There is a kind of unspoken controversy over men giving women flowers. On one hand, you make the woman happy, on the other it could seem like you have ulterior motives. So, why should men give women flowers?

Penelope Trunk recently posted an article on her blog outlining several good reasons to give flowers:

1. Flowers Make The Giver Happy

This is so true. Flowers never fail to put a smile on the face of the giver and givee.

2. People think you are smarter if you’re a guy who gives flowers.

Believe it or not, studies show by sending flowers it gives the impression you a much more caring and emotionally intelligent.

3. You will be a better manager.

As she points out, not every bouquet means ‘I love you.’ You can send a bouquet of congratulations flowers for a job well done, or even use flowers to increase productivity by lowering stress and anxiety.

All of these are very good points that I’m sure all females would agree upon, but I still hear men arguing in the background! So for those unconvinced…

Listen up guys, when is it ever wrong to see your lady smile? It is never a bad thing to make the person you love happy and sending flowers always does the trick! If you think flowers are just a cliche gift without any spontaneity then you, my friend, are doing it wrong! Give gifts for reasons she wouldn’t expect.

Flower Arrangements For Men

For instance - a friend of mine’s husband was leaving on a trip, and she was not looking forward to coming home from work to find an empty house. Instead, when she opened the door there sat a beautiful bouquet of her favorite flowers. Not only had her hubby made her happy, she also did not feel as lonely as she would have without them. Not only was this spontaneous it showed he was really thinking about her.

There are so many reasons to give flowers … even if it is just a couple of stems you picked up at your local florist … they can really turn a bad Monday into a happy occasion with one simple gesture.

But you know, ladies, men aren’t the only ones who are skeptical about sending flowers. Guys enjoy getting them just as much as we do! (Though they may not admit it) Many florists offer dish gardens or garden planters. These are neat little containers with everything you need to keep a tiny desk garden at your office - men love these … (Much more manly than roses … )

There are so many reasons to give the gift of flowers and plants for men and women. So next time you are looking for something to cheer up your loved one, you know the perfect gift!

Camellia, The Alabama State Flower

It’s common knowledge to Alabama school children that the state flower is the Camellia (Camellia japonica). It’s less known to Alabama florists and that’s just tragic. There is so much to be gained from camellias and the possibilities are almost endless!

Camellias (Camellia japonica) are beautiful flowers found in many gardens. The bloom itself can be a cut flower known far and wide for its full, mass flower appeal and unique variegations. Much like peonies and carnations, camellias are a great mass flower for florists as their unique shape is easily identifiable and classic. “Beautiful” goes without speaking.

Until I started researching some of the unique ways to use camellias, I had no idea that they were so versatile. One of my favorite techniques involves waxing them which provides a really cool finish and helps them keep longer. I even saw one waxed and spray painted gold. Now if you really want a fun corsage idea for prom, why not use camellias and those techniques? But I digress.

As the Alabama state flower, camellias come with a bit of power. They’re more meaningful and recognizable because they are a state symbol. Translation:  perfect gift.

They are easy to market because there is a lot to do with a state flower like the camellia. The symbolism of the flower makes its inclusion in arrangements more special. Plus it provides the opportunity for unique card messages. Then there’s always the opportunity to send camellia flower arrangements important holidays in Alabama. “Governor appreciation day” comes to mind but there are plenty of others. Florists are some of the best marketers around but having a flower with that much worth helps greatly.

"Abundant Beauty" Fall Centerpiece

Need a gift for a Thanksgiving celebration? Throwing a festive fall party but need something to liven up the decorations? This fall flowers centerpiece is for you.

Fall flowers add cheer faster than Uncle Bob’s silly jokes, so fall in love with the Abundant Beauty centerpiece this year. Don’t be surprised if your other decorations get jealous.

Candle wreaths are very popular but the “Abundant Beauty” centerpiece adds a great deal to the traditional idea. First, they start with warm colors. The colors of autumn create a rapturous combination in the “Abundant Beauty” centerpiece, enough so that it become an irresistible part of your fall decorations.

The “Abundant Beauty” fall centerpiece is a gorgeous combination of fall flowers in a rust colored container. Inside lay a few cinnamon colored candles for a very unique fall centerpiece. Whether attending a fall party or hosting your own, the “Abundant Beauty” centerpiece is the perfect way to greet autumn.

“Abundant Beauty” recipe:

Bronze Or Rust Colored Metal Container
Wet Floral Foam
Orange Pillar Candles
Foliage: Seeded Eucalyptus
Stem Orange Asiatic Lilies
Rust ‘Red Rover’ Chrysanthemums
Montebresia
Bi Colored Orange & Yellow Tulips
Bronze Cushion Poms
Preserved Fall Leaves

Want a unique gift? Don’t forget about birth month flowers. November is a festive month full of enjoyable fall weather and holidays. To play this up when giving a birthday gift try sending the November birth month flowers instead. And the November birth month flower is…

The mighty Chrysanthemum!

Buy Chrysanthemums From A Local Florist

I’ve found that everything sounds better with a little grandeur or fanfare added. Add a dose of that to the enclosure card message and you have the best birthday gift you’ve ever given. Birth month flowers are unique and quirky which is perfect for the unique and quirky person you love!

Remember last year’s story about the November birth month flower? I can barely remember yesterday so here’s a recap. My grandfather’s birthday is exactly one month after mine. November 23rd rolls around each year and I struggle to find a gift for him now that he’s in his “80 somethings”.

80 years of birthday gifts is hard to top but last year my brother and sister joined me in creating a festive fall display for his new city home to make him feel more at ease. He’d farmed for over 70 years so the natural touch just outside the door made him perk up a lot. This year, we’re repeating the decorations in a different design and including chrysanthemums. The choice of flowers and plants is irrelevant to him but it makes us feel better for giving a truly unique gift. He’s just happy to have our outward affection.

Know someone like that? Whether sending a birthday gift to someone like my grandpa or to someone who requires fancy and unique gifts, chrysanthemum’s the word for November. Don’t forget to let us know how it turned out!

Want to send chrysanthemums this November? Flower Shop Network makes it easy to buy chrysanthemums from your local florist.

Want to win free blood red roses? Find the official contest rules below. Before we get to that, here are some tips for how to use your Halloween flowers to vamp up your night!

Ever heard of Twilight, True Blood, or The Vampire Diaries? Ever read Dracula or The Vampire Chronicles? Welcome to the current world of pop culture, my friend.

These iconic series, books and movies are sweeping all generations and creating a bloodthirsty craving for all things vampire. This Halloween, you can guarantee that at least one person on your block is throwing a vampire halloween party. If that person is you, here are some flower decorating tips that will really vamp up your halloween decorations.

First, remember that most dark colored flowers need to be special ordered by your florist. But hey, knowing that someone else is taking care of that planning tip will ease your mind and free up time for the other details. When talking with your local florist about which flowers to order, consider these:

• Peppermint Carnations mimic the flower on the cover of the New Moon book (Twilight Saga book two)
• Chocolate anthurium are perfect inside a werewolf flower arrangement (Twilight Saga)
• Chocolate cosmos, a favorite fall flower, also accent werewolf colored arrangements (Twilight Saga)
• Taboo or Black Beauty roses along with red roses give a black and red theme to Vampire flower arrangements
• Twisted willow is just creepy enough to be perfect for Vampire or Werewolf inspired flower arrangements
• Oak leaves are readily accessible foliage that look awesome beneath punch bowls filled with blood red brew

Next, think about the characters that your party will focus on. Are you throwing a True Blood party? Think Southern with an edge of vampire. Throwing a Twilight party? Romance is the name of the game so play up the rivalry between vampire and werewolf. Half of the room can be Vampire inspired (fun to say) while the other half howls werewolf. If you’re jamming at an 18th century vampire party, get a little scary and pick flowers that lend to your spooky ambiance.

Buy Blood Red Roses In A Red or Black Vase

Twilight party flowers don’t have to be dark and scary. Bella says that blood smells like rust and salt. Try a rust colored arrangement like Autumn Vibrance. Bella is also from Phoenix. She’d love the Phoenix Flame flower arrangement at a party inspired by her. Unique containers make the flowers look great so red or black vases with dark roses or other flowers will light up the night. Think of the Richly Rosey bouquet when picking flowers for the Cullen family.

Also for Twilight party flowers, remember that the werewolves in the books were different colors. You have russet brown, almost silver and several other colors. Playing to the werewolf side will give you a lot of creative leeway with the color of flowers you choose.

If you’re throwing a True Blood party and need flowers, pick flowers with scary names. Your local florist can tell you which are in season, in stock, need to be specially ordered and which have names that make your blood run cold. Since True Blood is more “adult” than Twilight, pick flowers that perk your adult “spidey senses”.

And yes, there is another series on television called The Vampire Diaries. Bram Stoker’s Dracula books have been around for generations. With the blood lust in full effect, you can walk into any bookstore and find a vampire story that will get your party planning mind in gear. Take those ideas to your local florist and watch the magic happen on the spookiest, creepiest night of the year.

OFFICIAL TWITTER CONTEST RULES:

That’s right. Flower Shop Network is GIVING AWAY FREE BLOOD RED ROSES to one lucky person. Luck has less to do with it though. All you have to do to enter is retweet this post with the hashtag #FSNBRR. That’s it! Just retween this post by midnight Thursday, October 29th and you will be eligible to win your choice of free blood red roses or another Halloween flowers bouquet from a local FSN member florist for delivery in the USA or Canada (valued up to $50). Wanna play? Get tweeting.

"Whimsical Flowers" Bouquet--The Perfect Scorpio Birthday Gift

By this point everyone who has spoken to a Generation Y-er knows how quirky and unique we love our life to be. We want special. We want different. We want stand out appeal. That’s why so many of us love zodiac flowers.

I’m not a Scorpio but I’m on the cusp so I can understand why Scorpios would love their zodiac flowers. These include gerbera daisies, marigold, and sunflower. What do these beautiful blooms mean? I’m not an astrologer but I do know that anyone into astrology will love astrological flowers. Seems like an easy connection, right?

It’s not surprising that people like me fall into two categories. I’m a Libra at heart and in most publications but often I’m labeled a Scorpio. If you know someone into astrology and the zodiac but can’t figure out which one they fall into, try something special like this. I mentioned it briefly in last year’s post about Scorpio zodiac flowers. It was fun then and it’s twice as fun now.

The solution as I see it is to send a flower arrangement whose flowers denote certain astrological signs and time of the year. This is a very creative way to show someone how special they really are. For people like myself it is an unexpected treat. The zany mixture of flowers such as dahlias, gardenias, tea roses, gladiolus, and orchids (Libra) with the beautiful blooms of gerbera daisies, marigold, and sunflowers (Scorpio) provide a very quirky and colorful present for fall birthdays.

See? It’s simple to send a fun birthday gift to a Scorpio or a Libra (or both). Just call up your local florist and ask for an arrangement that includes some dahlias, gardenias, tea roses, gladiolus or orchids for a Libra. If you’re hunting for flowers for a Scorpio, ask your local florist for a bouquet including gerbera daisies, marigold, or sunflowers. Zodiac flowers are a fantastic gift for someone on the paranormal edge of awesome.

Want to send birthday flowers to a Scorpio? Use Flower Shop Network to contact your local florist today.

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.

Most of us are in a rush and don’t have time to head to the store just to buy a hostess gift. Florists make giving Halloween flowers easy. There are a few ways that florists can help. First, you can have a spooky arrangement sent to your home and pick it up on the way to the party. You could also have the arrangement sent to your friend’s house and spare yourself a trip. Another suggestion is to call in the order the day before the party and ask your florist to have it ready at a certain time the next day. Just drop in, pick it up, and Bob’s your uncle. Halloween flowers in a hurry.

Here are some suggestions of what you can find from a local florist:

The “Boo!” flower basket is a fun way to get a ghoulish night started. Ghosts and goblins are Halloween staples so make sure they’re part of your Halloween flowers.

Need something for an adult party? Go with “Awe-Inspiring Autumn” which has color, movement and beauty all in a fall flowers arrangement.

Oh what a “Tangled Web” flower basket we weave when first we practice giving Halloween flowers. Even though I butchered the quote, butchering works around Halloween. So does the “Tangled Web” flower basket.

Scared of spiders? Is your host/hostess? You may get the first scream of the night when you give the “Itsy, Bitsy Spider” Halloween flowers arrangement. I shiver just thinking about it.

Some less frightening but definitely spooky Halloween flowers are the ones found in the “Jack O’Lantern Tree”. Mini pumpkins carved with crooked smiles and sin-shaped eyes are an easy addition to fall arrangements. Just don’t stare into their eyes for very long. They hate that.

Want more fun hostess gift ideas? Contact your local florist today.

When you have a state flower like Mistletoe (Phoradendron serotinum), you’re not likely to skip over celebrating one of the most crucial holidays of the year. For florists Christmas is a major holiday that always seems to bring something new each season. This year let the inspiration for your latest holiday flower arrangements come from the Oklahoma state flower. Liven up your Christmas flowers using what Oklahoma florists have found unceasing inspiration in for years.

Mistletoe photo courtesy of 50states.com

Mistletoe is a funny little flower though many wouldn’t consider it a flower. Mistletoe grows on trees during the fall and winter. You can see its dark green leaves and bright white berries during the seasons when other flowers are falling away and leaves are making their last attempt at beauty before dormancy.

Of course, there’s the Christmas party tradition surrounding mistletoe. If two people stand under the mistletoe together, they are supposed to kiss one another. It’s fun to see who happens to land under the mistletoe. Some jokers make mistletoe hats to make the best (and a small joke) of the tradition. Either way, it’s fun and mistletoe’s most notable inclusion in the holiday.

Why not change that up a bit this season? Christmas flower arrangements need foliage. Can there BE a more perfect one than mistletoe? Take a tip from Oklahoma florists. Mistletoe has been a symbol of the state since before Oklahoma was even a state! Flowers with that kind of lasting impression can only be great inspiration for florists.

As the holiday season fast approaches, remember mistletoe this year as you hum “Jingle Bells” and prep a Christmas-themed arrangement.

Get ready for two months of flower decorating tips for fall! I’m one of the dozens at Flower Shop Network that adores the fall. It is beautiful weather, the perfect time to be outdoors, and the season for earth toned colors that blend the somber with the beautiful. Ahhhh…fall.

There are a lot of ways to decorate a home for fall. For starters, you’re going to need plenty of fresh flowers. Dried and preserved will work, of course, but there is something sensuous and inviting about fresh flowers. They just start the season off right. Besides, as the leaves begin to fall and the colors burst then fade, you’re going to like having the fresh flowers around as you welcome winter weather into your home.

Fresh Flower Decorating Tips For Fall:

'Fall Flirtations' Vase Arrangement

Holiday Decorating – There are several national holidays celebrated during the fall months of September, October and November. Labor Day starts the month of September off with a vacation day for many. Halloween and Thanksgiving also fall in the later fall months. Columbus Day is nestled into October as are other holidays. Whether keeping one theme throughout or decorating for each, order a themed flower arrangement from your local florist and display it prominently in your home. Don’t forget Halloween flower arrangements and Thanksgiving flowers when the time comes!

Fall Yard Decor – Flowers, hay, pumpkins, chrysanthemums and scarecrows are as standard to fall as the changing colors of the leaves. To celebrate, create a display in your yard that celebrates the natural elements of fall. Stack hay bales in a triangular fashion then arrange pumpkins, gourds, chrysanthemums and a scarecrow or two to accent your yard delightfully.

Fall Wreath – Seasonal wreaths for the door are fun fall decorations. Many florists create unique floral wreaths. To find out which wreaths are the most popular as you choose the one for your door, view the Top 5 Holiday Wreaths For The Front Door.

Decorate The Mantlepiece – The mantlepiece is one of the best places in the home for decorating. Welcome wall with the use of fresh garlands and greenery, gourds, baby pumpkins, miniature scarecrows and fall flowers. If you like the smell of fall themed candles, these are also fun additions to the scenery.

You’re off to a good start! Have fun decorating your home for the fall season. Don’t forget to stop back by and show us photos of your creative displays!

My heart is jumping up and down a little because that means that my birthday is just around the corner. I’m on the cusp of Libra and Scorpio but I align myself more with Libras. Libras are an awesome group of people. There are exceptions to every rule but not when we’re concerned. We are all awesome. If you’re a Libra, you’ll understand my passion for this zodiac sign. If not, feel free to let my ramblings elude you and take a peek at this AWESOME birthday gift for Libras.

A Unique Birthday Gift For Libras

If you know someone who was born between September 23rd and October 23rd, you have a Libra’s birthday gift to buy. As always but with growing passion, I recommend flowers. Not just any old flowers though. Give flowers associated with the Libra zodiac sign. Some Libra zodiac flowers are:

Half Dozen Pink Roses

• pink roses
• dahlias
• gardenias
• tea roses
• orchids
• tuberose
• freesia
• gladiolus

They’re all beautiful flowers and many of them are quite fragrant. They strike an easy balance between pleasing both the eyes and the nose. This isn’t just a coincidence. Libras fall under the sign of the scales so finding a balance  in nature is part of our charm.

If you’re in the mood to give a unique birthday gift this year, contact your local florist and ask to send your friend some astrological/zodiac flowers associated with the Libra sign. It’s something they don’t hear often enough and will give them a pleasant change. Watch how their creativity flows when given a fresh idea! You’ll love what comes out of their creative process, but more importantly, your sweetheart/friend will adore them too. Most of all, they’ll adore you!

Miss the Libra zodiac flowers blog last year? No worries. View it now!