Ask the Expert: Which flowers are available in December?
My best friend is getting married in the end of December in Florida. I am trying to help her as much as I can. So right now I am looking for seasonal flowers that would be available during that time. For her wedding color she wants to go for a deeper orange color. Could you help me with that? Thank you. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Hanna N.

Plant Expert Reply:
The flower world has changed over the years and many flower varieties are now available year round.  However, it is always nice to has a list to go by when you are in the early planning stages.  The following flowers are available for weddings in December and in a shade of orange:

Alstromeria, Ascelpias, Bird of Paradise, Calla Lily, Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Euphorbia, Fressia, Gerbera, Gladiolus, Hypericum, Lily (Asiatic), Narcissus, Protea, Ranunculus, Rose, Safflower, and Tulip.

Orange Gerbera Wedding Bouquet

Many of these flowers are excellent choices for wedding bouquets and reception flowers. My personal favorites are Gerberas, Callas and Tulips. If you need a strong presentation of orange, the Asiatic Lily blooms are large and make a great focal flower. To add a delicate element used the Fressia or Ascelpias. For a unique look used the Safflower.

Of course, there are other wedding flowers available in December and that is where your local Florida florist comes in handy.  You can take this list to them and discuss these wedding flowers. The florist can show you what these flowers look like and how they can be used in bouquets.  They will be able to suggest other flowers that are available in December and which will complement the flowers already discussed.

If you need a good source for planning a wedding, check out Wedding and Party Network and The Celebration Advisor.  In fact the photo above came from the wedding bouquet photo gallery on Wedding and Party Network.  Scott Darhower of Apple Blossoms Floral Design in Tampa designed the gorgeous bouquets.

I hope you and your friend have a fun planning her wedding.  Keep me posted.   I can't wait to see what wedding flowers you choose.

Sending flowers? Many florists emphasize the importance of including alternate phone numbers with your order. For instance, provide both a cell phone number and a home phone number (if applicable). Perhaps a work phone and a cell phone if no home phone is available.

Thankfully it doesn't happen often, but sometimes florists need to reach the sender before the flowers can be delivered. This obviously slows down progress while florists are on the phone trying to get answers to simple questions. Some questions we see a lot are:

• "That color is not available. Can I substitute it with the same flower in a different color?"
• "The hospital will not give me a room number. What is the recipient's room number?"
• "No one's home. Is it alright to leave them along with a note or return later?"

These are just a sprinkling of the questions we hear all of the time at Flower Shop Network. Local florists across the country have the same questions but are unable to receive answers because no alternate phone number is listed and the other line isn't available or working.

Avoid this! Simply include any two or more of the following numbers and you should have no problems getting your flowers delivered quickly!

• Cell phone number
• Home phone number
• Work phone number
• Fax number
• Number of a close friend or number if no other second number is available

August is the official wrap of summer. Parents and children get ready to go back to school. College students begin the countdown to spring break. Couples celebrate anniversaries with the same fervor and passion as they did the very first time — or at least will with this fun idea!

Anniversary flowers are a must. Just like gifts on Valentines Day, most women expect something special on this day. Anniversary flower bouquets are a great way to celebrate your lasting romance, but why not spice it up a bit this year? A themed dinner date is a fantastic way to earn some laughs, share some kisses, and get bonus points for creativity. You never know. Your honey may pay you back with something creative of their own. Here are some ideas for a very special evening with spicy flair from some other cultures:

(Guys) Mexican Themed Anniversary Dinner Date: Become her Latin lover for an evening. If this seems like the cheesiest thing you can think of, great! Your lady will most likely give you credit for creativity, have a few laughs at your expense, and think you're adorable for trying. Then again, you could pull off the Rico Suave appearance.  Her reactions either way are worth a shot.

Anniversary flower ideas for this theme: Keep two small vases of flower stems on the table while you eat. Red is a fiery color that excites the senses, especially the sense of passion. Also, a rose between your teeth as you invite her to tango–hot! Funny, but cute. Don't forget to shower your senora with compliments and present her with a very special bouquet of flowers for your anniversary. Flowers are something she can keep to remember the evening!

(Girls) Bollywood Themed Anniversary Dinner Date: Become his sultry Indian princess for an evening. Have fun with the outfit. Set the mood for an evening of great Indian food and a little show from the hottest dinner date he's ever had. As with all spicy foods, be wary of his reactions to spicy foods. If this one seems too much for his tummy, tone down the food but keep the theme of the evening.

Anniversary flower ideas for this theme: Color is a huge part of the bollywood movement. India is full of rich color and beautiful surroundings. Live up to this theme with fresh flowers in vivid colors. Ask your local florist which flowers have the fullest color for your anniversary. Though he may not be riding an elephant to dinner, a large necklace of flowers is a fun way to remind him of the culture that you are celebrating.

What do you think? Think your guy/girl will love it? If this idea makes it way from your head to the anniversary night, please return to Flower Shop Network and let us know how it went. Happy anniversary!

Ask the Expert: What kind of flowers for church baptism?
I am 60 years old and am getting baptized with my 9 year old granddaughter. We will be providing the alter flowers for the church on that day and would like some suggestions on what kind of flowers would be appropriate for this occassion? Lora

Plant Expert Reply:

It depends on your religious affilation.  The appropriate baptism flower color usually falls in line with the season's liturgical color. If you belong to a church that has an alter guild, I would speak with them.  The alter guild usually knows which colors will be appropriate for the day.  However, the most used flower color for baptism is white.

When I was baptized several years ago, my local florist created arrangements with Casablanca lilies.  I wanted the Casablanca lilies because their flower meaning is Celebrate.  Baptisms are definitely a time to celebrate.

I have been to baptisms where white gladiolus were used.  I have also been to baptisms where the flower arrangements had multiple colors.  In my opinion the safest bet would be to use all white flowers in the baptisms arrangements.  White is universally accepted and this way you will make sure not to offend anyone.

Congratulations and may the Peace Be With You.

Ask the Expert: Which flowers for my wedding?
Our colors are chocolate brown, baby blue, and ivory/creme. We are getting married outside in a beautiful almost garden type area towards the end of November, so I was wondering what baby blue or creme colored flowers would be best to use? Jordon

Plant Expert Blog:

Finding true blue flowers anytime of year can be a job.  Finding baby blue flowers can be even a little more difficult.  Don't worry, I have a suggestion.  Try light blue delphinium. It is a gorgeous flower with multiple blooms per stem.  Delphinium is a flower that is at home in the garden as well as formal arrangements.  So, it will be a perfect choice for your fall wedding. I suggest pairing it with ivory Gerberas.  A bouquet with these flowers will give you a romantic garden feel.

Of course, there are other blue flower options available.  Agapanthus is a beautiful ball of blooms that is very versatile and can be used as a focal flower in your wedding bouquet and reception flowers.  Hydrangeas or light blue iris are fantastic choices.  In fact I have seen a beautiful bouquet that contained iris and white flowers.

You have a few blue accent flower choices as well - Asters, centaurea, campanula, limonium, forget-me-not, and scabiosa.

Cream or ivory flowers are easy to find.  My suggestions would be gerberas, roses, agapanthus, orchids, calla lily, alstroemeria, or snapdragons.

The best advise I can give you is to look through Wedding and Party Network's photo galley under wedding flowers and wedding bouquets.  See what styles you like, then discuss with your local florist which of my  wedding flower suggestions will give you the look you desire.  The florist may have a few ideas of there own.

Good luck and keep me posted.  Maybe I'll see your wedding flowers in the WPN photo gallery in November.

If you've ever been on a nature walk in North Dakota, you've probably run across the Wild Prairie Rose and didn't even know it. It's a gorgeous flower with 5 bright pink petals and a tight cluster of yellow stamens at the center. The Wild Prairie Rose (Rosa arkansana or Rosa blanda) grows along roadsides, near streams, in pastures and in meadows. With a prevalence and beauty unparalleled by other native North Dakota flowers, the Wild Prairie Rose has been the North Dakota state flower for over one hundred years.

Photo courtesy 50states.com

Though you probably weren't around in 1907, the awe-inspiring Wild Prairie Rose has maintained its unique appeal for all of these years. Its charm never fades because it is instantly attractive. Its pink flowers help it pop next to wild grasses and other flora across the state. A nature walk is a chance to experience so much richness and natural beauty. Even in the midst of this often overwhelming experience, the Wild Prairie Rose is a diamond in the rough, unashamedly capturing attention but allowing viewers to revel in its beauty.

North Dakota florists are lucky. They do not have to travel far to enjoy the Wild Prairie Rose. It's title as the North Dakota state flower may not mean much to a local florist, but it doesn't have to. The Wild Prairie Rose has a reputation all its own and is beautiful enough to be momentarily captivating despite any title.

I can't get past the Autumn Illuminations fall centerpiece. Among the other fall flowers, this centerpiece stood out instantly. That's saying quite a lot considering how colorful and beautiful the other arrangements are!

"Autumn Illuminations" Fall Centerpiece

But what was it about Autumn Illuminations that drew my eye back to it? Well for starters, it's not an ordinary bouquet or typical arrangement. It has practicality, purpose and function. The Autumn Illuminations centerpiece is a wreath of fall flowers surrounding a warm colored candle. Imagine the smell of a pumpkin spice candle surrounded by fresh fall flowers! Mmmmm.

I saw this centerpiece and knew that it had to be the featured flower arrangement for August. The summer is winding down and the fall is getting ready to come ahead full force. Before you trade your summer flowers for Halloween and Thanksgiving arrangements, find a middle ground with colorful fall flower centerpieces like Autumn Illuminations. You'll be glad you did! Plus it's something nice to come home to if you or your husband is a farmer rushing to finish the harvest.

Trust me. You'll love having the Autumn Illuminations centerpiece on your table.

Back to school parties are the highlight of the summer. They set the tone for the rest of the school year. After a long summer's vacation (or a short one for year-round schools), it's always nice to throw a little celebration that welcomes in the new school year and says goodbye to summer vacation. It's not a time to mope though! Back to school parties are fun, exciting, refreshing gettogethers with friends. Where's a cause for sadness in that??

So now that we're up to speed on the tone of a back to school party it's time to talk about decorating. Fresh flowers are, as with any party, the best way to bring life and vitality to the celebration. Streamers, balloons, and party utensils are all well and good. What really gets the party decorations bumping though–why, that's flowers of course!

Here Are Some Clever Fresh Flower Decorating Tips for A Back To School Party

• Match the color of the flower arrangement to the decorations. If the team colors are black and gold, live it up with black and gold flowers! (Yes, it CAN be done!) If they are red and white, use red and white. And so on and so forth.
• Use your child's favorite color(s) as the theme of the flower arrangements. This will help your child feel like they had a special hand in the party and that it really is something to celebrate part of their life.
• Ask each child to bring one fresh flower to the party. Use these to create a bouquet or two. Place these at the center of the room so that each child will be able to view their contribution. If an outdoor party, create a centerpiece for the picnic table or food table using the same idea.
• Decorate the main table with fresh flowers then give each child one as they leave. Stems of flowers are excellent gifts for young middle school children and older children. Young children are easily amused and glad to receive any gift. Older children recognize the significance and may choose to preserve the flowers, especially if it's the Back To School Party for their senior year.

Have any other ideas? Send them our way by placing them in the comments box below. Who knows? Your idea may make it THE Back To School Party of the new millenium!

People who received a birthday bouquet full of the birth month flower of August probably remember what it is. If you've read last year's August birth month flower blog, "Glad To Have Gladiolus", you probably remember also.

Ok. So I just gave you a huge hint. Don't make me have to work here.

Red Gladiolus Are A Great August Birthday Gift!

The birth month flower of August is the gladiola. Though poppy holds this title, you're not going to find it in a birthday bouquet from your local florist. What you are likely to find in a birth month flower birthday bouquet is a wide range of flowers centered around (or at least including) gladiolus in orange or red. Why orange and red? Because orange, red and light green are the official birth month flower colors for August.

Ready for the flower meaning of gladiolus? "Strength of character; Sincerity; Generosity; Natural Grace" These together make a gladiolus birthday bouquet one of the most meaningful, sweet gifts that you can send! Florists use gladiolus often because it's a fresh and beautiful flower with a lot of features that enhance each arrangement. Add in a dash of meaning and a hint of happy birthday wishes and you have a great birthday gift!

Summer flowers like the gladiolus are perfect for August birthdays. Orange and red are excellent colors to represent the full summer sun, the breezy sunsets of the summer, and the way the seasons are preparing to change. Just before the leaves begin to turn color, August birthdays are very special because they are shared by people who are always on the cusp of something great. Luckily for you, it's easy to find a birthday gift for someone this fantastic. Just ask your local florist about August birth month flowers.

Celebrate Unity With Red & White Roses

Red and White Roses Represent Unity

Red and white roses are gorgeous. They are beautiful whether variegated in these colors or bunched together. With the fourth of July approaching, why not celebrate independence and unity at the same time with a red and white bouquet of roses?

The flower meaning of red and white roses is what drew me to them this July. With a patriotic spirit, I came across "unity" and knew that this flower meaning would be one of the most important yet. Political views aside, we can all agree that a very critical need in this country is the sense of unity.

Many of our forefathers declared "united we stand, divided we fall" and knew exactly what it meant. Having separated from a country once loved, the spirit of patriotism began with those brave people who knew that to be free we must be one force with one mind, one common goal, and one heart.

White Roses Help Express Unity

Unity will never go out of style. Patriotism will never be out of fashion. This Independence Day, celebrate not just with fireworks and funnel cakes but also with red and white roses. Let it be a symbol of the unity that keeps this country great and not the petty differences that divide people. Have a loved one in the military who is serving overseas? This Independence Day is especially important to them because they are fighting for our right to be unified and independent.

There are many ways to show appreciation for the troops. Wear a white rose next to a red rose on your shoulder or a rose corsage. Send a red rose to your loved one away from home. Even if it's a picture sent via email, you can still celebrate with them by wearing the same or complementing color on your shoulder. Later, send them a picture of  you with wearing your rose. What an excellent way to share a meaningful moment.

Have an idea for how to wear a red or white rose? Let us know how you plan to celebrate the holiday by commenting below!