Find Your Local Florist:Everything you want to know about flowers!
It’s a long weekend, and that means at least one more opportunity for fun in the sun before Fall makes her elaborate entrance and cools things down a bit. But before you head off on your Labor Day adventures, take a few moments to peruse this fantastic floral extravaganza!
Breathtaking bouquet from Flowers For You, By Diana in Beeton, ON
An elegant white wedding bouquet from Petals in Thyme of Wasaga Beach, ON [Read more…]
Not that you ever need an excuse, but in case you were looking for some ways to justify the expenditure, here are 5 GREAT reasons to send flowers in September! And remember, your local florist is always your best option.
Labor Day is a great holiday for flowers because it, like flowers, is for everyone. It’s a day to celebrate the contribution of the nation’s workers, and aren’t we all workers? Yes, I think we are. So buy some flowers for yourself. Buy some for your family. Buy some for everybody!
Flowers for Grandma! A green plant for Grandpa! They are the ones who ensured you were good and spoiled as a child. Don’t they deserve some floral love on their special day? I’m just going to let your conscience answer that one for you.
A day to honor and commemorate those lost on September 11, 2001. Flowers are not only a celebration of happiness. They can also be beautiful memorials and natural bringers of comfort. A floral gift is the perfect way to say, “I remember.”
The sweltering heat of summer is finally giving way to cooler temperatures. A lovely bouquet is always the perfect way to welcome in fall’s explosion of color. The leaves turn, the harvest is gathered and Mother Nature prepares for a long winter’s nap.
A day to honor those mothers who lost a son or daughter serving in the armed forces. It’s a beautiful memorial fitting of a beautiful floral arrangement.
September is a great month for flowers and a great month to visit your local florist. There are celebrations, commemorations and memorials, and flowers are the perfect gifts for each of these cirucumstances. Whether for joy or sadness, make a point to give flowers to someone you love.
Labor Day honors the contribution of America’s workforce to the greatness of this nation. The strength of every nation is found in the men and women who comprise its working class and our country is no different. The beauty of America is that almost everyone is now or has been one of those individuals. Take this chance to say, “Thank You” to those whose hard work helps or has helped make our own lives easier, and maybe take a little time for yourself too.
Just as Labor Day is a near universal holiday, flowers are a universal gift! They are wonderful for helping decorate the backyard for a neighborhood barbecue. They look elegant on the picnic table during a cookout. And they are a great way to show your appreciation to anyone. So head down to your local florist, and let them work their magic. They can put together a stunning arrangement in any theme you like. And whether buying for yourself or someone else, your local florist will make it great!
If you are making flowers part of your Labor Day celebration, why not go with white? After all, it’s the last day to wear the color until Easter so why not take it out for one last spin? An all-white bouquet or arrangement is gorgeous, and the stylistic choice is certainly fashionable.
Labor Day is a day to relax and take time off from the very work it celebrates. This year, relax with the natural beauty of flowers!
We often describe florists as local artists, and this week’s recap illustrates that beautifully. Scroll through the list and you will see stunning examples of floral beauty. You’ll find impressive designs by talented florists who do the same on a daily basis. Enjoy this picturesque display where creativity abounds!
The bridal party with floral beauty from The Flower Shop in Pryor, OK
Beautiful bouquets from Flower Boutique in Cherry Hill, NJ [Read more…]
Blossom Flower Shops in White Plains, NY provides this month’s blog spotlight. They were founded in 1925 and became one of the first 100 florists in the United States to be computerized. They began in the Bronx, but after four generations of ownership have expanded beyond that one simple shop. Still, their expansion has been slow and planned so as to maintain personal interest in every order.
And here is the most recent excerpt from their blog:
Every month has a birthstone associated with it. The same applies for flowers. The birth flower associated with August is the Gladiolus. The botanical name is a nod to Roman Gladiators who fought with swords.
This stately, long, elegant stem is topped with multiple flower blooms. Because of the long, thick stems, the flower is also known as the “sword lily.” Legend has it that when someone gives a gift of a gladiolus, the giver is piercing the recipient’s heart with love.
Other Meanings
In flower language, (and yes, there is a language of flowers,) Gladiolus is considered the Flower of the Gladiators, and it symbolizes character strength, sincerity, and generosity. It also symbolizes “love at first sight.”
Gladiolus is Technically Not a Bulb
Many people mistakenly refer to Gladiolus as a bulb. Although it looks a lot like a bulb, it is actually a corm. Corms are solid objects. When you look at a corm, the exterior part of the solid mass doesn’t have any defining characteristics or layers. If you cut into it, you’ll see something that looks a lot like the inside of a potato – a hard piece of flesh.
Another important distinction between bulbs and corms is that the spring bulbs are planted during the fall, allowing enough time for bulbs to establish roots, which nourish the tiny embryo inside all winter. The National Gardening Association explains that a gladiolus corm isn’t winter hardy in zones that get colder than USDA hardiness zone 7.
Bigger Corms Produce Bigger Plants and More Flowers
If you want taller flower stems and larger flowers, then you need to look for larger corms. To figure out the size of a corm, simply measure the circumference. Gladiolus plants can grow to heights of anywhere between two and six feet, but the typical range is three to four feet. Most stems produce between 12 and 20 flowers, each of which is about the size of a fist.
Gladiolus Aren’t Hardy in Cold Zones
The familiar spring-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils and even irises are hardy in cold hardiness zones. Gladiolus bulbs won’t withstand cold winter temperatures, so in cold climates, they are either grown as annuals or lifted from the soil before the first freeze. They are planted in spring – after the danger of frost passes. It is important to loosen the soil to a depth of 15 inches before planting Gladiolus. Add at least four inches of compost or organic matter to the soil after tilling or digging, mixing it in thoroughly. Plant Gladiolus four inches deep, and space corms at least four to six inches apart.
Gladiolus are commonly used in cut flower arrangements. If you can’t find Gladiolus, you can get the bright summery colors in other summer arrangements like Summer Samba or Summer Sunflowers. Brighten any room in your home, or bring some summer cheer to a friend or loved one with summer flowers from Blossom Flower Shops.
I love that they are so focused on providing excellent information to not only potential customers, but anyone needing flower tips. And it’s not just this post. All of their posts are useful for flower lovers everywhere. I would like to see some photos tossed into the mix, but overall they do an excellent job. I most like that they update often. Well done!
This year Labor Day falls on Monday, September 1st. (Well, the Monday part you probably already knew …) And on this day celebrating contributions made by the nations workers to the strength, prosperity and well-being of the country, flowers make a fitting tribute. If you’re buying for friend’s or loved ones, you’ll want to put a little something special on the card. Let us help you out with the card messages below.
But don’t think you’re only allowed to buy flowers for others. You’re a worker in this country too. Don’t hesitate to buy some for yourself as well. Remember, like Labor Day, flowers are for everyone!
The kids put on their backpacks. Mom and Dad give them a lift or make sure they get on the bus without incident. Teachers stare across their classrooms at a sea of new faces, excited to educate fresh, young minds. What’s missing from these images? Flowers! In a stressful first few weeks, a beautiful bouquet or magnificent arrangement can do wonders, and every person in this scenario is deserving.
So whether you’re a student, a parent, a teacher or just friends with some, give the gift of flowers and keep school classy!
In what turned out to be a light week for wedding photos, we’ve got a ton of other arrangements for you to see. Take a few moments to scroll through the gallery or just watch the video and you’ll agree, we’ve served up another delightful display of floral beauty!
Gorgeous arrangement from Wilma’s Flowers in Jasper, AL [Read more…]
The Gladiolus is native to sub-Saharan Africa and has over over 260 species. It is a beautiful flower that has found popularity in the states and is almost always available at your local flower shop. But why should you request one be used in your next arrangement?
If you’re looking for a flower that really gets to the heart of your relationship, the Gladiolus is perfect. Why? Because the name of this flower comes from the latin word gladioli which means sword. It was so named and is sometimes referred to as the “Sword Lily” due to it’s long flower spikes. It’s meanings include strength and moral integrity, but because of it’s unique sword shape, it is also known for infatuation, letting the recipient know that they’ve pierced the giver’s heart with passion. It’s an excellent flower for all stages of love.
It’s also the birth flower for August! If you’re giving away any birthday arrangements, the Gladiolus should be included in your floral mix. And all of you wonderful couples celebrating your 40th wedding anniversary, the Gladiolus is this momentous event’s designated flower as well!
The Gladiolus is a gorgeous flower with gorgeous meaning. Your local florist should have them in stock, but if not, they can be on her next shipment!
If there’s one thing we love here at Flower Shop Network, it’s a party. And what better reason to throw one than the impending birth of a new member of the FSN family? We pulled all the stops for this one, so sit back, relax and enjoy some excellent baby shower photos!
A table full of presents!
Ah, c’mon! Open the big one first!
Diapers, score! It’s one of those things you under no misconceptions about the baby needing.
And wipes! Those are gonna come in handy later …
Oooh, bibs for baby. I like the one that says ‘daddy’s girl’. Aren’t they all?
Cute little onesie. Gotta keep that precious girl warm!
I’m going out on a limb and saying it’s supposed to be an October arrival.
Towels and washcloths are always important. The ones mom and dad use are probably too rough for baby’s sensitive skin.
Some more beautiful towels! You can never have enough.
More bibs! This is gonna be the cleanest baby ever.
And of course the cake!
Let me echo the cake and offer my congratulations to Emily and Josh as well. We are always happy to welcome a new addition to the FSN family. It looked like momma was very happy with her gifts, and I know for a fact that the guests were more than happy with the cake. There’s no after photo, after all. Come back to the Bloomin’ Blog soon to find out what else we’ve been up to in this fun-filled summer! Until next time!
