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!

Photo courtesy of 50states.com

North Dakota and Iowa may not seem like very similar states but both chose the Wild Prairie Rose (Rosa pratincola,  a. Rosa arkansana) as their official state flower. Though no official species was chosen for the Iowa state flower, Rosa pratincola is most often cites as the official state flower of Iowa and who am I to argue?

If you remember reading about the North Dakota state flower, you'll find this only equally enthusiastic because the wild prairie rose is a darn pretty flower! I grant you it's a wildflower and not a cut flower that Iowa florists could use in an arrangement but it's still a great source of inspiration. If I were to narrow it down to the three things I find most inspiring about the wild prairie rose, here you go. You've forced my hand. *grin*

1. Color
2. Shape
3. Location

When you get right down to it, the color of the wild prairie rose is a beautiful, soft shade of pink offset by yellow stamens in the center. The gentle pink is a reminder of romantic occasions. When designing romantic flower arrangements, pink is often used to symbolize affection romance, gentle passion and kindhearted love. A pink wildflower that grows and blooms naturally is a wonderful reminder of how love can often be found in surprising places and blossom without fear.

This particular species of the Wild Prairie Rose is noted for having 4-5 petals laying flat but slightly overlapping one another. When I say that I like the shape, this is not what I'm talking about. Each of the petals are heart shaped with the point of the hearts meeting at the stamens. We already know that pink is symbolic for love. Now we see heart shaped flowers. See where this is heading?

Love is so incredible. It guides us, motivates us, encourages us, causes our biggest headaches and our largest victories. The most intense arrow in Cupid's quiver often strikes at unexpected times and in strange places. I met my sweetheart while working at Wal-Mart. Some meet in church, a library, passing on the street, in the park, or by a chance encounter. This strange trend is why I like the location of the Wild Prairie Rose as it blooms throughout Iowa.

Iowa is known for corn. Miles and miles of corn. "Corn, corn, corn, oh look a tree!" as the song goes. To be gazing across the countryside and see a simple pink flower? Unexpected, unanticipated, a pretty break from the ordinary.

Take a walk on the wild side and chance finding inspiration in the unique, gentle flower that is Iowa's official state flower–the Wild Prairie Rose.

Send "Hello Sunshine" To Your Pure Friend

It's easy to get lost for a while in thoughts about the underlying meaning of thoughts, actions and words. It is for me at least. Lately I've spent a lot of time thinking about flower meanings because finding an inventive way to say something normal or usual is very important to me.

Think for a moment about the most special gift you've received lately. What was it that made it so important? Most people truly do place stock in the adage, "It's the thought that counts." This is especially true with women. We love to be pampered and spoiled but anyone can do that. What we want from our partner is more special, that above and beyond affection that secures their place in our hearts.

For this reason, my mind wandered back to the meaning of sunflowers. The simplest of these is "adoration" but sunflowers (Helianthus) also represent pure thoughts, pure love, longevity, pride, and sunshine. Oh to be the pure, sweet sunshine in the eyes of the person that I love! It's that kind of desire to feel special that drives women inside and outside of relationships.

One way to let the pure woman in your life know that you find her gentle demeanor so endearing is by sending sunflowers. As always, create a lavish gift that will be remembered forever by including a sweet card detailing the meaning of sunflowers and how your woman is all of those things to you.

I wonder which flower means "incredibly desirable, more beautiful than the rest, and who my heart melts for"??

It's time to kick off the football season this year. Tailgating at football games is an ultimate American pasttime. It's something most Americans are born knowing how to do properly. What flower lovers want to know, though, is a great way to mix their favorite fresh decorations and football season hobby.

It may seem kind of anti-tailgating to bring along flowers. After all, it's a male-dominated hobby where brewskies fly through the air and bratwurst is consumed by the yard. Don't let that deter you. There are still ways to work tailgating and fresh flowers into one great afternoon. Ask your local florist to create fresh flowers in the team colors then:

• If you're attending a high school football game, present flowers to the coach after an afternoon of tailgating. This is an especially good idea if the team wins (though you'll have to wait a little longer for that answer).
• If it's just you and the girls (wives of players, mothers of players, fans), have each woman wear a lapel corsage or a wrist corsage in the team colors.
• Go "Hawaiian" with the tailgate party theme. This way, you'll have a reason to sport a lei in the team colors.
• If you're the only woman, don't make the men forget that YOU are the coolest thing there, bar none. Overwhelming estrogen can be a downer but a flower in your hair that happens to be the team's main color is a way to maintain your femininity while acting like one of the guys.

Don't forget to return to Flower Shop Network with pictures and stories of your fun tailgate parties!

Fret not, dear blog reader. I have your answer.

The September birth month flowers are the aster and the morning glory. Oh yeah, beautiful and meaningful. Good stuff. If you were a reader last year you may remember "Mark September With An Aster-isk", our friendly reminder blog about the birth month flower of September. You may also remember that September can be quite a headache for my family! With three birthdays on the same day stuff gets really crazy toward the middle of the month.

Mom is great. She's one of my favorite people in the whole world and I'd be lost without her. That's a great (and true) sentiment for the card, but you can't really package that. Oh wait, yes you can! It may not come in a box but a birthday bouquet with aster is a package that she'll be happy to receive! I'm thinking that showing it off to her friends at work will be fun for her given the type of women she works with. If I can make her day better, why not? So this year I'm sending Mom the gift that she loved last year — asters.

Ask Your Florist About Aster This September

Now the other Virgo in my life is a bit harder. I tend to stop by game stores a lot when shopping for him but I'm pretty tired of staring at electronics. By the time I muster up the courage to go shopping, the last place I want to be is somewhere that will take a lot of time. Plus, I can never remember which games he has so I get a gift card. It's a little impersonal (or so he said last year) so I don't want to repeat that experience.

My Love may be brutally honest but he has a point so I'm sending him aster flowers instead. It's kind of payback for the comment about the gift card. Plus, his daughter loves playing with flowers and dirt and bugs and grass so we'll have a lot of fun planting morning glory in the backyard. This may not be the ideal way to send birth month flowers of September. Given that not everyone lives in a fairytale world of romance and lollipops, I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds this a funny alternative.

Regardless of your intent, you really can't go wrong with birth month flowers. They're just too cool! Plus they're really unique so  you don't have to worry about someone copying your idea. It's all yours. Be your own with aster and morning glory this September.

Fiery Red Gladiolus For Your Virgo!

Everyone knows I adore my charming, vivacious Virgo. He's one-in-a-million for sure even if he is also a million headaches. Know what I mean? The virgo in my life deserves something incredible for his birthday. It has to be special and sweet. Since he shares a birthday with my mother, it has to be something unique so that they don't feel like they're getting the same thing. What a hassle!

Hassle/problem solved this year. Regular readers probably remember me touting zodiac flowers for virgos last year. I know from personal experience how incredible those gifts went over so I'm looking for a repeat performance this year! Though their birthday isn't until September, if you have someone in your life born between August 21 and September 21, you have a virgo on your hands! When you want a cool birthday gift without a lot of trouble, contact your local florist and mention these Virgo zodiac flowers.

• Forget-me-nots
• Gladiolus
• Monkshood
• Hypericum
• Chrysanthemum
• Violet
• Ivy
• Eucalyptus (even filler flowers count!)

Sending zodiac flowers to your virgo this year? Don't forget to stop back by and let us know how it turned out!

Parents and children celebrate going back to school with a bang. There is lots of back to school shopping and back to school parties to enjoy. But what does the teacher get?

This year, send your child's teacher some flowers. Better still, buy a bouquet of flowers from your local florist and have your child present them. Flowers aren't quite as tasty as an apple but the smile lasts longer.

Another idea is to visit your local flower shop and see if they have any mugs that are appropriate for your child's teacher. They could say "#1 Teacher," "You're The Best," or anything like this. Then, ask your florist to create a small mug bouquet or candy mug for the teacher. Both are excellent gifts that are unique and creative.  Instead of adding to the pile of apples on the desk, add a smile instead with a candy mug or mug bouquet.

Of course, no teacher will refuse a balloon or two, especially tied to the rim of a candy mug or back to school flower vase. They may wish to put them in a different part of the room so as not to make the other children feel badly about getting nothing or something smaller. If this is a concern for you, make sure the flowers are presented at the end of the day or to the teacher's home. Bringing back to school flowers and gifts at the end of the day not only spares embarassment for others, but it also gives you a chance to speak to the teacher when more one-on-one time is available and the stress of the day is gone.

For more back to school gift ideas, contact your creative local florist!