Christmas Flower Arrangement

Red poinsettias, ‘Casa Blanca’ lilies, and the scent of fresh Christmas greens are the basis for many Christmas decorations.  Sure flowers make great decorations, but what about sending flowers as Christmas gifts?  Flowers are a fantastically appropriate gift for Christmas and other religious holidays. You won’t have to worry if they are the right size, shape, or color.  You can rest assured they won’t already have one.  Whether you use flowers for decorations or as a gift, now is the time to explore the world of Christmas flowers.

What Christmas Flowers Options Are Available?

At one time or another we’ve all sent a poinsettia to a loved one or friend for the Christmas holiday.  Although a quintessential Christmas plant, poinsettias are not the only Christmas flowers you can send.  Roses, mums, lilies, tulips and many other wonderful floral blooms are available at your local florist shop.  In fact, Christmas flowers run the gamut from traditional red roses to lime green “Fuji” mums as well as a host of plum and purple flowers.  Variety doesn’t stop with the flowers. Christmas arrangements can range from a traditional table centerpiece with candles and flowers to a contemporary arrangement with glitzy ornaments and flowers. Best of all, giving flowers as gifts during the Christmas holidays can make short work of buying presents for those hard-to-buy-for friends and loved ones.

Who Can I Send Flowers To At Christmas?

You can send flowers to anyone; your child’s teacher, your hairstylist, your uncle and aunt in TimBukTu. Sure, you could simply exchange cards, but why not add a bit of Christmas joy with some flowers? Do you have trouble finding an appropriate gift for your boss? Do you ponder with each item you look at “Is it appropriate?” or “Could it be misconstrued?” Flowers are the perfect solution—not too fancy, not too expensive, yet very thoughtful. Flowers eliminate all gift choice second guessing. The number one person to Read the rest of Christmas Flowers: Gifts, Tips And Decorations »

Flowers And Thanksgiving - A Natural Pairing

Thanksgiving Day is the perfect time to brighten the season with fall flowers. The colors alone are enough to bring a smile to a loved one’s face or bring warmth to a cold November day with shades of red, gold, orange, brown and plum.

Colorful Thanksgiving Flowers

Flowers communicate in ways that other decorations can’t. They say that the day is blessed and the guests or recipients are valued. When you add the natural beauty and aroma of a fall flower arrangement to the aromas associated with Thanksgiving—roast turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing and pumpkin pie—you can really make someone’s day.

At the very first Thanksgiving in December 1621, the Pilgrims thanked God for their bountiful harvest of crops and expressed gratitude to the Native Indians for their help in surviving their first year in America. Their feasting tables were laden with duck, turkey, venison, fish, clams, lobster, berries, watercress, dried fruit and plums.

Not only did the Pilgrims get to eat from their bounty, but their harvest also decorated their tables. Wheat stalks, pumpkins, squash, berries, plums, corn and sunflowers arrayed their tables like a kaleidoscope of autumn colors. The hearty flowers that grew back then no doubt were tucked into the bounty to bring splashes of color and beauty.

Flowers as a Hostess Gift

Fall Centerpiece With Candles

As a guest at a Thanksgiving Day gathering, this day is a wonderful opportunity to express gratitude to your host, whether your parents, grandparents, aunt or friend. It is always impressive when guests are thoughtful enough to bring a hostess gift; like a bottle of wine, baked goods or gourmet coffee.

But when you arrive with a beautiful fall flower arrangement of mums, gerbera daisies and berries, that takes the cake. An arrangement can be as simple or as lavish as you want. You can choose several stems of fall flowers tucked in a decorative vase or a lavishly-wrapped flower bouquet; either will be well-received. Pairing seasonal fruits such as oranges, apples and pears with flowers makes an appealing combination. You not only show your appreciation for being part of the celebration when you bring a flower arrangement, but it is also a tangible expression of your gratitude for all to see.

Flowers to Enjoy Indoors and Outdoors

Potted chrysanthemums are a fall favorite for making your home come alive for the holidays. You can use them as an indoor decoration during the holidays; at an entryway, on a mantel or stairwell, then plant them outdoors to enjoy year-round. Potted mums, ornamental cabbage and curly twigs tied with raffia make festive decorations at doorways, mailboxes and on porches. Golden sunflowers and fall leaves make an inviting door wreath to welcome family and friends.

You can also send these kinds of versatile flowers to loved ones you can’t be with at Thanksgiving. It’s a very thoughtful way to show appreciation to those you love. Flowers in bloom, whether indoors or outdoors, remind us of those special to us and shared memories with them.

Bountiful Cornucopia

Flowers provide that perfect, finishing touch as a centerpiece to a Thanksgiving table. Florists do so many creative arrangements with miniature pumpkins, gourds, flowers, grains, curly willow and calico (aka Indian) corn.

For a symbolic twist, flowers can be arranged in a cornucopia or “horn of plenty”, a horn shaped container which symbolizes the the meaning of Thanksgiving. It represents the overflowing abundance of the Earth’s harvest. Cornucopias are especially beautiful as Thanksgiving centerpieces with flowers, leaves and berries flowing from them.

Many times, holidays can be difficult for families who have lost a loved one. A flower centerpiece can be an especially beautiful reminder of those loved ones. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for families and friends to reminisce about times past, especially the funny memories to brighten the mood.

Flowers as Decorations

Just as important as the family feasting and prayers of thanksgiving is decorating for the season. Wreaths with fresh and dried flowers evoking the warmth of autumn and a spirit of gratitude for daily blessings are the decor of traditional choice.

Contemporary Thanksgiving Flowers

In keeping with the Thanksgiving tradition, you can use fresh flowers, nuts, leaves and candles (in fragrances like Mom’s Apple Pie, Cinnamon Cider, and Candy Corn) to decorate fireplace mantels and entryways. Small places like guest bathrooms and kitchen windowsills are just right for miniature flower arrangements and a single votive candle. Don’t underestimate the impact a small vase of flowers will make in a bedroom, bathroom or a coffee table to make guests feel at home and welcome.

Whether you are an American celebrating on November 26^th or a Canadian celebrating on October 12^th, Thanksgiving Day is a holiday anticipated year after year. It’s a time to get together with family and friends, eat homemade comfort food, root for your favorite football team, take a long nap and relax from the everyday routine.

This holiday, in particular, reminds us of all the ways we are blessed and to give thanks for those blessings. It prompts us to say “thank you” to parents, siblings, grandparents and those who have been an influence in our lives.

There is no better time to express our gratitude to those we love (and who love us!) than Thanksgiving. Flowers are a simple and heartfelt way to do this, but their impact will last a lifetime.  Your local florist can help you express your gratitude this Thanksgiving with a custom designed flower arrangement.

What Is Sweetest Day?

Looking for a reason to send a gift? How about Sweetest Day!  Never heard of it?  Well, it is the holiday that celebrates kindness and appreciation.  Sweetest Day is a fantastic way to show your appreciation for a special person, to remember those who are alone, or give back to the unsung heroes of your community.

Chocolate Hearts & Candy

Gifts are extra special when unexpected and given as a form of appreciation or simply just because. Those receiving a Sweetest Day gift are usually caught completely by surprise.  After all, no one expects a gift/treat on Sweetest Day like they do on Halloween, Christmas or even Valentine’s Day.  The element of surprise and sheer kindness in these gifts is what makes Sweetest Day so awesome.

The History Of Sweetest Day!

Celebrated on the third Saturday in October, Sweetest Day is a tradition that is often forgotten, but has a deep and chocolaty rich history.  The concept of this tradition began with a philanthropist and candy employee named Herbert Birch Kingston. Feeling the weight of  his good fortune and seeing the plight and misfortune of others, Mr. Kingston saw the need to brighten the lives of others.  Understanding the need all people have to feel appreciated, he wanted a day that recognized people simply for being people.  So drawing from his candy background, Mr. Kingston conceived the idea of a holiday that would give candy and small gifts to the underprivileged, shut-ins and Read the rest of Celebrating Sweetest Day »

Pets And Houseplants - Achieving Compatibility

If you share your home with dogs or cats, keeping them safe and happy is often your primary concern. At the same time, having interior foliage really makes a house a home. Many houseplants actually improve air quality and create a healthy environment for you.

Although houseplants are pretty and help improve your life, they can sometimes pose a serious issue for your beloved pets. According of the Humane Society of the US there are 700 identified plants that have “toxic” qualities that can cause harmful side effects in animals. Does this mean you have to chose between living with your beloved pet or an awesome houseplant? NO! It doesn’t. By taking certain steps and knowing which houseplants are dangerous to your cat or dog, you can create a pet safe home that includes beautiful foliage.

Keeping Your Pets and Your Houseplants

Before you throw out all your houseplants for the sake of your kitten or puppy, take time to consider whether you’re dog or cat can live with your plants. Some dogs and cats never touch houseplants while others can’t leave them alone. You can still enjoy these plants, even ones potentially “toxic” to pets.

You can protect your pet by taking a few preventative steps. Place plants on stands or hang them out of your dog’s reach. This can work with cats as well. However with cats, the plant must be placed so that your kitty can’t climb up to or jump on to the hanging plant. Otherwise, all questionable plants will need to be placed in a room unavailable to the cat.

If you receive a new plant as a gift, take time to see if your pet is even interested in it. Most cats and dogs simply ignore houseplants and leave them alone. Kittens and puppies are a bit different. They are extremely curious and will chew or play with just about anything. If you have a puppy take time to train them to leave the houseplants alone. Spritzing them with water when they get near the plant is usually a sufficient deterrent. With kittens it’s a bit harder to train them; you may have to put the plants out of the kittens reach.

If you’re still leery about exposing your pet to houseplants, select

Read the rest of Dogs, Cats, Houseplants: Living Happily Together »

courtesy of istock photo

Adding cool blue to your garden lends a feeling of calmness and restfulness. Because there are so few flowers that are truly blue, this color is most coveted by gardeners. One of the most beautiful blue flowers in the world is the Blue Himalayan poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia). I haven’t tried to grow them because they are temperamental and quite a challenge to grow in hotter areas, such as my Zone 7. The sight of a cluster of Blue Himalayan poppies blowing in the breeze will make you sigh.

Introduce lovely old-fashioned ‘Nikko Blue’ or ‘Blue Wave’ hydrangea to your garden as a foundation plant. Hydrangeas have the ability to change color based on the alkalinity of the soil. That means even the lovely ‘Nikko Blue’ has a chance at blooming pink instead of blue! The bloom colors will be pink in alkaline soil. In more acidic soil (5.2-5.5ph), the bloom colors are blue. To ensure that stunning blue hue, you need to manipulate your soil’s pH level and mineral content. This must be done several times during the growing season. You can lower the pH by watering with 2 tbsp of aluminum sulfate per gallon of water. The results are well worth the extra effort!

Consider the enchanting Delphinium (also known as Larkspur). Delphinium derives its genus’ name from the Greek word for “dolphin” and is suggested by the shape of a gland in the blossoms that secretes nectar.  Delphiniums make wonderful long-lasting cut flowers and bloom in red, blue and yellow, as well as blended varieties. They prefer cool, moist places and bloom in late spring. Often growing six to eight feet tall, there are some dwarf varieties that top out at just two feet in height. They grow best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade, and need staking to keep the stems upright. Keep the soil moist to feed quick growth and add a general purpose fertilizer once a month until they have bloomed.

The ethereal, light and airy Love-in-a-Mist (Nigella damascena) is a beautiful Victorian garden annual blooming in soft shades of blue, pink, white, and lavender. This annual herbaceous plant is in the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae), readily self-seeds, and is common in old-fashioned cottage gardens. It grows in full sun to partial shade and blooms from late spring through fall. Nigella is short-lived, so for continuous bloom, repeat sowing every four weeks. You can cut and deadhead this plant to keep it flowering longer.

It just wouldn’t be spring without masses of tiny Grape Hyacinths (Muscari) planted as bulbs in swaths throughout your garden. Growing no more than 10 inches tall, the tight conical heads of tiny round flowers do look like clusters of grapes. Blue is a predominant color but they also come in pale ice blue, white and yellow. Muscari, a member of the Lily family, are quite prolific, making them perfect for naturalizing. Look for the popular ‘Heavenly Blue’, bright blue ‘Dark Eyes’, mid-blue ‘Cote d’Azur’,  sky blue ‘Valerie Finnis’, and the frosty ‘Blue Spike’.  I  have the double-flowered ‘Fantasy Creation’ variety in my garden—their flower heads look like clusters of blue broccoli! Easy to grow in full sun to part shade in zones 3-9 and low-maintenance—what’s not to love about these little blue jewels?

Star-shaped, pale blue Spring Starflower (Ipheion uniflorum), with grass-like foliage is a spring perennial grown from bulbs and is very long-blooming (3-5 weeks). This plant naturalizes very swiftly, spreading by self-seeding and from bulb offsets. Often used in rock gardens and woodland gardens, they grow just 4-5 inches tall, and are perennials in Zones 6 to 7 (with mulching to protect from frost) and in Zones 8 to 9 without mulching. They can be grown in full sun to part shade, require medium watering, and are low maintenance.

In my humble opinion, a garden without ‘Heavenly Blue’ Morning Glories (Ipomoea tricolor) is incomplete. Their fleeting beauty will take your breath away. These vigorous climbers are grown from seed and will cover a trellis or wall in just one season- growing up to 20 feet and blooming prolifically. One year, I counted over 300 blooms on the vines that covered my front wall! An herbaceous annual twining vine, it will reach out in a clockwise direction and take hold of anything near it. The 4-5″ trumphet-shaped flowers come in a variety of other colors, including reds, pinks and purples—but there’s nothing more heavenly than the classic  ‘Heavenly Blue’ variety.

The buds of the herbaceous perennial Virginia Bluebell (Mertensia virginica), a member of the Borage family, begin as a pinkish shade and transform into pale blue-violet colored, trumphet-shaped flowers as they mature. Blooming in mid-to-late spring, they can be found growing en masse in moist woodland areas in partial to full shade. Plant them with hostas and ferns as companion plants.

Best planted in large groups for maximum visual impact, Blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium), a member of the Iris family, is a late spring-blooming perennial with very tiny (less than 1/2 inch!) iris-like blue flowers with yellow centers. Blue-eyed Grass does well in moist areas with some sun, and if happy in its spot, will spread to form stands. Its diminutive size makes it great for adding a grasslike addition to a small garden where ornamental grass would be overwhelming.

This Hardy Geranium (Geranium ‘Brookside’ cultivar), also known as Cranesbill, is a deciduous, herbaceous perennial that forms a neat mound that is about 18″ high and wide. Flowering begins in spring. If you cut it back after flowering, it should bloom again in the summer. It makes a great filler for mixed borders or full-sun perennial beds and grows well in containers. It prefers full sun but can tolerate part shade for half of the day. It does best in moist, well-drained soil. Hardy in zones 5-8.

Salvias also provide that saturated blue color that gardeners seek. Look for Mealycup Sage (Salvia farinacea ‘Victoria Blue’), a member of the mint family. This herbaceous perennial is commonly grown as an annual in cold areas. Striped Squill (Puschkinia libanotica) is a beautiful spring bulb flower growing just 4-5 inches tall, with pale white-blue petals with darker blue center stripes. If you’re an Iris fan, look for the lovely blossoms of the Giant Blue Flag Louisiana Iris (Iris giganticaerulea) with its four foot stems; or ‘Sky Beauty’ Dutch Iris with its combination of white and french blue petals with a single lemon yellow blotch. Agapanthus, or ‘Lily of the Nile’, with its blue ball-shaped clusters and funnel-shaped flowers on four foot stems, is a showy addition to any garden.

And finally, we can’t forget the diminutive Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis alpestris)! This perennial grows 5-12 inches high in alpine meadows (or your garden!). Each dainty flower is a mere 1/3 inch wide, with sky blue petals, a white inner ring, and a tiny yellow center. Blooming in May and June, hardy Forget-Me-Nots prefer partial shade and spread by reseeding. These charming old fashioned flowers can help fill in the blanks in your garden!

If you don’t have the blues, you certainly should - for your garden, that is!

Don’t keep the blues to yourself.  Did you know that local florists use many of these blue flowers, Hydrangea, Delphinium, Niegella, Grape Hyacinths, Iris, Agapanthus, and Forget-me-nots, in flower arrangements? So even if you don’t have a garden full of blue flowers, you can share a beautiful blue bouquet with a friend.

Cindy Dyer is a freelance graphic designer and photographer in Alexandria, Virginia. Visit her blog at www.cindydyer.wordpress.com and her botanical gallery at www.cindydyer.zenfolio.com. She can reached at dyerdesign@aol.com. All photos © Cindy Dyer, unless specified otherwise.

Don’t Just Pick The Flowers! Use The Whole Garden!

Lemons & Flowers From Belvedere Flowers

Looking for a unique way to add interest to a flower arrangements? Take a hint from Mother Nature by utilizing everything that grows in the garden to create unique and fun arrangements. Gardens contain a multitude of wonderful flowers as well as fruits and vegetables.

Sometimes we forget how noteworthy fruit and vegetables can be used as decorations, or as gifts in the form of  “floral arrangements”.  By marrying the items found in gardens with fresh cut flowers, you can create unique and fabulous designs. For example, try something as simple as roses and statice with green grapes draping over a container. The mixture of the roses with the grapes is less formal, but conveys a bit of garden whimsy.

What I enjoy about adding fruits or vegetables to flower designs is the ability to blend different textures, colors and smells into my table centerpieces.  I recently had a dinner party and was serving  Mexican food, lots of spicy Mexican food.  My florist designed a centerpiece using bright red cayenne chili peppers along with red roses, grapes and red apples.  The peppers, grapes and apples made the arrangement pop from the table.  Everyone commented on the wonderful idea of incorporating fruits and vegetables.

Taking  A Cue From The Farmers Market.

Flower Arrangement with Kale

Open yourself up to new ideas and creations by thinking outside the standard florist cooler. Browse your local fruit stands or grocery centers for unconventional ideas to use in arrangements.  Fall is a great time to experiment with gourds.  Try using small gourds, both round and elongated styles, with oranges in a clear tall vase to hold fresh flowers.  You won’t need floral foam because your gourds and oranges do the trick.

Another fantastic garden option is kale, which comes in a variety of beautiful colors. The colorful ones are often referred to as flowering kale. All flowering kales are edible like the garden varieties, making it a superb item for use in fruit and flower arrangements.

Imagine joining a bright, white-colored flowering kale with the deep green of  broccoli florets and bright orange baby carrots all in an edible arrangement. This is a great way to treat your Mother on Mothers day with an edible gift you both can share.

Edible Flower Arrangements

Most of us have seen edible flowers, such as pansies used as wedding cakes decorations. In fact, edible flowers have been used in the catering industry for a very long time.  Just like fruits and vegetables, edible flowers can be used to add a special touch of beauty or uniqueness.

More and more florists are using veggies and fruits to spice up their arrangements and to add texture as well. Vegetables and fruits are becoming more common in floral designs. Often you see fruits and vegetables used in silk flower arrangements because the colors and textures work well with different types of flora.  The use of fresh fruits and vegetables is growing more common. Fresh fruit and vegetables offer you a wide variety to draw from for inspiration and work your creative magic.

Sure you can eat them…But mostly they are for admiring.

Fruit & Flowers Arrangement From Apple Blossoms Floral Design

When using fruits and vegetables in arrangements, most often the idea is not to eat them but to enjoy the unique idea of fruits and vegetables as floral arrangements.  If you decide to use or send edible flowers with edible fruits and vegetables in an arrangement, be sure they are indeed edible. Some flowers are not edible or may have an unpleasant taste.  You can find charts that tell you which flowers are edible as well as their taste. I highly recommend checking charts. Just as I used flowering kale and broccoli with carrots for a Mother’s Day gift suggestion, some people may not be aware that flowering kale is edible. Be sure to insert a note that tells the receiver about the arrangement. That note should include care instructions and if the arrangement is for admiring, eating or both.

Yes! You can make a “flower” arrangement by using fruit.

These types of arrangements can be edible! Just wrap them in colorful cellophane to keep them moist prior to delivery.  Edible fruit arrangements are easy to make. They just take some time and some creativity, and cookie cutters to make some “fruit flowers”. Or you can do as I do. I have my local florist make them for me. Not all florists, will make these types of edible arrangements, but it’s worth a phone call to see if they will.

Fruit & Flowers By Kings Creek Flowers

The art of flower design takes on a new perspective, a whole new pizzazz when you add an element of fruit or vegetables.  Enhancing your arrangements by adding the unexpected, shows design flair, as well as creativity. Don’t be afraid of fruits and vegetables.  Maybe you don’t like to eat fruit or vegetables, but don’t deny yourself the beauty found in veggies or the brilliant colors found in fruits. Use them in a colorful fruit and flower arrangement.

I don’t like brussels sprouts but using them as a base to add some light green color with pink roses in a topiary style is one way I can enjoy brussels sprouts. So contact your local florist to get a dose of healthy fruits and vegetables in your flower arrangements, today.

A special thanks goes to Belvedere Flowers for the picture of their Fresh Lemonade arrangement. A special thanks to King Creek Flowers for the fruity reception centerpiece photo. A special thanks to Apple Blossoms Floral Design for the fruit and flower arrangement photo.

Whether you are a Havertown PA Florist, a Miami Florist, a Tampa florist or one of the fine florists across the U.S. and Canada, Flower Shop Network would love to see pictures of your fabulous arrangements.  You can send pictures to jadams@flowershopnetwork.com.

In the hectic week before Mother’s Day, a glance at the day in the life of a florist seemed to be an appropriate topic for this month’s newsletter. Georgianne Vinicombe of Monday Morning Flower & Balloon Co. details the ups, downs and wonders of a day in the life of a florist.

I’ve noticed that what I love most about my job is something that an average person usually hates. What is that, you wonder? It’s diversity, change, constant evolution and sometimes even chaos. The day in the life of a florist is anything but boring or mundane.

Georgianne Owner of Monday Morning Flowers

I’ll bet if you asked someone what they thought it would be like to be a florist for the day, most would answer with cliché. The most common one I’ve heard over the years is “It must be fun to play with flowers all day”. Play? Who said anything about playing. Last time I looked it was my job to be a florist, not my hobby.

Another personal favorite is “It must be so calm and relaxing being surrounded by all the flowers”. Ok, anyone that says this has not been standing knee deep in floral debris with a pile of orders in front of them to be designed, with a delivery driver rushing you to hurry up, and all 6 of the phone lines are ringing at once. Ah… stress is holding me together! What would I do without it?

Is it always that hectic at a flower shop? Of course not, but the truth is that most people never experience that side of our industry. The day in the life of a florist is much more complex that anyone would imagine. There are flowers and supplies to be ordered, windows and coolers to be cleaned, balloons to be inflated, flowers to be prepped and arranged, plants to be watered, payroll, bills and taxes to be paid not to mention invoicing along with credit and collections. Orders and customers don’t just fall in our lap. There are marketing and advertising dollars to be spent wisely, websites to be updated, bridal consultations and proposals to be typed, phones to be answered and the list goes on.

Prepping Flowers At Monday Morning Flowers

Now, down to basics. There are certain tasks that get done day in and day out at a flower shop. First thing in the morning the flowers arrive, fresh from the wholesaler. That’s when the floral fun begins. Boxes and boxes of fresh flowers from all over the world are delivered to our door. Lots of buckets of fresh water are lined up as flowers are unpacked and inspected. A quick cut on the chopper and the flowers are placed into water for hydrating. I love this part seeing all the flowers lined up waiting to take their place in the cooler!!

Processing of fresh flowers happens everyday at my shop and it’s a revolving door of flowers in and out. Now we get to the fun part - flowers are artfully arranged in pretty containers of all shapes and sizes. Foliage, accent and focal flowers combined in various ways and then very carefully loaded onto one of delivery vans for a quick trip directly to the recipient! There’s nothing like receiving flowers, hand delivered by a uniformed driver. I don’t get to do it often but I still love delivering flowers. It’s fun to see peoples reaction!

“Why send flowers?” you may wonder. Flowers create memories. They attack all the senses at once. Color, fragrance and sentiment on a card. I’ve been in the business so long that sometimes it’s hard to think like a consumer or even a recipient of flowers. But when I do, in an instant, I am 5 years old again. It was my first dance recital and my mom had given me a sweet little nosegay of carnations and babies breath, tied with a pink bow. If I close my eyes, I can still smell those flowers and I feel instantly happy at the memory.

Monday Morning Flowers Staff

It’s finally my wedding day. The smell of the flowers, the carnations, the roses, the stephanotis… It’s funny on that day they remind me of what it felt like to be a little girl because the smell transported me back. Now, almost 24 years after my wedding day, the smell of carnations, roses and stephanotis reminds me the day that I truly became a woman. How did that happen, when did I grow up? Even though I didn’t know it then, I was born to be a florist.

Back at the shop, the fun continues as the designer hands are flying, support staff sweep up and the sales staff assist customers who need floral advice. Flowers in and out, phones ringing, computers spitting out orders and brooms constantly moving. Ah, the signs of successful flower shop!

What I love most about my days in the flower shop are the things that most people probably would avoid. No two days are ever the same. I never know what the day will hold. Maybe an old friend from high school will walk through my doors and ask me to do her wedding flowers or maybe the White House or a Celebrity will call with a flower order. Sound crazy? Those things have happened to me within the last six months. It’s what I love, the diversity of each day! The Life of a Florist - it’s not always a bed of roses but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Georgianne Vinicombe is the owner of Monday Morning Flower & Balloon CO. in Princeton NJ and Yardley PA.  Not only is she an accomplished florist, Georgianne is a avid blogger as well.  On her blog Georgianne’s “Smile Blog”, she shares the challenges, inspiration and sheer joy of being a florist.

If you enjoyed learning about a day in the life of a florist, read Florists and the Wonderful Things They Do.

Want to learn more about how flowers create memories? Read Flower Memories.

Thinking of Mom this week.  Great ideas for Mother’s Day are found in Flowers Spell Mother

Fresh Flowers In Terracotta Pot

For many years, fresh flowers have been used in celebrating milestones, showing thanks, expressing sympathy and confirming love. Throughout those many years, new and creative ideas have come and gone in fresh flower design. Though the design techniques are ever-changing in the floral industry, containers often seem too stagnant; limited to simple glass vases or plain wicker baskets. However, over the past couple of years, florists have started to explore the use of unique and creative containers as ways to incorporate hobbies, humor, and originality into fresh flower arrangements.

When you send fresh flower arrangements the style depends on the personality of the recipient or the intended purpose. It’s just not manly to send your father a pastel bouquet in a white basket for Father’s Day. However, the same arrangement would excite your grandmother on her birthday.  When choosing a unique container in which to send fresh flowers, think about the recipient. Begin by considering their hobbies or interests and of course the occasion.

Unique Fresh Flower Containers for Women

Fact: Women love flowers. So even if you send a fresh flower arrangement in a glass vase, she will be more than ecstatic. But to really impress, try being a little creative. Many women like to garden and plant flowers in pots, especially in the spring. Most people assume that garden pots can only be used for planting garden flowers. Wrong!

Decorative Vase With Fresh Flowers

Florists frequently use beautiful indoor and outdoor pots to hold fresh flower arrangements. This is a two-for-one gift. The recipient gets to enjoy the vibrant blooms of the fresh flowers and later the pot can be used for a permanent plant or as a piece of home decor.

Another two-for-one idea is to incorporate a hobby or interest in the flower arrangement. Does she like to cook? Discuss with your florist the options of arranging the fresh flowers in a mixing bowl or possibly a decorative tea pitcher. This unique container idea can help make traditional Mother’s Day gifts extra special. These practical, but lovely items, will keep the memory of your gift alive long after the blooms fade.

Even ornamental vases or decorative boxes can be used as fresh flower arrangement containers. Have you found the perfect decorative vase to give as a gift but simply wrapping it seems mundane? Drop it off at your local flower shop and let them embellish it with flowers and deliver it as well. Adding flowers to a gift always adds a unique and luxurious touch. As your personal gift-giving assistant, your florist can help you add that special touch not to mention save you time and stress.

Unique Fresh Flower Containers for Men

Although many men love to receive fresh flowers, sending a man flowers is a perplexing task. After all, the flower arrangement must convey the message you intend while demonstrating a strong manly presence. Not only must the flowers present this manly intensity but so must the container. However, this does open the door for creativity and manly personalization. Begin by considering whether or not this man has any hobbies. Does he like to fish or hunt? Tackle boxes make a great container for a fresh flower arrangement. It doesn’t have to be a large arrangement either. Maybe you want to get him a tackle box but want to add a little something special to it to make it unique. A florist can add a small arrangement in the top of the box, even incorporating lures and bobbers to make it extra manly. Tool boxes can be used in this same manner. For the “tool man” a florist can include small tools in this arrangement as well.

Fresh Flower Containers for the Home

Creative Container

Although sending flowers as gifts is a wonderful idea for birthdays, anniversaries or any other reason, treating yourself to fresh stems is also a marvelous idea. Your local florist can supply you with fresh stems to use in your home. Bunches of lilies or even tropical blooms look great in any room in the house.

Don’t have any vases? No need to worry; anything that can hold water can hold flowers. Even a slender drinking glasses or a Mason jars make great vessels for fresh flowers. Not only is it nice to have fresh flowers around the home, but studies show that they are also mood elevators.

Needing a pick me up? Grab some fresh flowers on your way home. The smile on your face as your place the flowers in your creative container is a good indication that your mood has been elevated. Now you, too, will know what others already know about surrounding oneself with flowers - happiness follows flowers!

So get creative, not only with the containers used to embrace fresh flowers you give as gifts, but also with the fresh flowers you use in the home. Drop by your local florist today and start experimenting with all of the different ways flowers in creative containers can put a smile on someone’s face including yours.

Do you have a creative container idea? Share it with us! Send your creative container ideas and pictures to jadams@flowershopnetwork.com or add it to the newsletter in the reply box.

Prom Flowers: Traditional Meets Up and Coming
In the past, trends for prom flowers have been limited to the prom corsage or prom boutonniere. 2009 brings new creative ideas for not only corsages and boutonnières but for other accessories as well. This year, corsages and boutonnières will be as important as always, but florists all around are gearing up for the endless possibilities of accessorizing with flowers. “How do you accessorize with flowers,” you ask? Well, I’ll tell you.

Red Calla Lily Boutonniere

Traditional prom corsages and prom boutonnieres were created using roses or mums and adorned with a thin silk or satin ribbon for decoration. Boutonnieres and corsages both were worn on the shoulder of the prom-goer, which for a girl in a prom dress is very uncomfortable and inconvenient. Over the past couple of years prom corsages have made a transformation. Florists now create prom corsages to be worn on the wrist, making it easy to take on and off and much more suitable for a teenage girl.

As for prom corsage and boutonniere decorations, 2009 is the year of accessories. Forget the ribbon. Rhinestones, feathers and just about anything you can think of can be incorporated into your corsage or boutonniere. Most florists these days even have a “create your own design” option, so you can pick out all of the flowers and decorative details you want for your corsage or boutonniere.

Prom Wrist Corsage

Prom 2009 is all about embellishment; not only with the wrist corsage and boutonniere, but with other accessories as well. For so long prom flowers remained limited to the traditional corsage or boutonniere. With more accessory options and creative assembly, flowers now can be incorporated into a multitude of prom accessories. Small flowers such as mini-roses and button mums are being added to simple and boring hair pins to make beautiful and elaborate hair accessories.

Don’t stop at just the flowers though. Add some rhinestones for extra sparkle and maybe a little ribbon as well to create that trendy adornment for your hair. Florists and hairdressers are working together to create new and unique prom hairstyle trends. One such prom trend is to match the ribbon length to the girl’s hair length. Prom tiaras can also be embellished with flowers and other accessories as well. Beautiful sparkling tiaras can be woven with strands of miniature flowers adding some delicacy and feminism to a bright and shining tiara. Not wearing any hair accessories this year? You don’t need to wear an up-do just to incorporate flowers into the hair. Flowers can be bound together in small groupings or just singly wrapped to simply stick behind your ear on prom night.

Flower Ring For Prom

Embellished flower jewelry is a trend for prom 2009 as well. Florists are making wrist corsages look more like bracelets. They are also creating rings, earrings, and necklaces with flowers for prom as well. Prom flower rings are the cutest and most unique idea for 2009 prom trends.

Florists simply take a flower of your choice and make it into a ring. Miniature flowers like spray roses look the best and most size appropriate for the finger. These rings can be adorned with rhinestones and other materials just like any other prom accessory. Prom flower necklaces are also a big trend for this year. However, depending on the prom dress, a flower necklace may or may not be appropriate. Strapless prom dresses are the most suited to the flower necklace trend. As with the other prom flowers, you can work with your florist to decide which flowers and embellishments to use.

Talk to your prom florist about creating matching earrings. Creating flower earrings for prom is a rising trend for 2009 and beyond. Although prom earrings are a new floral creation requiring special florist tools, they are extremely unique and rising in popularity. As with the flower rings and flower necklaces, petite blooms also are more appropriate for the prom flower earrings. This trend requires a little more planning and discussion between the customer and the florist since special earring hooks are necessary. Once the florist has the hooks they can then create the actual earrings with whatever blooms and embellishments the customer chooses. Personalization is the key to these trends and florists have responded with the “create your own design” service. Many florists are offering customer the option of creating their own personalized prom jewelry in a convenient setting.

This year like last, prom flowers are also being incorporated into shoes. Yes, I said shoes. It seems like a crazy idea. However, the final product is quite beautiful and discretely fabulous. Not many people think to accessorize shoes, but especially with the extra-strappy heels that are being worn these days, incorporating flowers into prom shoes is effortless. Shoes can be embellished in a couple of different ways. Tiny blooms can be glued into the shoe straps, creating a “band of blooms”. This makes the shoe look as if it were made out of flowers, and is guaranteed to turn heads on prom night. Flowers can be grouped to just one part of the shoe as well for more of an impact . These are dainty and discrete embellishments that just add a touch of glamour to an already fabulous pair of shoes. Endless opportunities abound when you incorporate flowers into your prom accessories.

Making prom your own is as simple as creating a personalized look with your accessories. If you have a new idea or have questions about incorporating flowers into other prom accessories, you can contact your local florist for ideas or suggestions. Who knows? You and your florist may start a new trend!

A Gift Of Flowers

You know there is song about what a girl wants, how about what a guy wants? Most men and women all want one thing - appreciation. Yes, it is that simple. Everyone wants to be appreciated.  But, how do we show appreciation to the men in our lives? With flowers of course! Think about how you love to receive flowers, the way they make you feel appreciated and loved.  Not to mention, research has demonstrated the mood boosting power of flowers for both men and women.  So, a bouquet of flowers will give him the same wonderful feeling you get from a special flower delivery.

How To Find The Right Gifts For Men
Finding the right gift for your guy doesn’t have to be difficult. It just takes a bit of thought as to what he might enjoy and an element of surprise. An unexpected gift such as flowers will surprise him and keep him thinking of you all day. As you know, flowers come in a plethora of varieties, colors, textures and fragrances. So, when deciding what to send, think about his favorite color, scent, hobby and other personality defining things. Then call your local florist and describe your guy and the flower ideas that you think he will like.  Not sure about what type of flowers to send? Don’t worry, your florist has a million ideas and they will be happy to create something perfect for your guy. In fact, florists have containers, colors and textures that have a masculine appeal.

Special Occasion Gifts For Men With A Twist

Looking for a gift for a special occasion such as Valentines Day or your anniversary? Send him a dozen roses in his favorite color.  If roses aren’t available in his favorite color, have the florist wrap them in paper or ribbons in that color.  For a special twist add an element of anticipation when sending flowers.  Before delivery remove three or four roses from the dozen with a note on the enclosure card that says “To my love, this is really a dozen, the ones missing are with a special surprise that will be waiting for you at home tonight.” The surprise at home is up to you; let your imagination go wild. I guarantee your man will feel very loved and appreciated as he anxiously awaits his evening surprise.

Flowers For Dad

Gifts For Dad That Say “I Love You”

When distance keeps you from celebrating with dad in person, a special gift is needed to show him how much you love and miss him.  Sending dad flowers is great way to say “I love you” and “I’m thinking of you.”  Flowers will brighten his day adding to the special memories he has of you. Every time your dad walks by or looks at the flowers, he will be reminded that you are always thinking of him. Nothing is better than that feeling. It’s as near to a hug as you can give.

Gifts That Boost Morale

Is the man in your life having a work problem? One that a boost in problem solving energy might fix? A 2003 Texas A&M study found that flowers in the work place boosted a man’s creative problem solving skill (reading productivity) by 15%.  This is only one of the morale boosting benefits of flowers.

According to the Society of American Florist 60% of men surveyed said they enjoyed receiving flowers. Think about it 60% of men want you to send flowers to them. That means if you know 10 men, 6 of them want flowers. Maybe your boss,  your husband or boyfriend is one of the six.  It could even be your co-worker who covered for you during that long lunch break. I suspect the other 4 guys simply don’t know how good it feels to receive flowers or are afraid to admit they want flowers. So boost some morale and send flowers today to a guy you know.

Really? Send Him Flowers

Still apprehensive about sending a man flowers. There is no need to be. Sure it’s out of the ordinary and not at all expected. Those are the very reasons why you should send flowers. Giving flowers to men is great way to say “I love you,” “I’m sorry,” “Thanks,” as well as any other reason you can think including “just because”. Remember flowers will let him know that you are thinking of him.

For the first timers, here are a few guidelines to follow. Men tend to like less elaborate flower arrangements. Stay more in line with linear arrangements and  nothing too “frilly” or delicate. Roses are an excellent choice, as well as carnations and daisies. Men enjoy tropical flowers like Bird of Paradise or flower arrangements with an outdoorsy feel.

Flowers For Him

This type of arrangement is a man pleaser with its a rectangular glass vases strong foliage (pittosporum and hosta leaves), peach lilies, bi-colored rust peach roses, gerberas and fantastic texture with blades of lily grass and dried lotus pods. This rich and intense arrangement speaks to men.

Still a bit shy about sending men flowers? Don’t be. However, you can always test the waters by sending a blooming plant. The most important thing to remember is that men, just like women, want that feeling of appreciation, love and that feel good feeling that somebody was thinking of them.

With the many types of flowers that a florist can use to make a fun, flirty or even a friendly arrangement for a man, you have a multitude of gift giving options and opportunities. There are so many reasons to send a man flowers: for his birthday, for fathers day or “just because.”  My personal favorite is the “just because.”  Why? Because it lets my husband know I’m thinking of him and it gets me something in return - an extra special hug and kiss from a very appreciative husband.  Remember flowers are a way to send a hug. So, contact your local florist and send flowers to your guy today.