April's Showers Bring May Flowers — Until Then Call Your Florist!

This month's newsletter is all about beautiful flower arrangements: Our favorite arrangement for April, the Top 5 "Thank You" arrangements, sending yourself flowers to make your week brighter, and much, much more!

Top 5 "Thank You" Flower Arrangements

Nothing says "Thank You" like a bouquet of beautiful blooms. Your local florist makes it easy to say "Thank You!" Sometimes the best thank you is a little recognition, and having flowers delivered to them at the office never fails to brighten someone's day. Here is FSN's choices for the Top 5 "Thank You" flower arrangements!

See our picks for the Top 5 Thank You Flowers…

Unique Diamond-White Flower Guide

April's favorite flower color is diamond-white. This year, we are spotlighting unique flower colors for you to use in custom flower arrangements, wedding bouquets, centerpieces, and anywhere else you might need great-looking flowers. To make choosing the colors a little more interesting, we are starting with birthstone colors. Last month's was aquamarine, and this month it's diamond, or whiteish-silver.

Since 'diamond' is not really a color, we are associating it with lighter shades of gray. There are many, stunning flowers that come in light-gray colors, as well as shimming-silver and pale-blue. When creating a color scheme using these light-grays, you can either stick with a monochrome palette, or add a punchy, accent color to really bring out the dynamics! Imagine bright red mixed with silvery-white colors, or how about a vivid-blue paired with diamond flowers and silver accent.

This is a great flower guide for brides looking for unique color palettes and unusual flowers for their wedding.

Continue reading "April Newsletter – Alluring April Flowers" »

The Earth Laughs In Flowers

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, "The Earth Laughs In Flowers." Spring is, hands-down, the funniest season if this is true! Spring is the time of year when the earth wakes up from it's long winter nap and warms us all with it's lush greens and beautiful spring flowers. You can truly see vitality and happiness in each and every bloom. Find fresh spring flowers in a plethora of colors, shapes, and sizes; not to mention the incredible fragrances that come from each.

Kick The Winter Blues With Spring Flowers

If you need a good pick-me-up after a long stint of the winter blues, fresh cut spring flowers are your best bet. Contact your local florist and ask for their freshest and most colorful assortment! Use spring flowers to decorate your home or even at the office. (Where else do we need happiness more than at the office?) If you know someone who has been a little down in the dumps lately, surprise them with a big bunch of spring flowers delivered right to their door. Flowers will never fail to put a smile on someones face.

Welcome spring flowers as a reminder that winter is behind us, and days of fun-in-the-sun are soon to come. Order today for a bright little pick-me-up!

'Going Green For St. Patty's Day Has Never Been Easier

"Going Green" for St. Patrick's Day a few years ago meant little more than avoiding getting pinched and the occasional green beer. However, as floral aesthetics evolve and people are becoming more environmentally aware, "Going Green" can mean any number of things, meaning getting creative this St. Patrick's Day is more fun than it has ever been! Going GREEN has never been easier!

Given that the floral profession in directly intertwined with nature, it's no surprise that florists are doing their part to preserve the earth's beauty. New techniques to become a GREEN florist arrive daily, making this the hottest trend in the floral industry. Organic blooms, composting and using local florists and nurseries are just a few of the ways to to be responsible when collecting some of nature's most beautiful offerings.

Continue reading about Going GREEN for St. Patrick's Day…

FSN's Favorite Flower For March: Hyacinth

Spring has sprung! The daffodils, tulips and other spring flowers are waking up from their slumber. Hyacinths are our favorite flower this month, mostly because of their wonderful fragrance that could only be described as truly springtime!

he beautiful spring hyacinth is a definite signal that spring has finally sprung! They are a short plant, but covered in highly fragrant, tiny bells. Perfect for any garden close to a window for spring fragrance.

Hyacinths have represented rebirth in many cultures. They are often associated with spring, but especially Easter. Flowers for Easter are often soft, pastel colors and the hyacinth offers just that, and a wonderful spring fragrance to accompany it. Continue reading "March Newsletter: Spring Has Sprung!" »

So, what happens if I DON'T order my Valentine's Day flowers EARLY?!?

Buying Valentine's Day flowers early ensures you get the BEST QUALITY flowers, BEST SERVICE, and they will arrive ON TIME! Take just a few minutes to call your florist and talk to them about your sweetie. When a florist knows what type of person they are designing for, they can make it truly personal. Valentine's Day flowers mean so much more than just a bundle of roses put together. If you really want to show how much you care, order EARLY!

Valentine's Day Flower Deliveries

Well, waiting til the last minute to order Valentine's Day flowers can put you out of luck with deliveries. Florist have a tight schedule on Valentine's Day; ordering early ensures you a guaranteed spot for delivery. If your delivery requires special accommodations, such as a specific time, then it is especiallllllly important to order early. (Getting the message here, guys?!)

How florists help: Often, to account for these last minute Valentine's Day deliveries, florists will add temporary delivery drivers. Even then, you're still playing it risky!

How you can help: Not to sound like a broken record, but order early… Another thing you can do is have your flowers delivered to your sweetie on FRIDAY. (Valentine's Day falls on a Monday this year.) It's a great way to kick off a Valentine's Day romantic weekend.

Valentine's Day Flower Pickups

Last minute Valentine's Day flower pickups is also a bit of a gamble. Don't be one of those guys standing around the flower cooler staring at the last few flower arrangements left, and don't just pickup a last-minute bouquet from a street vendor or grocery store either. (We will know, guys, we will know…)

How florists help: Florists fill their coolers to the brim with pre-made Valentine's Day orders, but trust me, they go fast! These are also the ones that go out on last-minute deliveries (if there are even any available). Many florists will open their flower shops early and stay late on Valentine's Day, but doesn't your sweetie deserve more thought than the last bouquet in the cooler?

How you can help: Order early! Pick up flowers for your honey on Friday instead of Monday!
Continue reading "Get Ready! Valentine's Day Will Be Here Soon!" »

Winter Inspiration = Wintspiration!

Winter is the time of year where we spend much of our time indoors. Luckily there are tons of holidays and celebrations during this season to encourage family togetherness and spending time with friends. Decorating with fresh flowers in the winter brings added warmth and happiness to everyone. It is simply not possible to feel the blues around an incredible bouquet of winter flowers. In this post you will find lots of great ideas and the perfect wintspiration to get you started!

Winter Romance: Create Some Heat With A Radiant Bouquet

It's January and hustle and bustle of Christmas is finally ending. Now is the perfect time for you to surprise your lady with a little winter romance. Show her just how much you care by surprising her with romantic flowers either at home or the office. Continue reading "Wintspiration – January Newsletter" »

Christmas Is Here At Last

We couldn't possibly have a newsletter in December without making it all about the holidays! Here, we have highlighted some of our favorite posts from this month. So keep reading for great Christmas ideas, tips and fun!

Glitz & Glam: This Ain't Your Momma's Christmas Decor

Are you tired of the traditional red and green we see every year at this time? You're not alone. Many people are opting for a more quirky Christmas look. This year, opt for the Glitz & Glam Christmas!

For this outrageous look, channel your inner child and go wild and crazy when selecting your Christmas decorations and ornaments. Pick bright and playful contemporary colors like hot pink and electric blue. Use over-sized Christmas ornaments and trendy Christmas tree picks to take your look to the next level (literally).

See more Glitz & Glam Christmas Decor…

Point The Way To Christmas With Beautiful Poinsettias! Continue reading "FSN's Bloomin' Newsletter For December" »

TREND ALERTS! Flower popularity on the rise!

This month's newsletter is all about incredible, new flower trends! Florists everywhere are going above and beyond their traditional roles and showing off their craft in ways you've never thought possible. The drab days of roses-and-babies-breath arrangements are OUT and giving customers a fabulous, one-of-a-kind work of floral art is IN!

With the current availability of unique plants and flowers from around the world, paired with the eagerness of creative florists to think out of the box, it's no wonder we are seeing such amazing design trends coming from the floral industry.

Keep reading for more insight into some of the coolest trends in flowers!

FLOWER TRENDS: Equisetum, Oh The Possibilities!

One of my favorite foliage trends right now has to be Equisetum. Florists everywhere are using it in the most CREATIVE ways! Equisetum hyemale, also know as horsetail, is a bamboo-like fern. Because it stands so straight, it is ideal for geometric floral designs. Check out this post with great pics of floral designs using this unusual foliage.

See more Floral Designs Using Equisetum…

HANAKOTOBA: The Japanese Language of Flowers

In the Victorian Era, flowers were used as a means of communication. Each flower had it's own, particular meaning and bouquets were used to send coded messages. People today still send flowers chosen specifically for their flower meanings.

Not only did the Western world have its own coded, flower language, the East had one as well— Hanakotoba, the Japanese language of flowers. Although, obviously not as popular today as it once was, Hanakotoba is still used in many Japanese movies and animations.

Read More About Hanakotoba: The Japanese Art Of Flower Meanings…

FLOWER TRENDS: Pocket Squares Taking The Place of Boutonnieres? Continue reading "FSN Bloomin' Newsletter For November" »

OCTOBER IS A BIG MONTH FOR HOLIDAYS!

Sure, the big October holiday is Halloween, but there are numerous other small holidays that deserve just as much attention! Did you know there were two other great holidays that just happen to be on the same day? Bosses Day and Sweetest Day are coming up fast!

Perhaps the 2nd-most anticipated holiday (Christmas is first, of course), Halloween is the time of the year to be something you're not. Who doesn't want to have a day to not be yourself? Plus coming up with your costume is the best part of the year!

Bosses Day is a great way to say a big thank you to your boss. (Hopefully you've got a good one!) This year, Bosses Day will fall on a Saturday, many employees are choosing to send their Bosses Day gifts on Friday instead. Check around your office to see if your co-workers are planning something special for your boss on Friday.

Sweetest Day is a fun holiday to show appreciation to those in your life who typically get overlooked. By sending Sweetest Day gifts, you can make someone's day so much sweeter and feel great knowing they truly deserved it.

Keep reading for more great ideas for all of these holidays and more!

SEND FOOTBALL-THEMED FLOWERS FOR A WINNING HUBBY!

I don't know about you, but my guy's big into football. NFL, College… even the world of fantasy football has taken him over.

Sending a man flowers is almost taboo for some guys, but sending a man football-themed flowers… suddenly he's the hit of the office! Don't ask me why, but there is a certain passion a man reserves for his team.

So, for wives looking to send a little something special to their hubby's office, football-themed flowers are an obvious choice! Not only will they loveee the idea, but will show it off to all of their friends and co-workers.

Read More About Sending Football-Themed Flowers…

FSN GOES PINK FOR THE CURE

Today Flower Shop Network participated in Arkansas' first ever Go Pink For The Cure Day. In September, Governor Mike Beebe declared October 1st to be Go Pink For The Cure Day to raise awareness for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. He urged all citizens to 'go pink' to raise awareness in their business, school, religious or social group. This day will surely do great things for creating awareness of the importance of mammography and remove barriers that prevent women from seeking mammograms.

They asked us to go pink and that is just what we did! At FSN, we have been personally affected by the horrible disease. Not only do many of us have friends and family members who have succumbed to breast cancer, but one of our very own Continue reading "FSN's Bloomin' Newsletter for October" »

Big Flower Trends For Your Fall Decor

NOW is the time to be thinking about fall decor! Whether you are planning a wedding, party, ladies-night-out or ladies-night-in, FALL is the best season for decorating! Fall flower trends are really unique this autumn. With unique color palettes, the increasingly-popular shabby chic style and a much-needed, closer look to nature for inspiration, this season is full of surprises!

We've covered a few trendy flower topics in this newsletter, and there's tons more fall inspiration to come in the Bloomin' Blog for September!

FSN Trend Alert: Sushi Flowers

Sushi lover or not, you have to appreciate the care, artistry and composition a sushi chef puts into their work. Sushi is quickly becoming one of the trendiest foods around! Even if you don't like eating the raw-fish rolls, you can still get your hands on cute sushi swag —  sushi is invading pop culture! Don't forget our favorite way to use sushi — in trendy floral designs! Check out these great sushi-themed flowers we saw at floral shows this summer:

Read More About Trendy Floral Designs: Sushi Edition…

New Fall Color Trends For Floral Design

Upcoming color trends for the 2010 fall season are all about using new and exciting colors. Now, I know what you're thinking… fall colors have been the same forEVER! Reds, oranges, yellows, browns… Don't get me wrong, those are very fun colors to use, but this year add in accent colors like lime green, magenta, or orange cream. Continue reading "FSN's Bloomin' Newsletter For September" »

HEARTFELT RECYCLING FOR BUDDING COMMUNITY SERVICE

Recently, Flower Shop Network attended the Texas State Florists Association Convention in San Marco, Texas. While there, we had a local San Marco florist, It's The Tropics, come in and give our trade show booth some life with their fabulous tropical arrangement.

Once the show was over, there was really nothing we could do with it. We had a 14 hour drive ahead of us in an SUV packed completely full! I hated to just throw it away… Lucky for us, the TSFA came up with a brilliant idea to recycle the flowers from the show!

They sat out a ton of bubble bowl vases with curly willow and some greenery — arrangements just begging for fresh flowers! The attending florists were invited to build arrangements out of the flowers left over from the show. These recycled arrangements were then taken to a local hospital to brighten someone's day. What a great surprise!

This is just one of the great ways the floral associations are helping local communities. This is a pretty common act for conventions like these, but it was fascinating to see our design recycled.

After being recycled, here are the 3 floral designs built from our tropical arrangement.

FSN At The Texas State Florists Association Convention

This past weekend, July 23-25, Flower Shop Network had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Texas State Florist Association Convention in San Marcos, Texas. The theme was "The Green Life" and we learned a lot about what it means to be 'green' in the floral industry.

View ALL photos from the Texas State Florists Association Convention…

Continue reading "FSN's Bloomin' Newsletter For August" »

3 Great Party Ideas For Your Summer Entertaining

Backyard BBQs, pool parties, picnics — you name it, it's happening now! Summer's here and EVERYONE'S outside enjoying the sun!

The Patriotic-Themed Summer Party
Just because the 4th has passed, doesn't mean you have to put away your patriotic decor! You've got the perfect party theme! Decorate your porch, yard or rented pavilion with everything red, white and blue. Find 4th of July themed party supplies like hats and glasses to force everyone into the festive spirit! (Since the 4th is over — think: clearance, clearance, clearance!)

For food, think traditional American — hamburgers, hot dogs, and anything else that cooks on a grill! Adorn your desserts with fresh strawberries, cherries and blueberries on top of white icing for a delicious red, white and blue treat!

A party just isn't a party without beautiful table decor. Ask your local florist to create a patriotic floral centerpiece for your guests to enjoy, just like this one by one of our great members, Hart Floral.

Garden Party
Gardening has quickly regained it's status as a favorite pastime all over the world. Between you and your friends you are bound to have at least one…
Read more about Ideas for Summer Entertaining…

FSN At AIFD's National Symposium

FSN was on the road this past weekend to Boston, MA. where the AIFD (American Institute of Floral Designers) was hosting their extravagant National Symposium! This is where the top floral designers in the United States and around the world come together to network, learn, and really show off their stuff! These are the floral artists. They know the ins and outs of their trade like no others, and are there to show their passion as well as give a few pointers, tips and techniques along the way. We just got back yesterday, July 7th, and are slowly posting all of the great media we recorded while there. Be sure to check out the FSN Photos of AIFD Revolution as well as the video interviews with event directors, presenters and even local florists attending the event as they are posted. Continue reading "FSN's Bloomin' Newsletter for July" »