Plant Expert: Viable Seeds from White Crinum?

October 28, 2013 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

Ask The Expert:

How best to deal with the huge ovaries of a white crinum? Those are ca 1 by 4 inches. I would like viable seed.

Donald

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Plant Expert Reply:

Donald,

I am finally home from all my travels both abroad and throughout the US!

The best way to obtain viable seeds is to let the seed heads mature until they dry out and release the seeds.

Here are my suggestions for harvesting the seed:

1. Create a capture basin for the seeds. One technique for this is to take wax paper and fashion a cone around the seed pods. When the pods open, the seeds will be captured in the wax paper cone. One thing to watch for: the seed pod stem might bend or break as the seeds mature. If this happens you may want to remove the seed stalk from the plant.

2. If the pod dries without popping open, simply cut the pod off. Place the pod in a paper bag and store in a cool, dry place until you can remove the seeds. Crinum 130910 3

3. Once you have the seeds, you will need to either plant them immediately or store them for future use. Since the seeds naturally drop in a dormant season, you might want to store them for future use.

At our garden center, we store seeds in an airtight container and place them in the vegetable crisper of our refrigerator.

Hope this information was helpful!

Thanks,

Jamie Jamison Adams

Filed Under: Plant Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert

Bibbity Bobbity Blooms! Still Time For Enchanting Flowers.

October 28, 2013 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

Our favorite bewitching holiday is just a few days away. And you don’t need a fancy wand to stir up some magic for this Halloween!

Sending flowers will add some sparkle to a fun night and make for some perfectly fang-tastic smiles! Whether it’s a beautiful centerpiece at the party or just saying “Boo!” to a friend, send some big colorful blooms to make your night of tricks and treats all the more magical.

Going to a party? Flowers are the best hostess gifts! Candy bouquets are perfect for making Halloween special to someone you want to keep near and dear. Order today and still have time to make sure that Halloween is truly enchanting this Thursday.

Have a frightfully good Halloween and remember to dig up your real local florist for all your orders.

Filed Under: Seasonal Ideas Tagged With: Halloween Flowers, Holiday Gift Ideas

Friday Florist Recap 10/19 – 10/25: Fun with Fall Florals!

October 25, 2013 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

Fall is a wonderful time of year. The temperature dips. The leaves turn, finally releasing their grip, floating to the ground and covering the world with color. Such natural, matchless elegance can only be celebrated, and we have convincing evidence that florists are experts at at it! Scroll down and behold the amazing fruits of some admittedly hard labors.

Stunning Wedding Flowers

Beautiful bouquet designed by Tammi Cribbs of Oran’s Flower Shop in Kingston, TN

Gorgeous bridal bouquet from Lulu McCabe Florist & Events in St. Louis, MO

“Bridal bouquet with White O’Hara, Mythos, Sahara, Talea and Vendela roses.”

Fall wedding bouquet by Robyn at Flowers and More of Fresno in Fresno, CA

Wedding design from Lulu McCabe Florist & Events in St. Louis, MO

“This trumpet vase design was for one of our October weddings last weekend, the whole feel of the night was vintage Hollywood!”

A fall bridal bouquet from Design House Floral in Clarkesville, GA

Elegant bridal bouquet from The Yellow Rose Florist in Olive Branch, MS

Beautiful centerpiece from Floral Design in Post Falls, ID

“Centerpiece for styled wedding shoot.”

Everyday Flowers

Undead corsage and boutonneire from MaryJane’s Flowers in Berlin, NJ

“This was a corsage and boutonniere we did for a zombie ball.”

An office arrangement from Argyle Flowers & Design Studio in London, Ontario, Canada

“Fall Arrangement for an Office I created, Bamboo, Orchids, Freesia, Stone, Wire, Pheasant Feathers, Hydrangea, over 7 ft tall.”

A combination arrangement from A-1 Flowers & More in Cottonwood, ID

Gorgeous arrangement from The Yellow Rose Florist in Olive Branch, MS

A Boss’s Day arrangement from Hearts and Flowers in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

A firetruck from Wilma’s Flowers in Jasper, AL

Sunflowers from Just Judy’s Flowers in Pensacola, FL

Homecoming corsage from Blooming Art Floral Design in San Diego, CA

Breast cancer awareness arrangement from Stockton Floral & Gifts in Stockton, IL

Arrangement for a fund-raiser from Blumen Garten Florist in Columbus, OH

A lovely arrangement from Stockton Floral & Gifts in Stockton, IL

Autumn’s Zen from Sassy Flowers in Rexburg, ID

An excellent arrangement from Scentsations Flowers & Gifts in Bristol, VT

“My version of FSN’s Harvest Moon arrangement as featured on the October page of the calendar.”

Sympathy Flowers

Gorgeous standing spray from The Yellow Rose Florist in Olive Branch, MS

A memorial from Always Something Special Florist in Bayville, NJ

Beautiful standing spray from The Yellow Rose Florist in Olive Branch, MS

Fall standing spray from Design House Floral in Clarkesville, GA

What will next week bring? Who knows! Be sure to like us on Facebook for even more beautiful floral designs. If you’re a florist, we want to feature YOUR favorite design of the week right here on Facebook Friday Recap!

Learn how to submit! | See past recap posts!

Filed Under: Floral Design, Florists Only Tagged With: Facebook Friday, Floral Design, Flower Pictures, Sympathy Flowers, Wedding Flowers

Ask the Plant Expert: Can You Name This One?

October 24, 2013 by Ed Belly 22 Comments

Ask The Expert:

Thanks for comprehensive reply! Wanna tell me name of this one?

Donald Burk

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Plant Expert Reply:

Wow that is an interesting one. I am presently out of the country and away from my ref books. If you are in no hurry, I’ll try to Id it when I return.

Thanks,

Jamie Jamison Adams

_______________________________________

Ask The Expert:

No hurry – beauty still without ID here in my file – I call her BMP for Burk Mountain Beauty though I send it as a .jpg!

I lean toward crassula or tacitus …
Thanks!

Donald

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Plant Expert Reply:

I believe this is a type of Jovibarba globifera from the Crassulaceae family. It thrives in hot, arid environments where it grows in full sun.

Thanks,

Jamie Jamison Adams

Filed Under: Plant Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert

Treat Ghosts & Goblins on Halloween.. and Their Parents!

October 24, 2013 by Juli Jackson Leave a Comment

With Halloween coming up, the streets will be full of masked marauders and fairy princesses. On Halloween and even the weekend before, parents will be dressing their kids up in scary, funny, cute or just plain weird costumes to celebrate the holiday kids love most! Consider opening your flower shop up to the Halloween tradition of trick-or-treating. Not only can it be a lot of fun to see kids in their costumes but sharing your business with the community means that parents will take notice.

Let Traditions Be A Way To Reach Out

Build up foot traffic by offering some sweets for the kiddos and simple carnations tied with black and orange ribbon for adults. A small gesture can make a big impression on potential customers. Put a few mums and pumpkins outside (let’s be honest, they are probably out anyway.) and put “Trick-or-Treat With Us!” on your sign. That’s all it takes to have a steady flow of costumed kids and adults dropping in on their way to spooky fun activities.

Encourage your employees to dress up for the day. This adds to the fun atmosphere of your shop. Be sure to take a group photo!

Up The Candy Ante

Put your social media outlets to work. Announce a costume contest online where the winner gets a free arrangement. Ask customers to enter your giveaway by posting this year’s costumes to your shop’s Facebook timeline or create your own unique hashtag for multiple platforms like Twitter and Instagram. When you announce, be sure to include a start and end time for submissions.

Then share share share to get the word out. Post signs in your shop and tell your customers how they can participate. Hosting a fun holiday activity creates buzz for your shop and will always bring more awareness for your business.

After your deadline rolls around, have your employees vote for their favorite or pick a winner based on your shop’s style. If you find yourself with a huge variety of submissions, try breaking the entries into categories. This will let you make multiple “Honorable Mention” announcements like which costume was “Cutest,” “Scariest,” and “Funniest.” All of these posts and picture shares will boost your page’s involvement. And finally you can announce the “Best Costume” award as your top prize winner.

Enjoy this brisk autumn holiday tradition and use it as a chance to connect one-on-one with your community. With very little planning you can make this Halloween be a stand out day for your flower shop! Bring on the ghosts and goblins!

Filed Under: Florists Only Tagged With: Florists Only

Ask the Plant Expert: Loosing Leaves and a Soft Stem

October 23, 2013 by Ed Belly Leave a Comment

Ask The Expert:

The plant has intertwining stems that look like a tree with leaves like a palm tree. The trunk became soft inside and the leaves are falling off. I water it once a week and keep it by the sliding glass door.

Thanks,

Regina

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Plant Expert Reply:

Regina,

Very perplexing.

I would first check my drainage. If the pot doesn’t allow the excess water to drain, you might be developing root rot or stem rot. To remedy the problem, repot the plant into a container that allows for good drainage. Then make sure the soil is moist but never soggy. Good luck and keep me posted!

The plant is a type of dracaena.

Thanks,

Jamie Jamison Adams

Filed Under: Plant Identification Tagged With: Ask The Plant Expert

Archives for October 2013

Happy Halloween From FSN!

Enjoy These Frightfully Fun Halloween Card Messages

Fall Back With Flowers!

Brighten your fall afternoons with flowers!

Ask the Plant Expert: My Avocado Leaves are Browning!

Ask the Plant Expert: Viable Seeds from White Crinum?

Bibbity Bobbity Blooms! Still Time For Enchanting Flowers.