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Archives for April 2014

Mother’s Day and Flowers: A Time-Honored Tradition

Mother’s Day has long been synonymous with flowers. In fact, the tradition of giving carnations, and then eventually wearing them as corsages, began all the way back at the inception of the American version of the holiday. Why? Well, carnations were the favorite flower of founder Anna Jarvis’ mother. Anna Jarvis arrived at the first Mother’s Day celebration in 1908 with 500 of these gorgeous flowers!

But the tradition has both grown and relaxed a bit since those early days, and now there is less stress placed on the type of flower your mother receives. It’s no longer necessary to concern yourself with the type of flower Mrs. Jarvis’ mother loved but rather with the type of flower your mother loves.

Magenta OrchidDainty Blooms CorsageRed I Love You Roses

The Mother’s Day Corsage

The traditional flower for the corsage may be an orchid, but the type of flower is much less important these days than the color of said flower. If your mother wears a white flower, it indicates her mother is deceased. If she wears a red or pink flower, it indicates her mother is still alive. You definitely want to get those colors right. Confusing them could end up with your mother answering uncomfortable questions from concerned friends!

And if you are a woman, the same applies to you. Wearing a corsage does not indicate that you are a mother, but rather that you are wearing something to honor your own mother. It’s traditional for the man in your life to provide you with that corsage, though certainly not a requirement if you need to do it yourself. So if you are a woman who has no children of your own, don’t get caught up on whether or not it’s okay to wear a corsage this Mother’s Day. It is.

Peach Rose TopiaryEnjoy Your Day BouquetEfflorescence

Other Mother’s Day Flowers

So, you’ve taken care of the corsage issue, but you really want to get your mom a nice arrangement of flowers to show her how much you care. What should you do? The easy answer is: anything you want!

Okay, okay, that’s a little too open ended. You want a little more direction. The best piece of advice would be to find your mother’s favorite flower and go with it. After all, you can’t go wrong with something she already loves. Barring that, you are safe with most any spring flower. Lilies, tulips, lilacs, irises, orchids, carnations or many others will help make your mom’s special day a little brighter and her smile a little wider.

For even more on what to get your mom, check out this Mother’s Day Style Guide!

And where is always the best place to go for your Mother’s Day questions and your Mother’s Day purchases? Your local florist, of course. She will be sure to lead you down the right path in your buying decision, and the finished product will be something you can give to your mother proudly. So head over to our florist finder and call your local florist today!

Writing Contest: Why are Flowers Romantic?

We held a writing contest for students at a local Jr. High where we asked them the question, “Why are Flowers Romantic?” The following essay was written by our first place winner, ninth-grader Courtney Smith! 

Why are Flowers Romantic?

Flames of PassionBring on the HappyCharismatic Crimson

Flowers can be used for many different things. They can be used to show sympathy, admiration or just that someone is thinking of you. A large part of the time though, flowers are used in romantic scenarios. For instance, the roses between a couple at a candle-lit dinner for two or the flower petals strewn along the aisle for a bride to follow to her waiting, starstruck lover. Flowers are given on dates, proms and dances, anniversaries and countless other events. They’re exchanged between couples so often because they show an effort of affection, that a person wants to go out of their way to impress you, to show you that they were thinking of you and are interested in you.

Often, flowers even have different meanings. Roses are often thought of and associated with passion while other flowers such as tulips or sunflowers are associated with a more sweet and innocent love. They might be given on a first date between teenagers or used to ask a high school crush to prom. When flowers are given, it just seems as though a person is going the extra mile to show you how they feel about you and that the kind gesture was well worth the money and time spent getting the flowers for you.

Whether they are wildflowers growing on the side of the road or roses grown in a nursery, they are a great way to show a person that you want to see them happy and put a smile on their face. Flowers can be used to show many emotions and feelings, but probably the most common emotion expressed with flowers is love or romance.

In conclusion, flowers are romantic because they are a way of showing affection, effort and meaning in a relationship. No matter the kind, reason behind the exchange or the response, flowers are a wonderful way to show how you feel, even if you can’t find the words to express it.

Thank you, Courtney! Great Job!

 

Get the Fiesta Started this Cinco De Mayo with Flowers

Cinco De Mayo is almost upon us! Have you started planning your festivities? There is no dearth of fun things to do for this holiday, and as always your decorations will be taken to the next level with a little floral love!

Summer SongSetting SunMake a Splash

Holiday Origins

But what is Cinco De Mayo? For those who don’t know, Cinco De Mayo is Spanish for the 5th of May. The holiday actually began in Mexico after the Battle of Puebla, where French forces invaded Mexico and were defeated (albeit briefly) by a much smaller and less well-equipped Mexican army. The victory was so unexpected and so impressive that May 5th, 1862 became a date to celebrate in Puebla and all over the rest of the country. Over the years, it has lost traction in Mexico and these days is mostly only celebrated in the town of Puebla itself. Other parts of the country may recognize the date, but festivals and parades in honor of the hard-fought victory are things of the past.

But even with its failing popularity in Mexico, the holiday lives on in America.

Sun Drenched ColorFlower PowerCitrus Zest

An American Celebration

Wait, what? If this is a Mexican holiday, why is it celebrated in America? That question has different theories, but no solid answers. The most popular theories are:

  1. When the holiday first began, it was huge in Mexico. As more and more people immigrated to America, and America annexed more of Mexico, they brought the love of the holiday with them. Although the holiday’s popularity waned in Mexico over time, the tradition stayed strong in America.
  2. The French invasion happened during a point in the American Civil War when the South and General Robert E. Lee were enjoying some degree of success. People surmise that Napoleon III’s plan was to take Mexico and use it as a staging area to support the South and remove the Northern blockades around the Gulf of Mexico. Due in part to the Battle of Puebla, France was unable to enact their plan. If France had been successful, the fate of the South and the eventual outcome of the Civil War could have been very different.

But in reality, there is no definitive reason. Whyever it happened, the holiday caught on and now it’s as much a part of American culture as St. Patrick’s Day, another holiday Americans celebrate that really has little or nothing to do with America.

Flora SpectraPhoenix FlameStep Right Up

Cinco De Mayo with Flowers

And no party is complete without flowers. After all, they make the perfect decoration!

Flowers are available in a variety of colors, provide atmosphere and set the tone for your fiesta. You can buy them already put together as centerpieces or arrangements, or you can buy them singly to use as personal decoration. Can you think of a better way to greet your guests at the door than with a yellow rose in your hair? Bueno!

So contact your local florist, tell them about your plans and let them offer advice on the flowers to use and all the different ways to use them. They will probably have some ideas you haven’t thought of or maybe some suggestions to enhance your ideas. And isn’t that the beauty of local? It’s always pleasant to have someone available to answer your questions and offer advice along with their product.

C’mon people, it’s Cinco De Mayo! Pick up a sombrero, grab some cervezas or margaritas and let’s get this party started!

Friday Florist Recap 4/19 – 4-25: Collection of Floral Beauty

This weeks brings even more spring-tastic arrangements as well as some beautiful pieces for Administrative Professionals’ Day and Easter. There’s no end to the gorgeous creations these local florists make every day, and below you will see some of the best. So sit back, relax and scroll through this collection of floral beauty.

Wedding Flowers

Blue wedding flowers from The Petal Patch, Ltd in McFarland, WI

Blue wedding flowers from The Petal Patch, Ltd. in McFarland, WI

Blue wedding bouquet from The Petal Patch, Ltd. in McFarland, WI

Blue wedding bouquet from The Petal Patch, Ltd. in McFarland, WI [Read more…]

Administrative Professionals’ Day at FSN

FSN has its share of Administrative Professionals, and never let it be said that we don’t know the proper way to honor those individuals. You know what I’m talking about right? That’s right, flowers! And we gave some gorgeous ones from FSN member Alvin Taylor’s Flowers here in Paragould, AR. So scroll through and take a look at some smiling faces and beautiful arrangements!

This is our Front Desk Administrator. She’s the first face you see when you walk into the FSN offices, the first voice you hear when you call and that smile is a genuine and permanent fixture. Thank you for all you do! [Read more…]

Suggest an Article: The Name Game

In our newest installment of Suggest an Article, we highlight this recommendation offered by Sue Kyer of Garden Shop Inc. in Cambridge, NY. Sue wrote in to let us know about a great little marketing tool she likes to call: The Name Game! Take it away, Sue:

“We do the name game in the summer. We put on our sidewalk sign ‘If your name is Sue, come in for a free rose!’ We always have a few roses left from the week before and prices are pretty cheap in the summer. We have gotten a lot of new customers from this [practice]. It’s really fun, and we change the name every few days. It gets people taking and people coming in the shop during the slow season.”

Get Customers Walking in the Door

Sidewalk Name Game What a great idea! Using some of your older blooms to generate traffic and potentially generate new business and new customers is a stroke of genius.

Getting customers to walk in your door is always the hard part. Once you have a chance to WOW them with your stellar customer service, they won’t be able to resist coming back for all their floral needs!

And remember folks, it’s okay if you don’t have a sidewalk sign. You can use chalk on the actual sidewalk, or advertise your promotion on Facebook or Twitter. I know I would make a special trip to my local florist for a free rose!

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this installment of Suggest an Article! If you missed last week’s post, you can find it here.

Remember, if you have an idea you’d like to share with other florists, drop it in the comments section below! Who knows, your idea might warrant its own edition of Suggest an Article!

 

 

Writing Contest: 15 Most Romantic Flowers for Girls

We held a writing contest for students at a local Jr. High where we asked them the question, “Why are Flowers Romantic?” The following essay was written by our Runner Up, ninth-grader Katelynn Copeland!

15 Most Romantic Flowers for Girls

Girls love to be greeted or surprised with flowers. They make the most romantic gifts. There are many choices of flowers to choose from, but some girls only like certain types. If that’s the case, just get what she likes. If not, here are fifteen of the most romantic flowers:

Eternally YoursEfflorescenceBecause I Love You

  1. Iris – Faith, hope, wisdom, courage, admiration – Iris’s are so gorgeous. Receiving one would make her day.
  2. Sunflower – Adoration and loyalty – There’s nothing like sunflowers to put a smile on her face.
  3. Wild Flowers – Whimsical, spontaneous, thoughtful – With so many colors and styles, wild flowers are stunning.
  4. Lilac – Youthful, innocence – On a hard day, these will surely make her relax.
  5. Carnation – Fascination, distinction, love – Carnations are beautiful and very easy to grow. Plant some outside the front door, and she’ll be pleasantly surprised when they begin to bloom.
  6. Orchid – Love, beauty, luxury, strength – These are good to send to someone that needs a nice, good-luck gift for encouragement.
  7. Lily – Friendship, devotion – Doesn’t take many for a gorgeous bouquet, and they are so classy. She’ll be amazed.
  8. Tulip – Perfect love – Wonderful for spring days, tulips make gorgeous “just because” bouquets. Pick a few different colors, and tie them with a big ribbon.
  9. Daisy – Innocence, purity, cheerfulness – She’s sure to appreciate these any day.
  10. Rose – Love, romance – Put it in her water glass, or present it to her while on a date … it doesn’t matter. Rose’s are so romantic, she’s sure to be impressed.
  11. Gardenia – Purity, innocence, honesty, sincerity – Gardenia is used in many women’s perfumes for its romantic properties. And the smell is out of this world! Not to mention the simple white elegance of this beautiful flower.
  12. Hydrangeas – Enduring grace and beauty – Hydrangeas are incredibly romantic, sophisticated and oh, so soft!
  13. Gladiolas – Infatuation, moral strength, integrity – A very rare but beautiful, elegant and romantic flower to give a woman.
  14. Jasmine – Love, modesty, sensuality, attachment – A very beautiful white flower that smells soft, sweet and so divine! They are a lovely gift for any lady.
  15. Magnolia – Nobility, perseverance, love of nature – Magnolia trees are some of the most beautiful trees in the world, and their elegant, romantic blooms are some of the most romantic flowers of all.

These are just a few of the flowers you can use to begin a romantic date. There are many more. Just find the right mix for you. Hopefully the descriptions and primary meanings will help with the right time to use each flower.

Thank you, Katelynn. Great job!

Give Flowers for Earth Day

Earth Day is April 22, and we have the perfect gift idea. You guessed it … flowers!

Celebrating Earth Day

Earth Day is a yearly commemoration when events are held to show support for environmental protection. It began in 1970 and has been going strong ever since, coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network. The popularity of this day, and the worldwide awareness of the need for environmental protection, is only growing larger each year.

Earth Day’s importance cannot be overstated. There is no doubt that environmental awareness has grown tremendously since the 1970’s, and Earth Day deserves some credit for that fact.

Early Spring MorningGarden of GratitudeButterfly Garden

Celebrating Flowers

This is the perfect day to go outside and plant a tree, start a garden or review your recycling plan.

It’s also the perfect day to give and receive flowers. Flowers are a physical and real-world example of why the environment needs protecting. They are a living product of nature that not only serves many extremely important purposes in the natural world, but also provides humanity with beautiful adornment, decoration and joy.

So this Earth Day, join in the activities, find another way to reduce your own environmental footprint and give your friends and loved ones some gifts of the natural world. This Earth Day, give flowers.

Friday Florist Recap 4/12 – 4/18: A Collage of Color

Here we have a beautiful collection of floral arrangements gathered together for your viewing pleasure. These florists have worked hard to create some absolutely amazing pieces, and we are always happy to share those gorgeous creations with you. So get comfortable, get your clicking finger ready and enjoy this magnificent collage of color!

Wedding Flowers

Gorgeous wedding bouquet from Deep Roots Floral & Wedding Design in Grovetown, PA

Gorgeous wedding bouquet from Deep Roots Floral & Wedding Design in Grovetown, GA

3-tier wedding cake from BlueShores Flowers & Gifts in Wasaga Beach, ON

3-tier wedding cake from BlueShores Flowers & Gifts in Wasaga Beach, ON [Read more…]

April Blog Spotlight: Lavender Hill Florals

This month we are showcasing a wonderful and classic take on the florist blog. The comments under the photos are mine, and I’m only going to use some of the photos here. If you’d like to see the entire post, click here!

Lavender Hill Florals

We just finished setting up Abby and Ted’s wedding at the Galt House hotel in downtown Louisville. She picked some beautiful spring colors, and she couldn’t have had better spring weather for the big day! Check out some of the photos below.

Lavender Hill9

I love how they use the camera to give a beautiful scene an artistic flair.

Lavender Hill4

Doing good work is paramount, but it is of penultimate importance to take good photos of that work. This bouquet is gorgeous and the high quality photo allows us to see that perfectly.

Lavender Hill6

This is a gorgeous centerpiece. Elegant and simple yet arresting.

Lavender Hill5

Again, they use the camera to excellent effect here. The boutonnieres are beautiful as well.

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More centerpieces, and here they are allowing the work to speak for itself. Perfect.

A Visual Emphasis

A florist creates visually stimulating pieces, and as such their work is best appreciated through a visual medium. Lavender Hill Florals uses their blog to showcase the work they’ve done for weddings and other special events through expert photography and beautiful HD photos. This works because they can update the blog each time they have a new project. It guarantees their newest work is always on display.

This also allows visitors to see examples of the florist’s actual work and not obviously canned images. This window into the florist’s talent is beneficial to the customer, allowing them to see exactly what florist and staff can accomplish. The transparency is also beneficial to the florist. Showcasing work as impressive as this is never a bad idea!