We have exactly 6 days til Valentines Day or 5 depending on how you want to count it. Other than Christmas, Valentines Day is the most anticipated holiday. Children can’t wait to see what their parents and friends give them. They anxiously fill out their Valentines cards making sure to include one for each member of their class. Office chatter revolves around what might be sent or done for Valentines Day. Hints are dropped and Valentines Day hopes are whispered. Flowers, balloon, candies and romantic dinners are the gifts sent to loved ones or special friends. But after reading Georgianne’s “Smile Blog” this morning, I realized that although those are the gifts we send on Valentine’s Day, that’s not what we are really sending.

Georgianne (along with her husband) is the owner of Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Co in Yardley Pa. Her blog gives a little insight into this florist’s life and passion. I often read her blog because she has a passion for flowers and a flair for creativity and, of course, because she is proud to be a New Jersey girl.  But the post I read this morning, really spoke to me.  I understand the time and effort that florists put into the week leading up to Valentines Day.  It is like the day after Thanksgiving for retailers except they have to create every item that goes out of their shop.  Many florists go into a Zen like mode the week of Valentines, becoming as Georgianne states  “A well oiled machine indeed.”  So I could relate to everything she expressed in her post.   However, it was the next to the last sentence in the last paragraph that gave me an AHA moment – “Our motto is “Let us help you send someone a smile” and by golly, we’re doing just that!.”

It maybe Monday Morning Flower and Balloon Company’s motto but it is really what we are sending on Valentine’s Day.  All the flowers and all the gifts we send on Valentines Day are a way for us to send what is really important a smile, a hug and the acknowledgment that the person we are sending to is very special and loved by us.

So thanks Georgianne for reminding me why I send flowers on Valentines Day.

Grapevine Wreath

1.  Grapevine wreaths refers to the type of material intertwined to form these wreaths. Grapevine wreaths commonly form lovely bases for other wreaths such as Christmas wreaths. Though a bit plain by themselves, grapevine wreaths can stand alone if desired. They can also be decorated with many other accessories to form a completely different wreath for every occasion. To get started on the holiday cheer early this year, contact your local florist for grapevine wreaths and many other interesting designs.

2.  Bottle brush wreaths are those dark blue-green wreaths that look (and feel) like one could scrub the holiday dishes with the material. The very coarse plastic material keeps bottle brush wreaths in the top 5 because of the durability of these wreaths. They can be sprayed with fake snow for a wintry look, decorated with ornaments for a festive look, or left alone to add some warm color to the gloomy gray days of winter.

Flower Shop Network Festive Holiday Wreath

3.  Christmas wreaths or swags are hands down the most popular holiday wreath for the front door ever. Usually formed of a decorated grapevine wreath, festive Christmas wreaths can be made of a variety of materials but always form the treasured look of Christmas. These wreaths greet passengers with holiday cheer, transforming the home into a warm holiday gathering place.

4.  Vintage ornament wreaths are just what the name implies–made of ornaments. Colorful ornaments of all shapes, sizes and colors are attached to form a very fun and festive holiday decoration. Ornament wreaths are also fun to make with older children who enjoy helping operate a glue gun or tube of super glue.

5.  Floral wreaths cannot be left out of any top 5 wreath list. It’s just not right. Floral wreaths are the amazing decorations formed entirely of different flowers woven together. These are great holiday gift ideas for people who adore flowers such as gardeners, florists and others.

Top Six Reasons To Decorate With Poinsettias This Winter

Stunning Poinsettias Add Holiday Cheer In Many Ways

1.  Colorful poinsettia blooming plants are every bit as beautiful a decoration as mistletoe at holiday office parties, but minus the creepy coworkers trying to wrangle a kiss beneath the berries.

2.  Consider this your good fortune when Christmas shopping for grandma. She’ll love the way a poinsettia plant reminds her of her involvement in the Red Hat Society!

3.  Arriving with a handful of poinsettia plants is a great way to convince coworkers that you are preparing the decorations for the first-ever office Christmas pageant. Let everyone know that the worst singer in the office was hand selected to be the star soloist. Once the room has scattered, you’ll have ample time to decorate your office with poinsettias.

Perk Up The Holidays With Holiday Poinsettias

4.  Poinsettia care doesn’t require a lot of extra effort. You’re busy during the holidays so finding extra time to care for your poinsettias, often called pointsettias, isn’t in the time budget. The good thing is that with poinsettias, you don’t have to. So run, run Rudolph to your local florist and pick up poinsettias for a splash of holiday cheer.

5.  Poinsettia flowers come in many eye-popping colors. Red poinsettias, pink poinsettias, white poinsettias, and sometimes even blue poinsettias can be added to your holiday decor for a stunning look.

6.  Not just for use in Christmas flower arrangements, single poinsettia flowers make great hair accessories. No, really. It’s a popular trend to wear flowers in your hair. What more festive flower could you wear in your hair around the holidays than a poinsettia? If people start to water your head, that’s their own issue.

Ask the Expert: What will be blooming?
We’re planning a big reception for May 9th in Sacramento. I’m new to this area. I know there will be lots in season, but I don’t know what! What will I find locally for bouquets at that time of year?

Thanks
Mary

Ask the Expert: Seasonal blooms in Minnesota
I’m getting married May 2 in Minneapolis. What will be blooming at that time? I”m thinking of shopping at their fabulous farmers market for my flowers.

Thanks!
Mary

Ask the Expert: Seasonal flowers for a March Wedding in Florida?

I am getting married in central Florida on March 21st. I would like to use as many local flowers, or at least grown in the US, as possible. What are some options? How would I go about getting orange blossoms?
Thanks! Jaime

Ask The Expert: I  grew  some  cali  lilies  this  past  summer  and  now  they  are  finished  blooming.  They  have  pods  on  them  now.  Is  there  something  I  should  do  to  keep  them  ready  to  replant  next  season.  When  will  be  the  best  time  to  replant  them.  Any  other  suggestions ?  Evelyn

My mother is a Virgo. I’m dating a Virgo. Oddly enough, their birthday is the same day. Suffice it to say that gift giving in the Jackson family becomes very difficult around September 15th. I’m quite taken with birth month flowers as unique birthday gifts because it blends the traditional with the creative. This is a very endearing quality after three years of finding a unique gift for a man and a charming birthday gift for a mother all on the same day!

My fellow is fairly easy to please when gift giving is involved. His birthday is a fairly major occasion but finding a way to make him feel completely special on that day is difficult when we also celebrate Mom’s birthday on that day. Not this year! The two birth month flowers of September are aster and morning glory. My sweet pleasant beloved makes a point to call me from work every morning just to say good morning. For this reason, the birthday gift for him becomes *drum roll* … the morning glory! Coupled with a few wish-list gifts, a packet of seeds of this birth month flower will add a dash of whimsy to the traditional gifts. I’m still learning to knit so that I can watch him fake excitement over an ugly multi-colored sweater for next year. For this year, flowers and game consoles will do.

My mother is amazing. She’s the most incredible woman in the world (except for your mother, of course) and that near grasp of perfection can grind away at the nerves when birthday gift shopping. My mother either has everything, wants nothing, or won’t specify. Well, she’s not getting an option this year. My mother is an avid vegetable gardener. She also landscapes her yard and my grandfather’s yard to give them immaculate appearances. I know that she loves flowers and loves decorating her home with the flowers from her garden. This year she’s getting a bouquet of aster for her home and, since morning glory is typically a garden flower rather than a cut flower, a few started morning glory to add to her collection of incredible garden flowers.

Wonderful. I’ve finally found a way to satisfy all of the people in my life with September birthdays just by incorporating the September birth month flowers into a unique birthday gift. Thankfully October is all about me. Just kidding.

Contact your local florist for a unique birthday gift for your September friend!

Fiddling with the zodiac signs to create an awesome gift idea can be loads of fun. I have several special occasions to celebrate in August so gift ideas run short as July winds to a close. Thankfully for all, my father has reached the age where it is forbidden for another year to mention his fifty-something birthday. The good people in my family still like to make everyone feel special on their birthday so we tend to sneak-attack him with a gift that he can’t refuse; all the while chocking it up to a random present or involving my family in the celebration of my anniversary (also the 28th).

I struggle to find a flower arrangement that will satisfy the rugged tastes of the men in my life but the brilliant thing about fathers is that it truly is the thought that counts. For many years my father would send a single carnation to my sister and me on Valentines Day. Because of this, last year I sent him a single carnation along with his favorite John Wayne movie newly printed onto DVD. We’d both seen “El Dorado” at least one hundred times and a single flower is kind of boring alone. However, it was the understood memories of both that made Daddy forget the law against celebrating his birthday and enjoy the day with his family.

This year is a bit different. I’ve decided to do for Dad’s birthday what I did for my mother but with an extra special touch. I looked up the birth month flowers for August which are gladiolas and poppy. Not wanting to give poppy to my pappy this year, I asked my local florist if she could create a very manly arrangement using gladiolus as the focal flowers. This will be easy because the flower meanings of gladiolus are strength of character, sincerity and generosity. My father embodies these qualities better than most. Gladiolus are also the flower of the gladiators. Who doesn’t think of their father as the strongest man in the world?

Because my father loves certain war medals, I ebayed my heart out until I found the one that he talks about almost incessantly. My florist June and I have discussed a wonderful arrangement that includes his favorite medal amidst a batch of his birth month flowers. This year I’m absolutely certain that August will be a month of surprises and one that Dad will enjoy with us again. I’m hoping that he’ll forget the young-at-heart 50+ and become like a kid again when he sees his unique birthday gift.

If pictures are worth a thousand words, how many words are flowers worth? Every individual attaches some special memory or memories to the many types of flowers in their lives. Whether it was the focal flower in the bouquet that he delivered with the engagement ring, the sympathy flowers that made mourning easier, or simply the creative gesture of a loved one who somehow just knew that a little boost would turn the day around, there are thousands of memories to delve into when we pass flowers in the grocery store, garden, or local flower shop.

Some flowers, though, have very particular flower meanings and can be sent to express a very specific feeling or message. The birth month flower of August is gladiolus so which better to share? This beautiful, tall blossoming flower represents some very pleasant flower meanings making a gladiolus arrangement the perfect gift to send a message to a guy or a girl!

Express sincerity with a gladiolus bouquet. Sometimes it takes just that little extra to push through the “yes” decisions in our minds. Being completely sure of the sincerity of the sender is the difference between “99% sure that you’re the one for me” and “I’d follow you to the ends of the earth.” Avoid any confusion by ensuring your sincerity with an arrangement of gladiolus.

Express strength of character with gladiolus flowers. Integrity, strong ethics and values, and high moral fiber are qualities that every person looks for in a partner. Make your best qualities shine through. Highlight those strong qualities in another person who needs reassurance of their wonderful self. Gladiolus are the perfect flowers for subtly expressing strength of character.

Sincerity and strength of character are wonderful character traits. Why not put them on display with the help of a fresh gladiolus arrangement from your local florist? The catalog of personal memories along with the flower meanings of gladiolus and many other flowers truly does beg the question…how many words are pictures of flowers worth?

Gladiolus arrangements envigorate any summer day!