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” »

Top 5 June Flowers to Put You In The Mood for Summer

5. Lilies

Lilies are popping up all over the place. This little beauty makes the list for being the most common of the June flowers. Why? Most lilies are able to survive with little care and are drought tolerant plants. This has enabled the lily to ‘escape’ and grow everywhere as if they were wild.

4. Calla Lily

Calla lilies’ bloom color may be pink, violet/lavender, dark purple/black, or white/near white. With this many variations, you’re sure to find one to complement any occasion. Calla lilies are very popular wedding flowers right now. Dressed in white and elegant — just like the bride!

3. Gladiolas

These were always my dad’s favorite garden flowers. Sometimes called the sword lily, these brightly colored beauties stand tall in a vase arrangement or even your own flower garden. Gladiolas are a great way to add height and color to your June decor.

2. Delphinium or Larkspur

The beautiful delphinium, or larkspur, is definitely a florist’s favorite. The flower has five petal-like sepals which grow together to form a hollow pocket with a spur at the end, giving the plant its name. These beautiful purple blooms can be seen wild in grasslands and beside roadways, but are becoming increasingly rare.

1. Hydrangea

Probably the favorite of all summer flowers, the hydrangea’s blooms definitely have a commanding presence. Hydrangeas have two types of flower arrangements: mop-head flowers are the large round flower heads resembling pom-poms or, as the name implies, the head of a mop. In contrast, lacecap flowers bear round, flat flower heads with a center core of fertile flowers surrounded by outer rings of showy, sterile flowers.

Personalized & Creative Tribute Flowers

Funeral flowers are not what they used to be, and for good reason. We have become so accustomed to personalization, why not customize our final tribute to a lost loved one? People everywhere are opting for sympathy arrangements with a more personalized feel.

This is a great custom funeral design for someone who was known for their love of music. Perhaps they were sent by someone in a band with the deceased. What a great way to honor those memories they shared together. Custom set pieces are great to pay tribute to the deceased favorite hobby or interest.
Read More About Personalized & Creative Tribute Flowers…

ASK THE EXPERT

Every week our Plant Expert answers YOUR most challenging plant care & identification questions.

Question About A Seed Pod Found In St. Croix

I found this 18″ pod in St. Croix. Pictured is the inside & outside. Before it split open there were seeds in each of the little compartments and made a great rattle. Can anyone ID it?
Thanks. John

Our Expert’s Answer

Of course we can, John! Turns out this seed pod is from the most amazing fire-orange tree, appropriately named Flamboyant Tree. Read more and see pictures of this gorgeous tree from the Caribbean in this post…

WE’RE SOCIAL

Love flowers? Follow us on the above Social Networks! We are always sharing the latest articles from our Bloomin’ Blog, as well as the most fascinating news on the net!

What do you think of our new monthly newsletter format? Your opinion really matters to us. With your help, we can make the FSN newsletter just what you want and need. You can drop us a note in the comment section on the blog or email us at social@flowershopnetwork.com. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Some of our fondest memories of summer stem from our love of flowers. This month, we are taking a look at three summer flower favorites! Who can forget their childhood summers spent sipping tiny drops of nectar from honeysuckles? What about the colorful flowers that attracted the first hummingbird you saw? Or the moment your first real-flower lei was draped over your shoulders? Get into the spirit of summer early this year with this first look at sensational summer flowers.

It’s Not Summer Without Honeysuckle Flowers!

Who can forget the childhood wonder of their very first taste of honeysuckle nectar and the sensory abandonment that accompanied the moment when the sweet scent of this summer flower’s blossoms wafted over you and the sugary taste of the syrup as the first drop hit your tongue? Many children have undoubtedly spent hours of their summer vacations laboriously collecting teeny droplets into mason jars, believing themselves to be business savvy entrepreneurs who could “get rich” selling the sweet ambrosia.

While those dreams never came to fruition for most of us, the honeysuckle remains a great source of nostalgia and continues to bring joy to those who find pleasure in its many uses. Many people unfairly deem honeysuckle an invasive pest with a penchant for overtaking everything in its path. Because of the resilience of the honeysuckle vine, it remains an ideal candidate for creating borders in the yard or around garden areas. The honeysuckle vine will climb a trellis or a fence and create a beautiful natural perimeter when well pruned.

Outdoor dinner parties on the patio hosted near its fragrant blooms create an Continue reading “Summer Flowers Create Marvelous Memories” »

No one knows you better than Mom, and the inverse rings true, too! Our moms are special, wonderful people whose personalities have been with us since the beginning. So, why not include a touch of Mom’s personality when sending a floral arrangement this Mother’s Day? It’s amazingly simple to add a touch of personality for a Mother’s Day bouquet that says, “Mom, I got this for you.”

To get started, contact your local florist to discuss your options. Adding something special to your mother’s arrangement can be as small as adding her favorite candy or getting creative with the container. Here are a few ideas:

Mother’s Day Collectible Gifts:

Is your mom an avid collector? If so, you and your florist can come up with a great way to incorporate any number of things, from brooches to tea pots. A skilled florist can find a way to mix in small items or arrange flowers in unconventional containers. For example, for a mother who collects tea pots, you can ask your florist to build their arrangement inside a lovely tea pot. Imagine how thrilled your mother would be to receive a stunning bouquet, as well as an addition to her prized collection!

Stamps, thimbles and countless other trinkets can be added with ease to a variety of arrangements. Collaborate with your florist to find the perfect idea for your mom! Trust me, the extra effort will be worth it!

The Perfect Color For Your Mother:

This is an easy one! What is your mother’s favorite color? My mother likes red, so naturally, I would choose red flowers and accessories when designing my arrangement. Add colored beads, ribbon and other details to add some pizazz to your arrangement. Don’t be afraid to go monochromatic: it’s modern and chic! The variety of textures in a monochromatic arrangement captivates the eyes in a new and exciting way!

Another great idea is to choose birth month flowers to represent each of your mother’s children. Follow this handy birth month flower guide to create a custom arrangement to represent those lucky enough to call your mother, “Mom.” Consider adding a card that explains the flowers and who in the family they represent. This colorful bouquet will be a exquisite reminder of how much your mom means to your family.

Mothers Adore Photos:

Adding family photos to bouquet is another wonderful way to personalize your Mother’s Day bouquet. Bring a handful of your mother’s cherished photos to your local florist and ask her to incorporate them into the arrangement. Include photos of your kindergarten graduation, your brother’s childhood toothless grin or photos of your entire family. You know your mother better than anyone, so choose photos you know matter most to her. You really can’t go wrong!

Another interpretation of this trend is creating a generational bouquet with flowers of your mother, her mother and your great-grandmother. This honors all the cherished mothers in your family and reminds your mother of the important place she holds.

Adding photos is a great way to personalize an arrangement if your mother lives far away, as photos can be sent to local florists all over the country. The extra effort will go a long way when letting your mother know how much you appreciate all that she has done for your family.

Moms Love Candy:

Adding candy or other edibles to an arrangement is a growing trend in floral design. By adding your mother’s favorite candy to an arrangement, you’re creating a bouquet to please all of the senses! Your florist will know the best way to incorporate candy bars, apples or whatever else your mother may like.

Use this as an opportunity to get creative! For example, for mother who is a teacher, incorporating apples into a bouquet would be a charming way to pay tribute to her profession while sending a one-of-a-kind bouquet to make her day.

Trust your florist to incorporate your ideas in a way that is pleasing to the eye. There are many ways to make your creative ideas come to life! However, this isn’t a last minute call. Take the time to plan ahead to ensure your Mothers Day bouquet worthy of the one who has done so much for you.

Mothers’ hobbies vary as much as their personalities. You know your mother better than anyone. Choose one thing to add to an arrangement that speaks to who your mother is and what she means to you. Taking the time to personalize a Mother’s Day arrangement will let her know how much you love her for her.

Teapot picture courtesy of Creative Commons

Photo Bouquet courtesy of Mary Jane’s Flowers and Gifts in Berlin New Jersey

Every spring, I begin the process of taking stock in my garden. What survived the cold winter? What areas just need sprucing up or an extreme makeover? Then, I head to my favorite nursery and begin my annual indulgence—plant shopping! The color I gravitate to most is purple—from pale periwinkle to luscious lavender to deep, velvety jewel tones.

Purple adds drama and mystery to my garden. I add yellow, pink and white flowers to add contrast and lighten the palette. To create great focal points with intense color, I combine shades of orange or gold in front of a swath of purple blooms. My favorite color combination is combining a punch of chartreuse with deep purple—talk about eye candy!


Below are some of my favorite purple blooms:

Balloon Flower or Chinese Bellflower (Platycodon) is a perennial plant known for its large, showy blossoms that resemble hot air balloons right before they open. The plant forms in clumps and each stem bears bell-shaped flowers in pink, purplish-blue and white. Grown in full sun or partial shade, they bloom throughout the summer.

Easy to grow, the striking Bearded Iris is a drought-tolerant plant with blooms in a rainbow of colors. Grown from rhizomes, these perennials blossom in spring, although there are summer-blooming irises. The blooms are large, showy and make a great backdrop in your garden.

Continue reading “A Passion for Purple Flowers” »

Flower Romance Consists Of More Than Roses!

Yes, roses are traditionally considered the most romantic flower.

However, this isn’t always the case. Though it seems hard to believe, many men and women do not care for roses or favor other flowers more highly.

When you’re in a pickle about which romantic flowers to get your sweetheart, don’t be discouraged. Try these ideas instead:

Choose A Flower With A Significant Meaning

The instant joy felt when receiving flowers is a memory not quickly forgotten. Often, parents send their children the same type of flower each year to celebrate a birthday, special occasion or Valentine’s Day before boyfriends and girlfriends enter the picture.

Carnations, orchids, tulips, daisies and other popular cut flowers are given as tokens of love and affection on these occasions. Growing up with those memories, the flowers sent are revered through adolescence and into adulthood.

When considering Valentine’s Day gifts, anniversary flowers, or birthday flowers this year, do your best to learn if a particular bloom has a special significance to your sweetheart.

Instead of the traditional “because it’s expected of me” gift, your sweetie will enjoy the “it’s truly because I care” gesture. The little things go a long way, and this is the “extra mile” sort of gift that will dazzle.

Select Fresh Flowers With Special Meanings

The sweetest thing someone can do for their lover is to personally select the flowers that go into a romantic bouquet. Taking the time to learn about flower meanings, flower color meanings and personal significance to the recipient is the most amazing part of any gift. When ordering a romantic flower bouquet from your florist, consider the following flowers. Each has a special flower meaning. (Hint:  Include the flower meaning on the card and watch her eyes light up!)

• Holly = domestic happiness
• Larkspur = beautiful spirit
• Lilac = first love
• Orchid = delicate beauty
• Red Tulip = declaration of love
• Yellow Tulip = hopelessly in love

Talk with your florist about using flowers with significant meanings. The best gift of all is the gift that shows how much you care.

Romantic Flowers She’s Sure To Love

There are some fresh flowers that never fail. Many of the flowers below are Continue reading “The Romance Of Flowers: How To Choose The Best Flowers For Your Sweetie” »

Need a fresh gift idea? Many people traditionally think of roses as a romantic gift. However, roses are so much more than that. Few truly appreciate the uniqueness of roses and how the right spin on the gift of roses will make it the best gift yet.

Don’t feel left in the dark. From the flower meaning of roses to crafty card messages, here’s how to turn your bouquet of roses into the ultimate gift of love, friendship or thanks.

It’s Good To Look Back – A Partial History of the Rose

Adding a creative spin to your gift is easy when you know the history of the rose. The enclosure card is a great place to let your sweetheart or friend know why you chose the gift of roses. Do you see her as a goddess? An elegant, aristocratic type? Find your inspiration below.

Roses have played a large part of many societies throughout the world. In both Greek and Roman mythology, roses were associated with their goddesses of love (Aphrodite and Venus respectively). The rose has also been attributed to the Egyptian goddess Isis and the Christian religion’s Virgin Mary.

During the time of the Roman Empire, Romans placed a rose on the doorstep where secret matters were being discussed. The term “sub rosa,” meaning “under the rose,” came from this practice. The phrase means “to keep a secret” or “keep it secret.”

In English society, the rose is the national flower of England and the provincial flower of two provinces. It is also the national flower of the United States and the state flower of four U.S. states.

Valentines Day in the U.S. is not the only time when roses are given as a gift of love. Dark red roses are also given as romantic or affectionate gifts on St. George’s Day in Catalonia, an autonomous community in Spain.

Why do you see so many roses with French names? Because much of the fascination with roses began when Empress Josephine of France encouraged the breeding of roses at her gardens in Malmaison. Subsequently, many famous French artists have grown famous for their depictions of roses. Examples include Pierre-Joseph Redoute, Henri Fantin-Latour, Claude Continue reading “Roses: Your “Go To Gift”” »

Whenever I think of a Christmas cactus, I am reminded of the large one my Grandmother had while I was growing up. It sat on a shelf in a back bedroom and had long green arms of the unique-shaped leaves that spilled out everywhere around it. Only a few times can I remember seeing the beautiful white tubular flowers blooming on it. I always enjoyed seeing the plant when I visited and wished to have one of my own.

Red Christmas Cactus

During a visit while I was in college, I took a few clippings with me to try and start one of my own. The leaves did not survive the plane trip from Nevada to Arkansas, and I was disappointed to hear that the plant had died a few years later. I have since enjoyed the wide array of Christmas cacti bloom colors now available. In fact, I look forward to purchasing one this year to enjoy with my family.

With the holidays right around the corner, you may be thinking about your own Christmas cactus. Will it bloom soon? Perhaps you will look for another one this year, or maybe you will send one as a gift for a loved one to enjoy. The plants can be found in a wide variety of bloom colors, including white and shades of pink, red, purple and orange. If you do not have a Christmas cactus, this is the time of year they can be found in your local florist shop. With a little care, the Christmas cactus can become an heirloom, living long and providing beautiful blooms up to twice a year. It can truly be a gift that keeps on giving.

Christmas Cactus Facts

Christmas cacti (Schlumbergera x buckleyi) are native to Brazilian rain forests and have been cultivated for commercial purposes for many years. In nature, the cacti are commonly found growing in decaying plant matter in tree branch crevices: here temperatures remain moderate and water runs off easily, keeping the plants moist but not damp. Because of these characteristics, the cacti make great houseplants.

The cacti require little care and can live and thrive for many years. The soil should be kept moist, but not wet to touch and should not be allowed to dry out completely. Temperatures should be kept moderate, and the plants should not be placed near a heat or air source, or too near a window that gets direct sunlight. A little houseplant fertilizer can be given before or after the cacti have completed their blooming cycle. With the right conditions, your cactus should bloom twice a year, but can be encouraged to bloom several times during the year. Extremes in moisture, temperature and feeding during blooming time can interfere with the length of blooming and the ability of the cactus to maintain buds and blooms.

Christmas cacti belong to a group of Holiday cacti (Schlumbergera) that include Thanksgiving cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) and Easter cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii). There are a few differences between the three cacti, including leaf-stem shape, flower style and structure. The most distinguishing difference is the time period in which the flowers bloom. Thus, the Christmas cactus typically blooms late November to early January. While the differences between Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti can be minor, you may want to check with your florist to see which one to choose, if you want a cactus that blooms repeatedly during one holiday or the other.

Schlumbergera blooming in stores during October and November are probably Thanksgiving cacti. Although Christmas cacti can be found in early November, they have likely been grown under special conditions and may not bloom during the same time period next year.

Caring For A Christmas Cactus: Propagation and Re-blooming

Pink Christmas Cactus

If you’ve had a Christmas cactus for many years and the stems could use a little trim, you may consider propagation. After the cactus completes its blooming cycle, let it recover for a month. Then, cuttings of at least two leaf segments can be made from the tips of the stems. A fourth to half of the cutting is then placed in pot with potting soil. Be sure to place three or more cuttings per pot to ensure a full healthy plant. In a few months you will have another Christmas cactus to enjoy.

A Christmas cactus can also be forced to re-bloom. While you may think that temperature is a factor in blooming, daylight length is actually the key. Christmas cacti are triggered to bloom during short days. This can be achieved by placing the plant in a dark bedroom or by covering the plant for 15 or more hours a day. It may take up to a month to trigger the plant to produce bloom buds, but once the buds appear the plant can be returned to its usual viewing location. Remember to avoid extreme temperatures that would trigger bud release.

Regardless of whether you will purchase your first Christmas cactus this year or have an old one, this is perfect time to take pleasure in the plant’s distinctive green leafy stems. Celebrate the exquisite blooms as they appear, knowing you have a spectacular houseplant that can be shared, gifted and enjoyed by all.